Best Bread Machines and Makers Consumer Reports in 2023
Baking your own bread can save you time while serving up tasty, healthy loaves for your meals throughout the day. Because you get to assemble the ingredients, you can go for a healthier or unconventional route if you’re bored with your everyday loaf. Not to mention the fact it’s way cheaper than store-bought bread, which, more often than not, is unhealthy.
Then again, you might think, who’s got the time to make their own bread? Well, you’d be wrong. With the right choice of the bread machine, you’ll only need to assemble the ingredients, and the rest it’ll do for you. Within hours, you’ll have a fluffy, homemade loaf and a bakery aroma inside your home.
However, getting yourself a bread machine that caters to your needs can be challenging. That’s why I’ve done all the work to present the best bread machines and makers there. So, let’s explore the best ones and find one that suits your needs.
Let’s check out the brief bread machines and makers reviews so you can choose them properly:
Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Bread maker
The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Bread maker is the one for you if you’re anything of a health nut. It comes with a set of healthy course settings that lets you make whole wheat, multigrain, rapid whole wheat, gluten-free, salt-free, and even sugar-free loaves. Now, don’t those diet days look so bleak anymore with the Zojirushi bread maker?
As for performance, this bread maker knocks it out of the park with its double-kneading blades that knead your dough perfectly. With its’ incredible power, you can easily bake whole wheat or white bread in just 2 hours and 25 mins. Let’s just say time is on your side when you’re baking a loaf with this bread maker.
The Zojirushi bread maker is also a complete bliss to use with its’ large LCD display and simple key code functionalities. Then again, they’re also the rapid settings to cook your loaf in the shortest time possible, in case you’re in a hurry. And with a cord length of 39inch finding an outlet is simply not an issue with this fantastic bread maker.
It’s perhaps the best bread machine for gluten-free bread there is.
Pros
It comes with a number of healthy course settings that help you make healthy loaves without any hassle.
It performs exceptionally well and perfectly kneads your dough
The machine comes with intuitive controls that make everything easy.
The rapid setting particularly comes in handy if you’re in a hurry and need to bake fast.
Cons
The aluminum on the blades gets chaffed off and needs replacements after a while.
If you like superior crusts, vibrant colors, and the perfect texture in your bread, then the Cuisinart Bread Maker should be your choice. This incredible bread maker comes with three crust shade options: light, medium, and dark. With the push of a single button, you can have freshly baked bread of your choice.
If you’re bored with your usual bread, you can exhale a sigh of relief as this bread maker comes with 12 preprogrammed menu options. These are fully automatic, and each option prepares a different kind of bread at your command. Also, did I mention you can make up to 2 pounds of the loaf at a time?
Also, with its’ vertical baking pan, removable kneading paddle, and removable bread pan, making bread along with cleaning is easier than ever. You can even keep track of your baking through the viewing window.
Last but not least, the Cuisinart bread maker comes with a handy 13-hour delay start feature. It truly is the best bread machine for beginners.
Pros
It comes with a whopping 12 preprogrammed menu options
You get to choose among three different shades of crust.
It’s extremely user-friendly and easy to clean.
It can easily cook up to 2 pounds of the loaf at a time.
Cons
You can’t reset the machine once it starts baking.
Some have reported issues with the retainer clips.
With its’ compact and elegant design, the Amazon Basic Non-Stick Bread-Making Machine packs quite a punch. According to the best bread machine consumer reports, it’s one of the top-tier products. I mean, with its’ crisp, clear LCD display and intuitive controls, how can it not be?
This 550watt non-stick bread maker is fully automatic and does the mixing, kneading as well as baking all by itself. You have a whopping 14 settings that include gluten-free options, doughs, jams, and so much more. Even for the crusts of your bread, you get three distinct options: light, medium, and dark.
However, the handiest feature of this nifty device is the express bake setting. You can cook your bread in less than 90 minutes in this setting. What more can you ask for?
Pros
It kneads perfectly by mixing the right amount of ingredients at the right time.
It comes with 13 automatic settings, three crust color options, and four bread sizes.
The smart LCD screen and the progress indicator make it extremely user-friendly.
The package includes 46 step-by-step recipes specially designed for this product.
Cons
Opening the dispenser is sometimes challenging.
The kneading paddle sometimes scrapes the bottom of the pan.
The Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker is perhaps the best machine for sourdough, pizza dough, gluten-free bread, and basically any bread you can think of. What makes it unique is its’ automatic fruit and nut dispenser that adds ingredients evenly at the right moment to create the perfect dough for your loaf. And everyone knows there can never be a delicious loaf without excellent dough.
According to the consumer report of bread machines, this leading bread maker is a must-have. It comes with 13 fully automatic settings, three crust color options, and four different loaf sizes for you to choose from. You can even bake a gigantic family-size loaf ( more than 2 pounds) in it.
What’s more, this absolute beast of a machine comes with 46 step-by-step baking recipes that you can use to make a variety of loaves. It simply can’t get any better than this.
Pros
It’s completely non-stick.
The machine comes with 14 different settings for making different kinds of bread.
The express setting lets you cook your bread in less than 90 mins
It comes with intuitive controls and is fully automatic.
If you have a large family to feed and little to no time for cooking, then the Oster Expressbake Breadmaker is for you. As the name suggests, this bread maker specializes in making large amounts of the loaf in a short time. The Oster bread maker can easily bake bread in less than an hour.
With its’ 2-pound baking capacity, you can easily feed your family in no time at all. Moreover, you’ve got the 13-hour programmable baking timer feature to cook fresh bread according to your plan. Whether its’ for a party or for daily meals, the Oster breadmaker will have you covered.
As for variety, it comes with 12 bread settings and three crust options for you to choose from. The large LCD display and easy button controls make baking as easy as it gets. Even your grandma can make bread using the Oster breadmaker.
It’s most likely the best bread machine for white bread.
Pros
It’s very suitable for large families.
It comes with 12 bread settings and three crust options.
The express bake setting bakes your bread in less than an hour.
It comes with easy-to-use controls.
Cons
The panhandle gets covered and blocked by the crust after baking.
The LCD display has no backlight.
Things You Should keep in Mind When Buying a Bread Maker
If you’re a beginner and don’t know the first thing about bread makers, then the long rows of appliances would definitely intimidate you. However, once you get started, you’ll quickly get the hang of it and start making delicious bread at home. And for you to get started, you must do your research ahead of buying your bread maker.
If that seems too much work, it’s because it is. However, I’ve done the work for you so that you don’t have to. So, let’s check out five things you need to consider before buying a breadmaker.
The Size of the Bread Maker Pan
If your aim is to make bread for a large group of people, then you’d want a machine that can hold at least 3-4 cups of flour. This size is probably best if you’ve got a large family or you wanna make bread for large gatherings with fried chicken made from an excellent air fryer(according to consumer reports). You can easily find bread machines that hold 3-4 cups of flour, as the big ones hold up to 6 cups.
You should keep in mind that your homemade bread won’t contain any kind of preservatives and will go stale very soon. So, it’s crucial that you consider how quickly your homemade bread will be devoured. Then again, if you wanna make bread for 2-3 people, a smaller machine with a smaller pan would work better for you.
The Shape of the Pan and The Number of Blades
Usually, bread machines come with a long and tall pan that easily gives away that they’re homemade. However, bread machines with horizontally-shaped pans are also quite common these days. That being said, if you wanna go for quality overlooks, then the long and tall shaped pans should be your choice as they make better bread.
As for blades, in most cases, two blades instead of one are much more efficient in mixing your ingredients together. This results in a perfect dough, and a perfect dough makes for savory bread.
The Number and Variety of Cycles
Having a bread machine with a large number of cycles is the trendy thing to do nowadays. However, unless you’re using every one of them, there’s really no point in having them. A bread maker that mixes and kneads your dough well should be more than enough.
For instance, if you want a machine to make gluten-free bread, it’ll be better to get a heavy stand mixer for the job of mixing the ingredients. The gluten-free dough requires a lot of power to knead, and most bread makers aren’t suited for the job.
So, make sure to consider what you’ll actually be using your bread maker for and buy accordingly.
Timers and If You’d Need One
While a timer might seem trivial, it can be the difference between well-cooked bread and over-cooked one. Most bread machines in the market today come with timers regarding the various mixes and bake cycles. If you’re having trouble with a specific part of the bread-making process, then a timer can certainly help you be more accurate.
For Example, if you only want to knead the dough in your bread machine, having a machine with a dough timer can save you a lot of trouble.
So, make sure to consider the bread machines with different types of timers and find out what you need.
The Price and the Performance
The general assumption with most products is that the more the price, the better the performance. But is that so even with bread machines? The answer is a safe yes.
FAQ on Bread Machines and Makers
What is the best brand of bread-making machine?
Whether you’re looking for the top bread machine made in the USA or elsewhere, nothing can be compared to the Cuisinart bread maker. Starting its journey in 1971, Cuisinart has been providing excellent home appliances to its customers. Among which their bread maker truly makes an impression like no other.
What is the difference between a bread maker and a bread machine?
Let’s say you want a bread machine for pizza dough. Although the difference isn’t concrete, according to public opinion, a bread maker only bakes your bread, while a bread machine comes with additional functions such as making jam or sourdough. A bread machine will serve you better in this case.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re interested in a bread machine for banana bread, gluten-free bread, or sourdough, by now, you know that the idea of the best bread machine and maker depends on a lot of things. Unless you’re familiar with them, you won’t be able to make delicious bread even with the best bread maker in the market. Most consumer reports for bread makers indicate it’s more often than not the lack of understanding on the customer’s part that results in poor bread making.
At the end of the day, it’s all about knowing what you require and how you use your bread machine. Hopefully, this article on the “Best Bread Machines and Makers” will help you understand your needs and get you a bread machine that works best for you.
