The Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake is a low-cost bread machine with a long model number. It has 13 menu settings and a 2-pound loaf capacity. Should you buy the CKSTBR9050, or should you consider an even cheaper bread machine? How does the Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake compare to the Oster CKSTBRTW20? Which accessories are included with the bread machine? Which recipes can it prepare? I attempt to answer these questions in my review.
Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake vs. CKSTBRTW20
The Oster CKSTBRTW20 (reviewed here) is cheaper, and probably ten times more popular, than the Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake. This might seem strange, because they both have similar characteristics:
- 2-pound loaf capacity.
- Three loaf sizes (1 lb, 1.5 lb and 2 lbs).
- Three crust colors (light, medium, dark).
- 13-hour delay timer.
- LCD screen.
- Single kneading paddle.
- Rectangular baking pan.
These Oster 2-pound loaf bread machines share a few menu programs. However, the menu settings are not exactly the same, even though both bread machines have Express Bake or Ultra-Fast settings for making a bread loaf in only one hour. Let me compare the menu settings in order to find both the similarities and differences.
The CKSTBR9050 Expressbake has these menu settings:
1. Basic
2. French
3. Whole Wheat
4. Sweet
5. Quick Bake
6. Express Bake 1LB
7. Express Bake 1.5LBS
8. Gluten Free
9. Dough
10. Pasta
11. Jam
12. Bake
13. Cake
The CKSTBRTW20 Expressbake has the following menu programs:
1. Basic
2. French
3. Whole Wheat
4. Sweet
5. Ultra Fast (1.5 Lb)
6. Ultra Fast (2.0 Lb)
7. Quick
8. European
9. Dough
10. Bagel Dough
11. Jam
12. Bake
As you can see, the Oster CKSTBR9050 has menu settings for making gluten-free bread, pasta and cake. Its loaf sizes for the Express Bake settings are also different. It has 13 menu settings, while the CKSTBRTW20 has only 12 menu selections.
Control Panel
There is nothing special about the control panel of the CKSTBR9050. It is similar to other bread machine control panels. It has buttons for crust color, loaf size, menu selection, timer +/- and Start/Stop. The LCD is small, but it shows all the relevant information. The only thing I dislike about the control panel is its gray background color. I think that a white background color with gray buttons would look a little better.
Accessories
- non-stick baking pan
- measuring cup
- measuring scoop
- two kneading blades (one spare!)
- kneading blade removal hook
- user manual (includes recipes)
Gluten-Free Setting
The gluten-free setting of the Oster CKSTBR9050 has the following actions: 5-minute knead, 10-minute knead, 60-minute dough rise and 60-minute baking cycle.
The Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake instruction manual has only one recipe for Traditional Gluten-Free Bread. The recipe requires ingredients such as gluten-free flour, rice flour, potato powder, soybean powder and milk powder. It also needs tapioca and xanthan gum. It seems like a difficult recipe to make when compared to the other normal bread recipes.
The manual has only one gluten-free recipe? How disappointing! Still, you might buy and use gluten-free bread mixes. I am not sure how successful the results will be, but it might be easier to use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free bread mixes.
Can the Oster CKSTBR9050 make 100% whole wheat bread?
The Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake has a whole wheat setting (menu number 3). The instruction manual has a recipe for a 100% whole wheat bread loaf.
Can it knead pizza dough?
The instruction manual has a pizza crust recipe. Follow the recipe and select the Dough setting. Let the bread machine mix and knead the dough and wait for it to finish. Stop the machine, take out the bread pan and put the dough in a round pizza pan. Add your favorite pizza sauce and toppings before baking it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in an oven for about 20 minutes.
How do you add raisins?
The Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake does not have an automatic raisin nut dispenser for adding fruit or nuts. Nonetheless, the bread machine gives a beeping signal during the kneading cycle to let you know that you may add raisins, nuts or fruit. Open the lid and add the ingredients slowly until they are kneaded into the dough. Close the lid and let the bread machine continue with its cycles.
Who should buy the Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake?
I recommend that you first consider the Oster CKSTBRTW20 bread machine, because it is both cheaper and more popular. However, it has neither a gluten-free nor a cake setting. Nonetheless, I have never been interested in baking cake in a bread machine.
The biggest reason to buy the Oster CKSTBR9050 Expressbake would be for its gluten-free menu setting. It seems to be a good budget bread machine for making most types of bread, including gluten-free loaves (buy on Amazon – paid link).