Briefly, This is an excellent book. As with any recipe, you may need to make adjustments to suit your choices of ingredients, etc. The above links are to my Amazon Affiliate Account If you are a Kindle Unlimited member it links to the “Read It For Free” Kindle Unlimited
KBS MBF-### Models: “Most if NOT All Recipes: Use the KBS recommended Order of Ingredients. When Ms Anderson says to use the Menu “Dough” – USE KBS “Leaven Dough” Includes measurements for 1 pound, 1.5 pound and 2 pound loaves
Tiplet: With any bread machine recipe, I usually hold back an ounce/tablespoon or two of the primary liquid. Adding it back if needed beginning about ten (10) minutes after first starting the machine is much easier (for me) than trying to get it right by adding flour.
The KBS Bread Machines are a bit notorious for the quality (or lack ) of “good instructions” still sometimes it takes a bit of thought to realize what you need is there, just requiring a bit of study to put the process together.
This is one of those times and it has come up more than once. So time to illustrate the answer, add some tiplet at the end and have it ready to share as a link again in the future.
This is a schematic that appears in all the KBS manuals I have reviewed. A complaint was made the included measuring cup did not “Show” 160ml. If you look at the image, between 150 and 200 are lines for each 10ml. So if your instruction ask for 160ml, you will fill the cup to the line above 150ml. If the ingredients calls for 250ml, fill the cup to the 200ml mark and then again to the 50ml mark for a total of 250.
TIPLET: I always withhold a “coffee scoop” each of the flour & liquids until after the first mixing It is generally accepted that coffee scoop can be either one or two tablespoons. Mine is 2 tablespoons (1/8th cup) and “works for me” – Many things can effect the dough consistency and of course it is easier to add if needed since you cannot remove it once it is mixed in. for this tiplet, please just accept that bit to be true.
KBS “Documents” – Caveat – Like all things offered in an Amazon listing – it could change or disappear. In fact the names of identical pdf documents are often not consistent across all KBS Bread Machine offerings and these may be Affiliate Links. These “worked” as of 2023-Aug-302024-03-11 2025-09-27
It is also worth mentioning that KBS does not have the most easily used user manuals. That said, likely almost all the information you need it there – just not in the order you would expect and certainly not in a manner that would make most beginning bread machine users comfortable.
BUT NOT SO YOU WILL BUY SOMETHING. truthfully mostly so I can “find” the details and share the blog entry without having needing to retype it from time to time
IF you scroll down to “PRODUCT GUIDES AND DOCUMENTS” usually below Product Information
you will see links to download PDF that are useful for many of the KBS Bread Machines,
I am currently using and surprisingly happy with, The KBS MBF-041. and really just the more basic features = certainly NOT any of their recipes as written. Unhappily, it appears to be disco’d by KBS.
My major complaint with KBS continues to be the lack of consistent customer service. I have used the contact form on their website, emailed every address I have been able to find. Tried to get thru Amazon because of a warranty issue (no help as expected) Post in the Q&A Sections of their website. Others have had a more positive experience.
My suggestion is that if you think these PDFs will help you, download them from the sources. They could easily disappear tomorrow.
added 2025-Oct-23: “At this time” there are several “brands” that offer machines that seem “identical” to KBS MBF-041 – these include, but may not be limited to the Keepeez branded MBF-041 we purchased October 2025 because it was less than the cost of a replacement pan during Prime Week .
The “Memory Function To Occasional Electricity Disconnection” took more than one read through and some thought and of course a reason to think it through. In the manual for the KBS Model MBF-041 it really is explained reasonably well If you are “conversant” in less than perfect translations from Pacific Rim countries to English. Caveat is that you must parse it out to one sentence at at time.
So I may not have paid proper attention when reading the manual long enough to understand how the Memory Function To Occasional Electricity Disconnection worked “exactly” KBS has a “feature” related to power interruption – something of a concern in many areas.
Memory Function To Occasional Electricity Disconnection also qualifies as “learned the hard way” based on something dumb I did – keep in mind the KBS machines all share the feature of what I call power blip memory save.
The Memory Function To Occasional Electricity Disconnection is supposed to work is that IF you have say a brief power interruption if the power resumes within less than 15 minutes, the machine “knows’ where it left off and resumes process without,
This means IF you have some reason to stop the machine (ie you forgot to add yeast) stopping the machine with the intent of changing something will not work (I wanted to start over so the now properly included yeast would be well mixed into the dough) UNLESS you wait at least 15 minutes.
Tiplet: Just one creative use of this function is if you are among those who want to stop the machine at the appropriate time to remove the paddle and then continue on. To help you know when to do that, you can (link tested 2024-03-12) use the KBS Time Chart
Understanding the Memory Function To Occasional Electricity Disconnection function also means that it could be used to remove the pan to remove the paddle prior to baking or to add a bit of artwork to the top of the loaf. So once again , something I did not know needed to be on my list of “features to consider for future purchases if needed”.
Below is the text “as written” but parsed out for easier “translating” – note: I have made repeated efforts to contact KBS and Aicok for permission to quote this text with no response after also trying for support questions to be answered – and as an exception to my usual rule because it is a limited quote and hope they don’t sue me.
Usual Caveat Lechtor – This post is based what has been my understanding/experience thus far with the KBS Model MBF-041. YMMV – Your mileage may vary – Use at your own risk, etc etc etc .
Your thoughts and questions for clarifications, letting me know of typos and such are always welcome.
As presented in the manual – only change is the parsing into single sentences:
…Memory Function to Occasional Electricity Disconnection (1) This unit holds a 15minutes Memory-keeping to after starting bread maker, if an occasional electricity disconnection happened and its duration is not more than 15minutes,
re-connecting electricity would make bread maker continue to work.
(2) After re-connecting electricity, the time of working could be changed and not equal to the original time set before:
Actual Working Time = Time of Disconnecting Electricity + Original Working Time Set Before If the duration of electricity disconnection is more than 15minutes, the bread maker can’t continue before work time…
July 2023 is learn the eccentricities of our new KBS Bread Machine Model MBF-041 because there is much about it I rather like!
I won’t bore you with a repeat of our loss of Westy the Westbend machine that has graced us since 1998 or the unhappy demise of Fiona, the Pioneer Woman (Hamilton Beach) due to a power surge scrambling (apparently irretrievably) it brains.
2025-Sept: edited to add: This is no longer sold under the KBS brand. The identical machine is available under the Keepeez brand
Since Westy hit 20 (1998-2018) I have been keeping an eye of offerings and refining my list of “I Wants” Note: It is possible that some time more detail will be added as to the Why of each, but then again everyone has different needs and should think it through for themselves In no particular order …
Good/Excellent Price Value Ratio – 18 months ago that was under $75 USD . Thanks to Bidenomics that was adjusted to Under $100 USD. Between a Amazon Deal of the Day and a $40 (now listing $30) It took the price of the KBS Bread Machine Model MBF-041 from $110 to $80 plus tax.
Loaf Size: I wanted one that had the “timing” for 3 sizes, 1 lb, 1.5 lb, or 2 lb (really wanted 1,2, or 3 lb but that was NOT going to happen in my chosen price range. After much thought, KBS Bread Machine Model MBF-041 and it 1 lb and 1.5 lb sizes – our most used choices…
Small Foot Print – When comes to counter space – every inch matters – at only 9″D x 10.9″W x 10.1″H The KBS Bread Machine Model MBF-041 met this need/wish nicely.
No Weird Colors. There was another machine in the running, but honestly who want puke green in their kitchen
I did not know how much I would like the way the dual heating elements improved the evenness of the crust = top, bottom and sides.
The KBS machines are a bit noiser than some = not a major issue since I am only there until sure the water/flour ratio is correct (first mix about 5 minutes) I am rarely in the kitchen during the process
Barrel/Pan is a tight fit and that may be more of a plus than a minus
The machine is rather light, so a bit of “dancing” does occur during initial mixing if there is too little liquid. That is easily solved initially with a silicone mat that seems to stick to the counter and the machine feet. The, of course by carefully added liquid to get the dough “right” As mentioned elsewhere, I stay in the kitchen during that first 5 minutes anyway, so no real problem for me.
So far ALL of my usual 1 and 1.5 lb recipes worked just fine using comparable “settings/functions” turned out well – except for one where for some reason I did not add the yeast – but the machine cannot be blamed for that.
For some, the smaller size loaf options may be an issue, but as I prefer to bake more often than worry about bread becoming inedible = this is not an issue for us either.
The manuals, no polite way to say it – are not for beginners. All the basic information is there, but not written in a way that a new user can be anything but initially confused. After viewing the KBS & Aicok manuals & downloading several pdf resources found in the Amazon Listing for various KBS models. – There are functions I will never use – but that is not necessarily a minus.
For easy reference there is a “Bread & Dough” Idea List In Amazon that shows some of the ingredients and useful ancilliary tools
Executive Summary – I am pleased with this purchase – experimenting will go on. A further list of resources will be done when I have time and energy. Only time will tell
Note: Links in this post may be to an Affiliate account so if you buy something they may or may not pay me a small commission. Or, you search just using the name and model number or other information provided in this post.
