The bread maker that I use is a Magic Chef, now discontinued from Walmart, almost 10 years ago.
I bought a Sunbeam at Walmart for about $50. and have never opened the box.
It was bought for a backup and I had read up on the machines.
It will do all that I will ever ask it to do, there are several cycles to use and the book says you can make jam in them.
Be sure to look for a yeast that is named “SAF”, it comes in one pound packages and is the same yeast as the bread machine yeast, at a fraction of the cost.
Keep it frozen and it lasts for years, my Saf yeast has a 2 year old sale by date, and is fine, I pour a little into a small jar, which is kept in the refrigerator door and keep the bulk frozen.
My thought on buying the bread machines, is buy a cheap one, if you use and like it, then look at up grading, when you know it is worth your money to do so.
People often brag about buying the top of the line bread machines at garage sales for $5.00.
Scott bought his wife one and she hated it, he does not know what she did with it.
Do get one, it is worth more to you than the crock pot, check out Walmart, at least here, if there is a flaw, they replace it.
LOL, when I burned up my Walmart dehydrator, I took it back, they gave me my money and the cashier told me that she puts her food on trays in a car they do not use and it works fine as a dehydrator in the summer heat.
I know it is all made in China, but my bank account is small.