The Oster® breadmaker can be used with your own traditional bread recipes. You can convert any bread recipe for your bread machine if you do not exceed the recommended amount of flour. For a 1-pound loaf, use no more than 2 cups of flour. For a 1-1/2 pound loaf, use no more than 3-1/2 cups. For a 2-pound loaf, not more than 4 cups and for 2-1/2 pound loaf, no more than 5 cups of flour should be used. Results may vary when adjusting a recipe.

Quick rise yeast contains an additional ingredient called ascorbic acid to enhance the rising time of yeast.

Parts for Oster® breadmakers can be purchased online and through service centres. To find a service centre in your area, CustService.aspx? please click the service centre.

The loaf size option is not available when the following selections are made:

1. ExpressBake^® options
2. Bake Only
3. Dough Cycles

There are several causes for bread to collapse or cave in. It could be from too much yeast liquids being present, there is not enough flour or the temperature of the liquids is not correct. When correct salt and sugar amounts are used, a small increase of these two ingredients may be a remedy. Or, try reducing the water by 1/4 to 4 tablespoons. High humidity or high temperatures can be another reason. At such time, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour or decrease the liquid. If a quick-rise yeast is used, it may cause bread to cook this way. Also note, too much yeast will cause the loaf to have a course, open grain and a flattened or sunken top.

When making bread, results will always vary. Check the following - Did you forget to put the yeast in? Did you add the correct amount of yeast? Was yeast old or past the expiration date? Check the dates on all yeast purchases and store yeast in refrigerator to make it last longer. Was the water too hot or too cold? Water should be room temperature. Did you measure salt with a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon? Be careful when measuring - use the correct size of measuring instrument. Is your machine close to doors or windows? Keep the unit away from doors and windows. Did you not put in enough sugar or liquid? If the bread does not have enough of these two ingredients, it may not have enough gluten to develop a strong rise. Increase the ratio of bread flour or add 1-1/2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons of vital gluten. What type of flour was used and how was it measured? When making bread, bread flour should be used by measuring it in a measuring cup - being careful not to pack it in. Using old flour will also cause bread not to rise. Are you using quick rise yeast? When using this type of yeast, instead of Active Dry Yeast or Bread Machine Yeast, merely decrease the amount used. As a general guide, we recommend using 1/2 teaspoon of Fast-Rising yeast per cup of flour. Example: 3 cups flour = 1-1/2 teaspoons Fast-Rising yeast. Are you experiencing hot weather/cold weather/high humidity? Salt may be increased by 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to keep the dough from rising too quickly and then falling. Still not rising? Increase yeast by 1/2 teaspoon or decrease salt by 1/4 teaspoon. Helpful Hint: When putting in salt, sprinkle it around the sides of the bread pan so it does not touch the yeast.

There are several reasons bread will turn out hard or will not rise. It could be because yeast was not added, stale flour or stale yeast was used, extra salt, sugar or hot liquids may have killed the yeast and inhibited rising or old flour was used. Still not rising? Try increasing yeast by 1/2 teaspoon or decrease salt by 1/4 teaspoon.

Some reasons why the ingredients may not mix - Pan may not be inserted all the way, kneading blade may not be in the pan, Bake ONLY was selected, you experienced a power outage or wheat delay has been selected. Unit may have 15 to 30 minute delay before mixing. If after reviewing the above and the breadmaker will still not mix, the unit needs to be taken to a Service Centre.

Some breadmakers will display E:EE. This means that the room temperature is too high to make bread. To reset the unit, press and hold the "Start/Stop" button. Place the bread maker in a cool location before using again.

Some breadmakers will display H:HH. This means that the bread maker must cool before you bake another loaf. To assist with the cool down, the breadmaker lid can be left open or removed to help cool the unit. Let the breadmaker cool about 15 minutes before baking another loaf.

Some breadmakers will display L:LL. This means that the room temperature is too low to make bread. To reset the unit, press and hold the "Start/Stop" button. Place the breadmaker in a warm room and allow it to warm up.

If the kneading blade will not come out of the bread pan, try the following - Soak in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. While holding the wing nut, wiggle the kneading blade. Put vegetable oil on kneading blade shaft before attaching the kneading blade.

Breadmakers require 500 to 700 watts of power. The following are causes for not powering on - The unit is not plugged into a working outlet or it is plugged into an outlet with another high wattage appliance. It could also be caused by breadmaker not being set properly. Also, the breadmaker may have lost power after programming or during operation. After reviewing the above causes, we recommend you make one more attempt to operate the breadmaker before having it serviced. Please do the following: Reset the unit, unplugging it from the wall outlet for 5 seconds. Re-plug the unit into a working outlet. Program the unit for basic white bread (be sure pan is in place. Start the white bread cycle. If all of the above has been checked and the breadmaker still will not power on, please contact a service centre.

Sometimes the breadmaker pan will be engaged tighter than it was when placed into the breadmaker when cycles are started. This is caused during normal operation. To get the pan out of the breadmaker, please follow these steps - Make sure breadmaker and pan is cool. If it is warm, please use an oven mitt. Grasp the handle of the bread pan and pull straight up or if your pan twists, twist pan clockwise and pull up. You may find a little force is needed to get the pan out.

If you live above 300 feet, you probably already know how to adjust other recipes like cakes and muffins. Higher altitudes tend to:

Make dough rise faster

Make flour dry

To compensate for high altitude baking, we recommend the following:

Increase the amount of water to the recipe. Sometimes as much as 2 to 4 tablespoons per cup.

If the bread rises too high:

Reduce the amount of yeast. For each teaspoon of yeast, try reducing the yeast by 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon.

Reducing the amount of sugar. For each tablespoon of sugar, reduce the amount by 1 to 2 teaspoons.

The following instructions can be used to determine the freshness and quality of yeast. To test, follow these instructions: Place 1/2 cup of lukewarm water into a small bowl or cup. Stir 1 teaspoon of sugar into the water. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of yeast over the surface. Place bowl or cup in a warm area and allow it to sit for 10 minutes undisturbed. The mixture should foam and produce a strong yeast aroma. If this does not occur, the yeast is inactive and stale and new yeast should be purchased.

Some Oster breadmakers have a wheat delay time of 15 or 30 minutes. This delay allows for a period at the beginning of the cycle to "soften" the ingredients for better results. During the first 15 or 30 minutes, the machine does not mix, but the time will cycle down.

There are a few things to know about the ExpressBake settings that are different than the other settings. Breads made using ExpressBake settings tend to result in a darker, thicker crust. Sometimes there will be a crack in the top of the crust as well. This is due to the higher temperatures used for baking. The loaves also tend to be shorter and denser. You CANNOT use the delay timer for the ExpressBake settings. This would cool the liquid ingredients and affect the way the bread rises. You CANNOT use the crust color buttons when baking breads with ExpressBake settings. DO NOT open the cover while baking breads with ExpressBake settings. If the loaf is hard to remove from the pan, let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool. Shake the bread out of the pan and wait for 15 minutes before slicing. If you wish to bake another loaf of bread, you must let the breadmaker cool for 20 minutes with the cover open. YOU CAN use standard bread mixes when baking breads with ExpressBake settings, but the results may not be as good as the results when using Oster® recipes within this book.

When the breadmaker is operating, the machine performs the following tasks:

1. First knead
2. First rise
3. Second rise
4. Dough continues to rise
5. Punch down
6. Final rise
7. Baking

*Times of each cycle may vary based on loaf size and cycle selection.

Sometimes, bread can stick inside the bread pan. If this occurs, trying tapping the bottom of the pan a couple of times using moderate force. you can also wrap hot pan with a damp cloth when removed from the machine. Once sizzling subsides, the bread should slide out. Also try to turn the wing nut back and forth. Make sure you are wearing oven mitts to do this. Do not make a complete turn or it will create a hole in the bread or break the wing nut.

Breadmaker pans use a non-stick coating to help prevent loaf from sticking to the pan. The non-stick coating can peel when metal kitchen instruments are used. Replacement pans can be obtained through a service center.

Yes it can affect the rate of rise.