You can enjoy delicious, freshly baked bread every day.
Making your own bread from scratch produces delicious results but can take a lot of time and effort. So if you want to wake up to a freshly-baked loaf each day, you might want to consider buying a bread maker.
A bread maker is a kitchen appliance that does the hard work of baking bread for you. There are a variety of models to choose from with prices ranging from $80 to almost $500.
Our guide will lead you through the key features you need to consider to compare products and find the best bread maker for your kitchen.
What is a bread maker?
A bread maker is a kitchen appliance that makes bread. That much is obvious, but what some people don’t realise is that these handy machines fully automate the baking process.
After you pour your ingredients into the tin, the bread maker uses a paddle to combine the ingredients and knead the dough. The bread maker then lets the dough proof and rise before baking your loaf of bread.
In short, these appliances take much of the hassle out of making different varieties of bread.
Compare some of the best bread makers
Why should I consider a bread maker?
There are a few key reasons why a bread maker can make a great addition to your kitchen:
Why shouldn't I consider a bread maker?
Of course, you also need to ask yourself whether a bread maker is an appliance you absolutely must have, or whether it's something you can do without. If you're not committed to regularly baking fresh loaves, a bread maker will end up as little more than an expensive waste of precious kitchen space.
Maybe your kitchen cupboards are already home to other bulky appliances that seemed like a great idea at the time, but after the novelty wore off were rarely used. So if there's any chance you won't be bothered to make your own bread, or if you simply don't have much space in your kitchen, you'll be better off saving your money.
What types are available?
When shopping for a bread maker, you'll be able to compare products from a host of well-known kitchen appliance manufacturers, including:
- Breville
- Chef
- Cuisinart
- Oster
- Panasonic
- Sunbeam
- T-fal
- Zojirushi
- 500g
- 750g
- 1kg
- 1.25kg
To put this in perspective, a 500g loaf will usually make eight slices. Some bread makers only offer one loaf size – for example, a 500g machine – but most offer multiple loaf sizes. The key is to consider how many people you're cooking for and how much bread you plan to eat, and then choosing a machine that suits your needs.
How to compare bread makers
To ensure that you choose the best bread maker for your needs, you'll need to think about the type of baking you'll be doing and how much money you want to spend. Consider the following features:
Which bread maker is best for me?
The best bread maker for you will vary depending on several key factors, including the type of bread you want to make, how often you plan on using your machine and how much money you're willing to spend. Once you know what features and inclusions you need in a bread maker, you can then start comparing suitable products in your price range.
To give you an idea of what to look for, we've compared the pros and cons of five popular bread makers in the table below:
| The good | The bad | |
|---|---|---|
| Breville BBM800XL |
|
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| Cuisinart CBK-100 |
|
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| Panasonic SD-YD250 |
|
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| Sunbeam 5891 |
|
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| Zojirushi BB-SSC10 |
|
|
While bread makers aren't ideal for all home cooks and kitchens, they're a very useful purchase for anyone who loves freshly baked bread.
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