Best Bread Maker
Baking your own fresh bread at home is a smart way to gain more control over the quality of the foods that you and your family consume. Want to use only organic flour? Prefer whole wheat? Need to go gluten free? Whatever your preferences are, when you do your own baking, you’re in charge. Plus, you might be able to save quite a bit of money by baking bread rather than buying it all the time.
The key to making delicious bread at home is knowing which ingredients to use. But if you want to make the process itself even easier on yourself, you can also invest in a high-quality bread maker. This can cut down on the time you need to spend making the bread yourself, and it can also help ensure you achieve consistent results every time.
There are a lot of bread makers out there, and they boast a load of features that are sure to inspire you to start baking more loaves at home. But before you go out there and just buy the first bread maker that you come across, continue reading to access a list of products that we recommend. As you look through these options, you will see that, even though a lot of bread makers share similar features, some do stand out against the rest.
1.Best Bread Maker: Breadman 2 lb Professional Bread Maker, Stainless Steel, BK1050S
This bread maker from the brand Breadman is easy to use, so it is a good choice for beginners, but it’s also great for those who are accustomed to using bread makers. It comes with 14 baking functions built in, and these include white, whole wheat, and French, to name a few. You can just choose the type of bread you want to make, along with how dark you want it to be, and then you let the machine do all of the rest. You can even select from artisan, gluten free, and low carb options, and you can select the dough function too if you want to make pizza!
With this bread maker, you get a collapsible kneading paddle that will prevent holes on the bottom of your loaf. The machine also works on baking everything evenly so you get great taste, a consistent texture throughout the bread, and a uniform crust.
Yet another nice feature is the fact that you can make jam with this bread maker. And it comes with a fruit and nut dispenser built in—this will drop the ingredients into the machine at the appropriate time. Plus, you can also take advantage of the 15-hour delay start time and the 1-hour keep warm setting.
Pros:
- This bread maker lets you choose from 14 pre-programmed bake settings, so you can get the bread you want quickly and easily.
- The collapsible paddle prevents holes in the loaf.
- This machine comes with a spoon, measuring cup, and recipe book.
- You can choose from three crust colors and three loaf sizes.
Cons:
- This bread machine has a lot of features, so if you don’t think you’ll use all or most of them, it probably isn’t right for you.
- This is a more expensive bread maker compared to others on the market.
2. Best Horizontal Bread Maker: West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker
When you want a horizontal bread maker, you can check out this option from West Bend. It has 12 settings, such as French, wheat, gluten free, and sweet, and it also has a Dough setting. The custom setting is ideal for those who have more experience and want to be able to customize their settings. Plus, you can select from three crust options, which are light, medium, and dark.
The dual knead blades that come with this machine help ensure the dough rises higher and the overall taste of your bread is lighter. You can make up to 3-pound loaves of bread with this machine, which is more than what some other machines can do.
Pros:
- This bread maker comes with a host of settings you can choose from to bake the perfect loaf effortlessly.
- The manual that is included provides helpful recipes.
- This machine comes with two knead blades, a knead blade removal tool, a measuring cup, a spoon, and a non-stick bread pan.
Cons:
- Some reviewers state they’re disappointed with the quality of this machine.
3. Best Programmable Bread Maker: Elite Gourmet Maxi-Matic EBM8103B Programmable Bread Maker Machine
A programmable bread maker can come in really handy, and this one provides you with a host of features that can make baking bread at home a snap. For example, you can choose from three loaf sizes and three crust settings. You can also choose from 19 programmable menus that include various breads and doughs.
Measuring roughly 14” x 9.75” x 11”, this is a pretty compact bread maker that might work in small spaces. And by baking bread in it, you can save money on energy that would otherwise be spent heating up your oven. All you have to do is choose the right program and then let the machine do all of the kneading, rising, and baking without you lifting a finger.
Pros:
- This bread maker is beginner friendly, with a host of settings to choose from to make the process as easy as possible.
- You can bake up to a 2-pound loaf in this bread maker.
- This bread machine comes with a measuring cup, measuring spoon, and recipes.
Cons:
- Because of its many programs and settings, this bread maker might be too much for you if you’re looking for a more basic option.
4. Best Stainless Steel Bread Maker: Pohl Schmitt Stainless Steel Bread Machine Bread Maker
A stainless steel bread maker can look great in your kitchen, and this machine has 14 settings that you can choose from, such as quick bread, French bread, cake, whole grain bread, and more. Plus, you can select from three crust colors and three loaf sizes, so you can get exactly what you want.
The removable pan is easy to clean, the digital LED display and viewing window make it simple to see what the machine is doing. When you want to add any extra ingredients, such as nuts or dried fruits, this bread maker has a built-in dispenser for that as well. And yet another nice feature is the Keep Warm function, which will start up automatically and last for one hour if you don’t remove the bread shortly after it is done baking.
Pros:
- This bread maker has a digital display and viewing window, so you can watch it while it works.
- The removable non-stick pan is easy to clean.
- The 15-hour delay timer on this bread maker allows you to set it so you have bread ready when you want it.
Cons:
- Some reviewers state they had trouble with the nut dispenser on this bread maker.
5. Best Bread Maker with Accessories: Deco Chef 2 LB Stainless Steel Bread Maker
This is a good bread maker to consider when you want to get something that will come with a lot of neat little extras. It comes with a measuring cup, a measuring spoon, a kneading paddle and hook, and an oven mitt to ensure you have everything you need to bake up the perfect loaf of bread with ease.
Featuring an LCD display and a viewing window, along with three settings for crust (light, medium, or dark) and three settings for loaf size (1 pound, 1.5 pounds, or 2 pounds), this bread machine can be used to bake a variety of breads.
Choose from 25 preset programs for bread, such as basic, French, whole wheat, sweet, gluten free, corn bread, rice bread, and more, along with other options for jam, yogurt, dough, and more. The display will even make it easy to see time, temperature, and other important information.
Pros:
- This bread machine comes with 25 preset programs to choose from, along with options to keep the bread warm for up to an hour or to delay baking for as long as 15 hours.
- This machine has a safety feature that will ensure it will stop automatically if the temperature inside gets too high.
- You can use this product to make breads, doughs, desserts, rice wine, jam, yogurt, and more.
Cons:
- You are limited to a 2-pound loaf, so if you want anything larger, this bread maker wouldn’t be right for you.
6. Top Pick Best Compact Bread Maker: Cuisinart Bread Maker
This bread maker from Cuisinart is loaded with great features, it’s compact, and it’s versatile. Simply choose from 12 programs that include white, French, artisan dough, cake, pancake mix, whole wheat, ultra fast, sweet, and more. In addition to that, you can also select from three crust shades. And you can bake up to a 2-pound loaf.
Plus, when you aren’t ready to bake right away, you don’t need to worry because this maker lets you take advantage of a 13-hour delay start. This means you can have fresh bread whenever you want it.
Pros:
- This bread maker has a viewing window and interior light so you can keep an eye on the bread as it bakes.
- You can choose from 12 preprogrammed options.
- This machine comes with a removable kneading paddle and bread pan for ease of cleaning.
Cons:
- This bread maker only comes with a vertical baking pan.
7. Best Bread Maker with Two Kneading Paddles: Hamilton Beach Bread Maker Machine 2 Lb Capacity Digital
This easy-to-use bread maker features a large digital display, and it’s easy to clean because it comes with a non-stick pan that’s also dishwasher safe. Plus, it has a delay timer, so you can plan out when you want your bread to be ready.
In addition to all of that, this machine lets you choose between 1.5-pound and 2-pound loaves, and it also comes with 12 settings that you can choose from to make a variety of delicious breads and doughs. Plus, it comes with two kneading paddles, so you can use one while you’re cleaning the other.
Pros:
- This bread maker’s pan is non-stick and dishwasher safe.
- You can choose from 12 programs and three crust settings.
- Recipes are included with this bread maker.
- You get an extra kneading paddle with this bread maker.
Cons:
- You can only choose from two loaf sizes.
- This bread maker doesn’t have as many programs as other machines on the market.
8. Best Budget-Friendly Bread Maker: Oster Expressbake Breadmaker, 2-lb. Loaf Capacity
With this bread maker from Oster, you can get everything you need to bake fresh bread at home, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money in the process. Check the 12 settings to select the bread, pasta, dough, or jam that you want to make. And if you are baking bread, you can also choose from three crust settings to be sure you get the results you crave.
This bread maker features a big LCD display, a 13-hour programmable timer, and an Expressbake setting to make bread in less than an hour. If you are going to be adding any nuts or fruit to your bread, the maker will signal when it’s time to add them as well. And when you are done using it, the removable lid and nonstick aluminum pan make cleanup a breeze.
Pros:
- You can make up to a 2-pound loaf of bread in this machine.
- A measuring cup and measuring spoon are included with this bread maker.
- This bread maker has a viewing window and LCD display.
Cons:
- This machine will bake up vertical loaves, so it isn’t the right choice if you prefer horizontal loaves.
Things to look out for:
Do you want to always have freshly baked bread on hand, but don’t want to have to buy in-store it all the time? Are you finding it hard to manage baking your own bread because you are too busy or it requires too much effort? No matter what your reasons are for buying a bread maker, there are certain things we recommend keeping in mind while you shop. The following can help you make the right decision when shopping for this popular product:
First off, think about the size of the bread maker you want to get. Do you want it to be large so you can make bigger loaves of bread? Or do you need it to be more compact because you don’t have a lot of space to store it away when not in use? This can help you quickly narrow down your many options to those that are most suitable to your needs and preferences.
Another thing to consider is whether you want a machine that comes with a lot of extras (such as additional paddles for kneading the dough, or gluten free settings), or if you want to stick with a really basic machine. And the same is true for the programs that a bread machine comes with. Again, some machines are really basic and easy to figure out, while others are more complicated. Some have a lot of programs you can choose from to make a variety of breads, and this could come in handy but it also might make things a bit more confusing. So, just keep all of these features in mind while you browse.
In terms of the types of loaves that bread makers can make, there are typically two options: vertical and horizontal. Some people don’t like vertical bread makers because the shape of the bread that comes out is different from what they’re used to when they buy loaves in stores.
Finally, consider the brand and the price of the bread maker you are planning on buying. Do you want to stick with a certain brand that you are familiar with, or do you have a strict budget that you need to adhere to? These are certainly factors that are going to help you further narrow down your options to the bread makers that are going to be the best match for your needs.
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