Best Bread Makers

Buying guide for Best bread makers

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh bread baking in your kitchen. Typically, making bread by hand can be labor-intensive, discouraging some home chefs from attempting it. Bread makers take the work out of bread making by mixing and proofing the dough before baking it. All you have to do is add the ingredients and press a few buttons.

Before you rush off to buy a bread maker, there are some features to keep in mind. You’ll want to consider ease of use, capacity, versatility for making things like bread and pasta, additional program features, and the ability to easily clean it. Your budget can help you narrow your options because some bread machines retail for a few hundred dollars while others cost less than a hundred. However, you can still get a little overwhelmed by all of the possible features and options.

Bread makers take the hassle out of making fresh bread. We compare many models to find those that make baking bread the easiest.

Our researchers look for models that work best for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced bakers who want to make more complex recipes.

We consider models with a variety of extra features and settings to find the bread makers with the most versatility.

Some bread makers are capable of mixing and kneading dough. We look at models with these capabilities as well as those without.

Our researchers compare bread makers with fixed and removable baking pans to find those that are easiest to clean and maintain.

We determine the capacity and loaf size of every bread maker to find the models that bake bread evenly and thoroughly.

Baking bread at home with a bread maker gives you control over ingredients while avoiding preservatives. We look for models that make it easy to add custom components and ingredients.

We check every bread maker’s pan for nonstick qualities, noting which ones are prone to peeling and which offer easy clean-up.

We appreciate bread makers that are easy to assemble as well as those that come with extras, like measuring cups.

We look for bread makers with multiple functions and settings for creating recipes beyond bread, such as pizza, dinner rolls, and even homemade jam.

How does a bread maker work?

When you bake your own bread, there are five stages that you must go through:

• Mixing ingredients such as yeast, water, flour, sugar, butter, and salt to form a dough

• Kneading the dough to make it elastic

• Allowing the dough to rise for an hour or so

• Punching down the dough and allowing it to rise for a second time

• Baking the dough in a pan in the oven

A bread maker completes all of these stages in a single appliance. It is a small oven that fits a single bread pan, but the machine also features an electric motor connected to a paddle so it can mix the ingredients to form and knead the dough.

To use the bread maker, you insert the paddle in place and add the appropriate ingredients in the proper order to the pan. You then select the cycle that you’d like from the control panel, close the lid, and wait for the machine to work its magic.

You can make most types of bread in a bread maker, including white, whole wheat, multigrain, rye, and French bread. Some models feature cycles that allow you to make other items, too, such as cakes and jams.

Keep in mind that you can also use a bread machine to simply mix dough. You can then remove the dough from the machine, shape it with your hands, and bake it in a regular oven. You may wish to do this with pizza, croissant, doughnut, or pretzel dough.

Benefits of a bread maker

Enhanced control

Making your own bread at home allows you to control the ingredients that you use, so you can customize it to fit your dietary requirements. For example, you can experiment with gluten-free breads if you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity.

Fewer preservatives

Store-bought breads are loaded with preservatives that enhance their shelf life, but home-baked loaves don’t contain any chemicals that you may be uncomfortable feeding your family.

Customized recipes

You can mix in your favorite add-ins, such as walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries, or sunflower seeds, to create delicious customized bread recipes.

Making your own bread can help save money, too.

Commercial loaves can be fairly expensive, while the ingredients used in bread, such as flour, yeast, and sugar, are usually inexpensive and can be bought in bulk for even greater savings.

While you could make your own bread at home without a bread maker, having this appliance on your counter makes the process much easier.

You don’t have to spend as much hands-on time making the bread, and clean-up moves along quickly because you only have to wash one pan.

3 ways to use a bread maker

Considerations

Size and capacity

Bread makers tend to be fairly large countertop appliances. Some models are tall and narrow; others are short and wide. Depending on whether you plan to display the machine on your countertop or stow it away in a cabinet, you may find that one footprint size is a better fit for your kitchen than another.

• If you plan to keep the bread maker on your countertop, keep in mind that you’ll need enough clearance beneath any cabinets over it to open the lid and remove the finished bread.

In addition to the size of the machine itself, you should also think about what size pan works best for your needs. If you have a large household, you’ll probably want a machine that makes at least two-pound loaves. If you are baking for a smaller group, a machine that makes one-pound loaves is usually sufficient.

Loaf shape

If you’re used to the long, short bread loaves that you buy at the store, you may be surprised at the shape of the loaves that bread makers produce. Many machines create long, tall loaves because they use vertical pans rather than horizontal ones.

There are some models that feature horizontal pans so you can create loaves that look more like the usual Wonder Bread loaf, though. Keep in mind that horizontal pans aren’t always as good at mixing and kneading the dough, so there may be unincorporated ingredients in the corners that you need to mix in by hand.

You can also find a bread maker that makes round or oblong loaves. But no matter what shape the loaves that a bread maker produces are, be aware that most machines leave a hole in the bottom of the loaf where the mixing paddle sits. This can lead to a few uneven slices when you cut the bread.

Removable vs. fixed pan

Should you buy a bread maker with a removable or fixed pan?

• Most newer bread maker models feature removable pans. That makes clean-up much easier because you can take the pan to the sink and scrub it clean after use.

• Bread machines with fixed pans that don’t come out can be difficult to clean because you can’t reach all of the nooks and crannies.

It’s also a good idea to look for a bread maker with a pan that has a non-stick coating. The coating prevents the dough from sticking to the pan so it kneads properly, and you can remove the bread easily at the end of baking.

Programs and settings

Perhaps the biggest decision that you face when purchasing a bread maker is which programs and settings you want your appliance to have. Most models offer at least a few options that allow you to control the final product, but advanced machines provide extensive controls that afford you even more versatility.

• Many machines have settings for specific types of bread, such as basic white, whole wheat, French/Italian, and/or gluten-free. They may also have programs for sweet breads, cakes, and packet mixes.

• You can also find bread makers that will simply mix and knead the dough for you without baking it. For breads that must be shaped by hand, pizza dough, and pasta dough, this is a helpful feature.

• If you just want to use the oven in the bread maker, consider a model with a Bake Only program. You can mix up your dough separately and add it to the appliance when it’s time to bake it.

• Some bread makers offer crust color settings. This feature allows you to make a light, medium, or dark loaf, depending on your preferences.

Noise

With the mixing and kneading of the dough, all bread makers make some noise. However, low-quality machines tend to create more noise than high-quality machines. That’s because the manufacturer of a low-quality machine may use lightweight materials that easily vibrate.

Advanced bread makers often have options for making jam, too.

Viewing window

Many inexpensive bread makers feature solid, opaque lids, so you aren’t able to check the progress of the bread as it goes through its cycle.

For this reason, you may wish to invest in a model with a viewing window that allows you to see the bread’s progress. It’s especially helpful during the baking part of the cycle because you can keep track of how dark the crust is.

Timer/delay timer

A delay timer allows you to add ingredients to your bread maker in the morning, before you leave for work, and then program the machine to prepare the dough at a certain time. With this feature, you can have a fresh, warm loaf of bread waiting for you when you return home.

Rapid bake

When you’re in a hurry, you may not have time to wait for your bread maker to finish a full cycle. But if it features a Rapid Bake setting, it will prepare a loaf more quickly.

In many cases, the Rapid Bake setting involves a shorter rise time. As a result, you may need rapid-rise yeast. Be sure to consult the owner’s manual before using the Rapid Bake setting.

Keep warm

You may not always be ready to eat your loaf of bread when the machine is finished baking it. Some models feature a Keep Warm feature that generates just enough heat after baking to keep the bread warm until it’s time to eat.

Automatic mix-in dispenser

Certain mix-in ingredients, such as nuts and dried fruits, must be added after you’ve mixed the dough, or they’ll become pulverized. Some bread makers beep when it’s time to add the mix-ins, but you have to pour them into the machine by hand.

However, some higher-end models feature an automatic mix-in dispenser. You fill the dispenser when you add the rest of the ingredients, and the machine automatically adds the ingredients to the dough at the proper time so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself.

Price

Depending on the features that are included, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $300 on a bread maker.

• While all models tend to offer the same basic bread cycles, pricier bread machines usually feature more advanced settings for doughs, jam, and other non-bread items. They tend to sport a sturdier construction, too, so they won’t make as much noise.

• If you only bake the occasional loaf of bread, though, a budget-priced bread maker is likely to offer more bang for your buck.

Tips

• Consider the noise. A high-quality bread maker typically uses sturdy materials that are less prone to vibration and noise.
• Look for easy-to-clean features. Most modern bread makers feature removable pans. This configuration is much easier to clean than a bread maker with a fixed pan.
• Think about loaf size. Some machines provide multiple loaf size options. You may appreciate this feature if you wish to vary the size of your bread.
• Make more than bread. Despite its name, a bread maker can be a fairly versatile appliance. With the appropriate model, you can also use it to make homemade jams, pizza dough, pasta dough, and other items.

Fun facts

• January is Bread Machine Baking Month.
• Sandwiches account for 50% of the world’s bread consumption.
• According to Scandinavian superstition, a boy and girl who eat from the same loaf of bread are destined to fall in love.
• On average, each American consumes 53 pounds of bread per year.
• The first loaf of commercially sliced bread in the United States was sold on July 7, 1928 in Chillicothe, Missouri.
• The average bread maker uses less energy than a coffee maker, utilizing approximately nine kilowatt-hours per month.
• The first home bread maker was sold in 1986 by the Matshushita Electric Industrial Co., now known as Panasonic.
• Ancient Egyptians are usually credited with the invention of yeast leavening, as well as the oven, so they are considered early bread pioneers.

Always use room temperature ingredients, not cold, for the best results.

FAQ

Q. How much time does a typical cycle take in a bread maker?

A. If you are mixing, kneading, and baking the bread all in the machine, a bread cycle usually takes between three and five hours, depending on the model and the type of bread you’re making.

Q. How do you clean a bread maker?

A. In most cases, you can simply lift the pan out of the machine and wipe down the interior with a warm, soapy rag. Rinse the pan well, and then allow it to air dry before returning it to the bread maker.

Avoid rinsing the interior of the machine itself or using a harsh steel wool pad or scrub brush on the interior.

Q. How can I reduce the chance that my homemade loaves will fall?

A. Make sure you are using fresh, accurately measured ingredients and that you’re adding them to the bread maker in the order specified in the manual. It’s also important to use the correct, recipe-specific type of yeast and to avoid opening the lid of the machine while the bread is baking.