Caveat Lector: Use at your own risk Prepared by Wheat using data from public resources – it has not been edited by anyone else and mistakes happen.
The model I currently own and use is the smallest, MBF-041 purchased in June 0f 2023. It makes only 1 and 1.5 lb loaves, although I routinely stretch the “Leaven Dough” to quantity more suitable to 2-3 lb loaves.
IF you see an error please let me know so it can be corrected. It has some seemingly unique menus and I will be adding more details about that to the post specific to the MBF-041. as time and energy allow.
Note: Amazon links in the chart below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after following one of those links, I may receive a small commission. This does NOT increase your costs.
Your Model number (MBF-???) is often printed on the cover of your user manual and on a label on the bottom of your machine. KBS seems to be an appliance manufacturer located in Jinagmen Kangbashi China – in addition to its own KBS brand, based on the patent information, the models for which they hold patents, I suspect they have many other private label agreements beyond the MBF-??? models.
Note: Version of the MBF-013 do not seem to be offered on Amazon in the US (but may be found on Amazon in other countries.
Know Your Ingredients: Xylitol . . . Alert For Pets & People
Also found listed in ingredients as “Birch Sugar” Frankly if it is not safe for pets, I don’t want it in my house – Why? Because what if I use it and gift it to someone with a pet?
Note: There are affiliate links which benefit me and with Instacart both of us.
We are a “shop local, think global” family and so always recommend shopping locally. However, our ‘regular’ grocery store may not have a particular ingredient and no one has time to drive all over the county to find it. Never speak with your favorite store manager. You would be amazed how often that works = particularly in today’s competitive environment.
Using one of my often hard to find ingredients: Bob’s Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten
If you would like to search without giving up too much personal details, your first step will be to look up the street address of your nearest Post Office. plug in your zip code and copy the address
The following links includes codes which may, if you buy something benefit us both. If it just makes your life easier by helping support local business without gallivanting all over – that is fine with me too.
next go to Instacart https://www.instacart.com/?code=WCARR1801EE
You will need to supply an address, so be ready to paste the Post Office address for privacy or use your own “if you don’t care” then just use your own.
Once you save the address, to Instacart will display a search bar (and a list of various stores served in your area.
Type in the ingredient – for example “Vital Wheat Gluten” hit return and poof, InstaCart will show you the stores in your area have be listed Vital Wheat Gluten in their on line offerings.
If you are lucky, you will see your regular store. If not, well where’s your spirit of adventure, expand your shopping horizons – visit a new to you location.
You can then click on each listing to compare pricing.
If all else fails, there is always using a search engine like https://duckduckgo.com/ Duck Duck Go or Amazon https://amzn.to/48Bvm6N Where I have a list that includes ingredients always likely to be in my pantry. Caveat: Amazon, but that is increasingly the most expensive option. and quite often you need to look at more than one – the most expensive option is usually listed first.
FRUGAL TIPLET: Instacart has added so many stores, and individual arrangements various quite a bit, for ingredients I always try to find those with “InStore Pricing” or, sometimes using the Retailer “dot com” may give you a better price.
Last but not least, I “threw this together” because of a question in our FB Bread machine group: KBS Bread Maker Tips, Tricks, and Recipes – still needs work, so in you are not fluent in “speaking in Wheat” – your comments and questions are welcome.
If you happen to have a copy of 1968 of The Art of Polish Cooking by Alina Zeranski1 this basic Mizeria ze smietanq recipe is on page 85 : Ingredients: 2 Cucumbers peeled and thinly sliced. 1 cup Sour Cream 1 Tbl (FRESH) Dill* Salt & Pepper to taste. Instructions: Combine Cucumbers, Sour Cream, Salt and Pepper. Sprinkle with Fresh Dill Serve immediately *If you do not have fresh dill and double the quantity and rehydrate in the vinegar and refrigerate for at least an hour or two.
My copy has a number of notes – Tiplet: At least SUB Good Quality White Wine Vinegar
These variations are on the Spruce Eats version but I do like to add a tablespoon of Citrus juice (usually lemon) to the classic Polish recipe. Variation 1: SUB good quality Apple Cider Vinegar SUB Brown Sugar and a Smidge (1/32nd tsp) Pie Spice ADD Cored, Seeded & Thinly sliced Green Apple
Variation 2: SUB in RED Wine Vinegar ADD seeded chopped tomato
Recommended Product: Mini Measuring Spoons Set,Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons Set I use these almost every day and definitely when sharing a recipe – if you begrudge me the penny or three commission – just look them up as tiny measuring spoons – possibly one of my all time best $5 impulse buys.
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.
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.
