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For this list, we selected breadmakers based on customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Myer and ProductReview.com.au. For every category, we carefully chose parameters based on our research and determined products with the highest review score within those parameters.
For the best overall breadmaker, we chose the Panasonic SD-R2530WST. It has an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 on The Good Guys with 95% of reviewers recommending the product.
Part of the R2530 series, the WST comes equipped with 30 programs to suit a wide variety of breadmaking needs. These include basic, French, whole wheat and brioche loaves as well as sourdoughs and pizza doughs. You can tweak the loaf size and crust browning to your preference.
Outside of bread, it can be used to make cakes, jams and compote, has 4 gluten-free programs (bread, cake, pizza and pasta) and an automatic fruit and nut dispenser for even distribution.
For purists, manual settings let you take control of how your bread is baked and there's a 13-hour advance timer for freshly baked bread when you want it.
On Amazon, the R2530 series is much loved, receiving an average of 4.7 stars out of 5. A customer summed up their sentiments with "perfect, don't bother looking at any others!"
Customers rave about how easy it is to use, its numerous baking options and its durability. They love the timer which allows them to wake up to the smell of fresh bread. At 408x362cm, it's a fairly big unit and some customers call it bulky so it's best for larger countertops.
How do Australians rate Panasonic's bread makers?
90% of surveyed Australians recommend Panasonic
4.4
Value for money
4.4
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.4
Ease of use
4.3
Cleaning and maintenance
4.4
Product features
How Panasonic compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Panasonic was ranked 2nd for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
With the ability to bake sourdough as well as make sourdough dough and a starter, the Panasonic Bread Maker with Yeast and Fruit & Nut Dispensers SD-YR2550SST is the best breadmaker in this category.
From nurturing your own starter to baking the perfect artisanal loaf, the SD-YR2550SST can do it. It comes with a sourdough cup and a sourdough starter spoon to accurately measure out your liquids and starter yeast.
Ideal for novices, the manual comes with step-by-step instructions and tips on how to successfully make and store your starter and bake your sourdough with it. There is a troubleshooting section to adjust the recipe or your process in case your loaf doesn't turn out the way you'd hoped it would.
Customers compliment this machine on how easy it is to use and how crusty their breads turn out – even the sourdoughs. It has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Amazon with reviewers particularly pleased at how sturdy it is.
How do Australians rate Panasonic's bread makers?
90% of surveyed Australians recommend Panasonic
4.4
Value for money
4.4
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.4
Ease of use
4.3
Cleaning and maintenance
4.4
Product features
How Panasonic compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Panasonic was ranked 2nd for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
If you're on a budget, we recommend the Breville The Baker's Dozen as the best cheap option. It has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Appliances Online and 4.1 out of 5 stars on The Good Guys.
For under $200, it covers all the main bread favourites across 10 programs, including basic, French, whole wheat and gluten-free. There are 3 extra options to make jam, yoghurt and cakes. While this isn't as extensive as more expensive breadmakers, it's ideal for casual bakers who are after a simpler bread machine.
There's a fruit and nut dispenser for even distribution while the non-stick bread pan and removable kneading blade make it easy to clean and remove loaves.
Between the 15-hour start delay and auto keep warm function, you'll find fresh bread ready at your preferred time. There are also 3 crust colour and loaf selection options.
Customers remark on how easy it is to use and its compact size. Most state that it's a great product.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Breville was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 3rd for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
With an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and 4.6 stars on Myer, the Panasonic Artisan Bread Maker SD-ZP2000KST is our pick as the best mid-range breadmaker.
The Panasonic SD-ZP2000KST features a reflective lid and central heater surrounding its ceramic pan, mimicking the temperature of a traditional baker's oven. According to the company, its blade and ribs replicate hand-kneading techniques to develop gluten for light and airy loaves. Its sensors measure the internal bread temperature and conditions and it has over 15 preset options to create an array of breads, including brioche, cake, white bread and whole wheat.
The general sentiment is that this Panasonic breadmaker is a solid, mid-range choice with tons of options for gluten-free baking. It can make breads using wheat alternatives like rye, chickpea flour and soy. Consumers also mentioned that it is easy to use and creates consistently perfect bread.
However, the machine doesn't have a viewing window and nut dispenser, which some people expect for a product at its price point.
How do Australians rate Panasonic's bread makers?
90% of surveyed Australians recommend Panasonic
4.4
Value for money
4.4
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.4
Ease of use
4.3
Cleaning and maintenance
4.4
Product features
How Panasonic compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Panasonic was ranked 2nd for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
We recommend the Breville The Custom Loaf Pro Bread Maker as the best high-end breadmaker. On Amazon and Myer, it has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Breville's The Custom Loaf Pro Bread Maker features a smart LCD interface that computes the temperature and baking time. The machine also has a 13-hour delay timer, 4 loaf sizes and 60-minute power interruption protection. Apart from a collapsible blade, it has manual and automatic programs, including yeast-free, gluten-free, dough, pasta and jam. The machine has a viewing light and window as well.
This breadmaker is priced at over $360, making it the most expensive option on our list. However, customers praised the product for being high-quality and easy to use. The array of breadmaking options is also worth the money, according to reviews. The manual setting is a great addition, allowing you to store your recipes for future use. People also loved its delay timer and power interruption protection. The LCD is easy to use as well.
However, a few reviews didn't like that the paddle attachment loosens during the kneading process. The tray is also not dishwasher-safe, but this seems to be a minor concern for most buyers.
Today's Breville The Custom Loaf Pro Bread Maker deals
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Breville was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 3rd for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
For gluten-free bread, we selected the Breville The Baker's Oven Bread Maker as the best breadmaker. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Breville's The Baker's Oven Bread Maker is a compact breadmaker with 23 automatic programs and power interruption protection. It also features gluten-free programs and a rapid bake option for fast results. Apart from having an LED screen, it offers 3 loaf sizes and a 13-hour delay start timer.
Many customers loved this product's affordability and ease of use. It also offers an array of breadmaking options, including rapid, white, yeast-free and bake-only. The gluten-free programs create light and fluffy loaves using buckwheat, almond flour and other gluten-free flours.
However, the breadmaker's dough setting is not the best one in the market. A few reviews said that the results don't have the perfect texture and consistency for artisan pizzas. It also has plastic housing, but customers said it's not a dealbreaker considering the price tag.
How do Australians rate Breville's bread makers?
94% of surveyed Australians recommend Breville
4.3
Value for money
4.3
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.3
Ease of use
4
Cleaning and maintenance
4.3
Product features
How Breville compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Breville was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 3rd for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
With a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, Sunbeam's BM7850 Smartbake 1.25kg Breadmaker is our pick for the best breadmaker for pizza dough.
Sunbeam's BM7850 Smartbake 1.25kg Breadmaker comes with preset menus and an automatic nut dispenser that releases ingredients during the kneading cycle. You can also program 8 of your recipes by determining the time you want at each breadmaking stage. Apart from 7 crust colour options, the machine offers 3 loaf sizes and a 15-hour delay timer.
With its Smartbake feature, this Sunbeam breadmaker indicates the stage in your breadmaking process – from preheating to keep warm. People loved the sturdy blade, adding that it doesn't leave any hole in their loaves. The dough setting also makes pizza dough that is light and airy. The viewing window is a welcome bonus too.
However, this machine has a learning curve because it requires pressing a lot of buttons to operate. A critic also said that it always burns their loaves even on the lightest setting, but this seems to be an isolated case.
How do Australians rate Sunbeam's bread makers?
92% of surveyed Australians recommend Sunbeam
4.1
Value for money
4.2
Overall
4.3
Performance
4.2
Ease of use
4
Cleaning and maintenance
4.3
Product features
How Sunbeam compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Sunbeam was ranked 6th for value for money, 4th for performance, 4th for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 3rd for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Measuring 33x29x29cm and boasting an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars on MyDeal, the TODO Bread Maker BM1331 is a space-saving breadmaker that doesn't compromise on quality. This is why we've named it our pick for the best compact breadmaker.
The TODO Bread Maker offers 12 preset menus and can make loaves of up to 900g, which is substantial given the machine's size. It can bake a variety of bread, including basic, French, whole wheat and sweet, and offers the choice of 3 crust levels – light, medium and dark. You can also use it to make jam, cake and gluten-free bread.
There's a 13-hour start delay and a keep warm function of up to 60 minutes which is a little short compared to other breadmakers, but still a nice feature to have. A large, front-facing LCD screen makes it easy to choose your preset function and keep track of the progress of your loaf.
On top of its size, customers like how stylish the machine is as well as its weight which is 4.45kg. And at under $100, it's one of the cheapest breadmakers available right now.
We selected the Philips All-in-one Multi-cooker 8L HD2238/72 as the best multifunction breadmaker available right now in Australia. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Customers gave positive feedback on the product's versatility, price and sturdy build. The presets are useful for making tasty meals if you have a busy lifestyle. In addition to making loaves and cakes, the cooker is great for preparing low lectin dishes, according to one review.
However, others wished that the instruction guide was clearer because the appliance is difficult to use.
Today's Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72 deals
Deal
20% off Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For bread makers, Philips was ranked 1st for value for money, 3rd for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.
6 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Amazon prices last updated on 8 December, 2023 at 01:00 ameBay prices last updated on 7 December, 2023 at 11:08 am
Methodology
14 Brands considered
41 Products compared
9 Best products chosen
We compared more than 40 breadmakers from over 10 brands.
We then assessed hundreds of customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Myer, The Good Guys, ProductReview.com.au, Appliances Online and MyDeal.
The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
We considered the following brands of breadmakers:
Breville
Devanti
KENT
Kogan
Morphy Richards
Panasonic
Philips
Remington
Russell Hobbs
Singer
Sunbeam
TODO
Tristar
Zojirushi
For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon, Myer, The Good Guys, ProductReview.com.au, Appliances Online and MyDeal. We ended up with a total of 41 breadmakers for comparison.
We then researched each breadmaker's features and considered ratings and customer reviews (as of February 2023). We came up with what we believe are the 9 best breadmakers available online.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
Best Rated Breadmaker Brand: Panasonic
With top scores across the board for ease of use, quietness, bread quality and value for money, Panasonic is a great choice for keen breadmakers.
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 breadmaker.
A breadmaker 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 $90 to $500.
What is a breadmaker?
A breadmaker 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 breadmaker uses a paddle to combine the ingredients and knead the dough. The breadmaker 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.
Pros and cons
Taste. If you're in any doubt about this, compare a fresh loaf from your local baker side by side with a commercial brand from the supermarket. The difference in taste is substantial.
Easy to use. You don't need to be an experienced baker to make your own bread. All you need to do is add the ingredients and there are even premixes available at any supermarket if you don't have the time to put everything together from scratch.
Get creative. Breadmakers can bake much more than plain white bread. From wheat and wholegrain loaves to banana bread, fruit and nut loaves, pasta dough and even jam, there's plenty you can do with this versatile appliance.
Control. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions or you simply don't want too many preservatives in your bread, a breadmaker gives you more control over what you eat.
Not a necessity. Of course, you also need to ask yourself whether a breadmaker 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 breadmaker will end up as little more than an expensive waste of precious kitchen space.
Takes up 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, you'll be better off saving your money.
Types of breadmakers
One of the key ways to distinguish between the many models available is to consider the loaf capacity they make. The 4 main loaf sizes are:
500g
750g
1kg
1.25kg
To put this in perspective, a 500g loaf will usually make 8 slices. Some breadmakers only offer 1 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 breadmakers
To choose the best breadmaker 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:
Ease of use
Are all the options on the machine's control panel presented in a simple format? The internet is home to plenty of user complaints about confusing and complicated breadmaker instruction manuals, so check out some customer reviews to see if this could be an issue.
Settings
The range of pre-programmed settings varies between models and may include settings for specific types of bread, dough and crust. The more programmable options a machine has, the more expensive it will be. Many models also allow you to create custom settings so you can save your own preferences and recipes.
Cooking time
The standard baking process takes between 3 and 5 hours on most models. You may also want to check whether the machine has a rapid baking cycle for when you need your bread made as quickly as possible. This may make it possible to prepare a loaf in under an hour, but it won't taste as good as a loaf treated to the full baking process.
Kneading paddles
The kneading paddles mix the ingredients together and then knead the dough. Breadmakers generally have 1 or 2 paddles. Single-paddle machines are usually cheaper and you may find that a machine with 2 paddles offers more consistent mixing. Some breadmakers allow you to remove the kneading paddle before baking while other paddles remain in the machine and leave a small hole in the bottom of your loaf.
Automated ingredient dispensers
More advanced breadmakers feature automatic dispensers that can add ingredients such as yeast, fruit and nuts at a pre-programmed time during the cooking cycle. If this feature isn't available, you'll need to add extra ingredients to the dough by hand. Some machines will stop and beep when it's the right time to do this.
Delay timer
Most models feature a timer that allows you to delay the start of the cooking process by up to 15 hours so you can ensure your bread is ready at the perfect time, such as when you first wake up in the morning.
Additional features
Viewing window. A viewing window is a handy feature to let you check on the progress of your bread.
Feet. Non-slip feet can prevent a breadmaker from moving around when kneading.
Noise. Mixing ingredients and kneading dough can be a noisy process and cheap machines with poorer build quality can tend to rattle when in use. If you're planning on running your breadmaker overnight, check customer reviews to make sure a machine isn't overly loud.
Power interruption protection. If there's a brief power outage, some breadmakers are capable of waiting 10–15 minutes (or up to an hour in some cases) and then resuming baking when the power comes back on.
Cleaning. Does the loaf tin have a non-stick coating to make it easier to clean? Can you remove the kneading paddles for more convenient washing? What about the fruit and nut dispenser?
Recipe booklet. It's hardly a deal-maker or -breaker, but some models come with a range of recipes for you to try out.
Dimensions. Consider the dimensions of each unit to work out how much space it will eat up on your benchtop or in your kitchen cupboards. Most breadmakers tip the scales in the 5–10kg range.
Warranty. Check the length of the warranty – most breadmakers come with a 1- or 2-year warranty – and what it covers to get a better idea of the confidence the manufacturer has in its product.
Price. For $90 to $150, you can get an entry-level breadmaker that produces impressive results. However, if you want more control over your baking and the ability to prepare a much wider range of bread and dishes, you could spend anywhere from $200 to $500.
Frequently asked questions
We chose the Panasonic SD-R2530WST Bread Maker as the best breadmaker overall. It has a wide variety of functions – 30 in total – and even features manual settings where you can input your specifics to custom bake your ideal loaf of bread.
Store-bought bread may be cheaper than artisanal and homemade options, but they also use cheaper ingredients. Making bread at home using a dedicated breadmaker isn't as cheap, but you're guaranteed a fresh, tasty loaf every morning.
Using a breadmaker lets you control the ingredients of every bread, allowing you to modify the taste, nutritional value and quantity of the bread – some things that you can't do when buying from a cafe or grocery store.
Most breadmakers are decently energy efficient. According to our research, a breadmaker uses about 400 watts for the whole breadmaking process. An electric oven uses 1,600 watts or 1.6kW per hour.
You can make cakes, meatloaves, jams, soups and sauces plus pasta and pizza dough in a breadmaker. However, not all breadmaker models can do all of these dishes. Check the manufacturer's manual to know what your machine can and can't do.
Both a breadmaker and an oven allow you to control your loaves' portion, ingredients and taste.
A breadmaker is more straightforward to use. You can bake the bread without supervision and it doesn't require kneading. However, you might get a bread that is denser in texture compared to an oven-baked one. A breadmaker's capacity is also limited to a smaller amount at a time. You may need special flours depending on the model as well.
On the other hand, an oven can fit any size of bread you desire. It creates a much fluffier and light texture. An oven doesn't require the use of specific flours. However, this appliance isn't the most beginner-friendly for breadmaking. It consumes more energy and is harder to clean as well.
Turn the breadmaker on its side and wipe off the crumbs with a brush. Don't wash the interior with water. This will damage the electric components. Use the brush to sweep flour residue as well. If there's liquid inside the unit, use a clean microfibre cloth to wipe it.
Use a moist cloth to wipe the heating elements clean gently. Never spray these with water as it could short some electrical elements out.
Clean the bread pan by wiping off crumbs and other dirt. Then, wash it with a warm soapy sponge and rinse it with clean water. Gently scrub off the surface using a non-abrasive sponge, especially if the pan has a non-stick coating. Let everything dry before you put back the bread pan in the machine.
Cleaning your breadmaker after each use will also help prolong its lifespan and avoid burnt loaves and caked-on grime.
Stephanie Yip was the shopping editor at Finder. Previously she was Finder’s travel editor and before that was our lifestyle writer. She has been writing in the travel, shopping and lifestyle space for over 15 years. During her time at Finder she was featured in a number of publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian Australia, Travel Weekly, Escape and KarryOn. Before joining Finder, her previous jobs include editor for kids' magazine DMAG and writer for Thomas Cook and Wizz Air's in-flight magazine. Stephanie previously studied a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
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