West Bend L4972T, Manual

 9 
 

BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH CONTROL PANEL 

 
Before using your bread maker, it is important that you understand how to use the control panel as this is the “brains” of the machine. 
Review the following features to better understand what each button is designed to do and the options that are available to you when 
using this machine. The control panel will look like the one shown below. The only difference is it may or may not feature a 

LOCK 

button. See pages 9-10 for more information on this optional feature. 

 
BREAD SELECT BUTTON

 
The 

BREAD SELECT

 button lets you choose

 SIX 

different bread settings as well as a 

dough setting. With each press of the 

BREAD SELECT 

button, the settings of the 

bread/dough menu will appear in the display as well as the time required to complete 
each setting as follows: 
 

Bread Select Settings          Time to Complete 
                                             in Hours and Minutes 
 

BASIC………………………..3:40 (medium) 
BASIC RAPID……………….3:00 (medium) 
WHOLE WHEAT…………...4:20 (medium) 
WHOLE WHEAT RAPID…..3:30 (medium) 
FRENCH…………………….4:00 (medium) 
SWEET………………………3:40 (medium) 
DOUGH……………………...1:20 (medium) 
 
The 

BASIC

 and 

BASIC RAPID

 settings can be used for almost any bread recipe containing at least 50% bread flour. If a recipe 

contains less than 50% bread flour, then use the 

WHOLE WHEAT

 settings as these settings feature a longer knead cycle, which is 

beneficial for whole grain flours. The rapid versions of the 

BASIC

 and 

WHOLE WHEAT

 settings require the use of bread 

machine/fast rising yeast rather than active dry yeast as the rise times are shorter at the 

RAPID

 settings to accommodate the faster 

rising yeasts, thus the total process time is shorter. An audible alert will sound during knead cycle of all bread settings to add extra 
ingredients if recommended in recipe. 
 
The 

FRENCH

 setting can be used to prepare French or Italian type breads, which have crisp, chewy crusts. Either active dry or bread 

machine/fast rising yeast can be used at this setting. An audible alert will sound during knead cycle to add extra ingredients if 
recommended in recipe. 
 
The 

SWEET

 setting can be used to prepare sweet breads such as raisin bread. Midway through the knead cycle, an audible alert will 

sound to indicate the proper time to add ingredients such as raisins, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Simply open cover and add ingredients as 
directed in recipe. Close cover and the cycle will be completed. Either active dry or bread machine/fast rising yeast can be used at this 
setting. 
 
The 

DOUGH

 setting allows you to prepare just the dough itself for hand shaping and conventional baking in your own oven. The 

DOUGH

 setting will mix the ingredients, knead the dough and allow it to rise. An audible alert will sound during knead cycle to add 

extra ingredients if recommended in recipe. The dough will then be stirred down into a ball and an audible alert will sound to let you 
know it’s time to remove the dough for hand shaping or forming. Either active dry or bread machine/fast rising yeast can be used at 
the 

DOUGH

 setting. 

 
BREAD COLOR BUTTON

 
The 

BREAD COLOR

 button lets you choose 

THREE

 different crust colors for your bread. With each press of the 

BREAD COLOR

button, the following crust colors, Light, Medium or Dark will appear in the display, and the time will adjust. Select the desired crust 
color you wish for the bread recipe you are preparing. 
 

LOCK BUTTON

 – Featured on Some Models 

 
The 

LOCK

 button locks the selected program into the control panel after the bread maker has been turned on. (It does not lock the 

cover). The 

LOCK

 feature will prevent accidental tampering of the control buttons, which can interfere with the bread making 

process. The 

LOCK

 button is an optional feature on some models. If your machine does not have this button, ignore reference to it in 

the instructions.