The Best Bread Makers and how to choose the right one

When buying new kitchen appliances there are basically two options – either you will love it and use it all the time, or it will end up sitting on your kitchen counter just taking up space.

With a bread machine, we believe this is something you shouldn’t worry about. It’s a machine that makes fresh loaves of bread for you – what can be better than that? However, choosing the right bread machine can still be confusing.

This is why we have prepared this guide. We’ve researched what is available on the market today and come up with a list of the top 5 bread machines in 2019 to help you narrow down your choice.

If this tickles your imagination, keep reading!

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The Best Bread Machine in 2019: Top 5 Bread Machines Reviewed

Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker

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The Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker is called a 2-pound maker, but this doesn’t mean you have to make 2-pound loaves of bread in it. In fact, it has three different size functions, so you can choose between 1, 1 ½, and 2-pound loaves.

There are also 3 crust settings and a timer that lets you set up the bread maker up to 13 hours in advance, so in terms of the basics – everything is there. Moreover, the Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker features 12 programmed menu options that can take you much further than just plain white bread.

Aside from the option to make regular white bread there is also a special program for whole wheat bread, another one for sweet bread such as banana bread, and a different one for gluten-free bread which many people will find very useful. If you are not choosing your own ingredients, but using a ready-made mix, there is also a special program for that.

Furthermore, you’ll find that the Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker is also useful for many different things other than making bread. The dough setting can mix any kind of dough, but what we really loved is making pizza dough this way. There is also a special setting for pasta dough!

Finally, what might come as a surprise is that this bred maker is also perfect for making all kinds of jams!

These are all preprogrammed option (there are twelve altogether) but you can also customize the settings and make your own program for unlimited freedom when baking.

This bread maker has a fantastic compact and functional design. It has a viewing window, a removable lid, and stay-cool handles. The pan in which the bread bakes and the paddle that mixes the dough are both removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Lastly, there are some nice extras, you’ll get a measuring cup, a measuring spoon and a booklet with bread, pastry, and jam recipes.

KBS Stainless Steel Bread Machine

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The KBS Stainless Steel Bread Machine is another great and amazingly versatile bread machine. From the first glance it’s easy to see that the sleek stainless steel exterior will fit seamlessly into almost any kitchen.

The unit is perfectly square, 14 inches long, and 12 inches high. At the top of the unit, you’ll find an intuitive touchpad that’s amazingly easy to use and takes you into the world of options this bread maker offers.

The KBS Stainless Steel Bread Machine has a capacity of 2.2 pounds, but you don’t need to use it at full capacity if you don’t want to. Instead, there are three loaf sizes to choose from (as well as 3 different crust settings).

In terms of programs, there are 17 to choose from. There is a program for almost any kind of bread you can imagine, but if these settings don’t suit you can also make your own custom program. Moreover, there are some rather interesting programs offered that go well beyond bread: jam, yoghurt, ferment, rice wine, and even stir-fry.

The KBS Stainless Steel Bread Machine has one more interesting feature that sets it apart from most other bread makers – the fruit and nut dispenser. The fruit and nut dispenser is detachable, and its purpose is to allow you to make bread with fruits and/or nuts in the bread maker without having to add the ingredients manually.

You’ll also get a 2-year warranty on all parts and accessories. A great little machine.

Zojirushi BB-PAC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker

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This bread maker from Zojirushi is another example of a functional kitchen appliance that does its job really well. This bread maker will let you bake beautiful rectangular, traditional-looking loaves of bread in no time and with minimal manual labor. From the outside, this bread maker looks really nice and sleek, but it is what’s on the inside that really matters. The Zojirushi BB-PAC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker comes with all the standard features that you would expect to find in a bread maker and the unit is designed to perform these tasks with perfect results every time. There are dual kneading blades made to knead the dough more thoroughly than any other bread maker on the market. The unit also includes an additional heater in the lid for amazingly even baking. All you need to do is measure the ingredients, put them in the baker, close the lid, choose the program you want, and the machine takes care of the rest. In terms of programs, there are programs for a variety of styles of artisan bread made ready for you. Choose the basic or the quick program or the whole wheat setting that extends the kneading time which helps achieve perfect results with heavier flour varieties such as whole wheat or rye. Additionally, there is also the “Home Made†cycle that allows you to adjust the knead, rise, and bake times to your own liking. Perfect for those who like to experiment with their own recipes!

Sunbeam Programmable Bread Maker

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The Sunbeam Programmable Bread Maker is a beautiful, easy to use, and quite affordable bread maker. The white exterior with the rounded edges simply oozes positive energy, and you will surely feel this way when you experience how easy it is to make bakery-style bread customized to your own needs with this programmable bread maker. Need to make gluten-free bread? No problem, there is a program for that. Like your bread with a well-done crust? Just select the dark crust setting. On the other hand, if you like soft crust, go for the light setting. Who wouldn’t love to find a fresh loaf of warm bread waiting when they come from work? Thanks to the programmable delay-timer, you can prepare the ingredients up to 13 hours in advance and have the Sunbeam Programmable Bread Maker prepare the bread just at the right time. Finally, this beautiful bread maker delivers more than just bread – you can also use it to make dough, jam, and cake with amazing results each time. The Sunbeam Programmable Bread Maker is also one of the most user-friendly bread machines we have come across. Equipped with a LCD display and large buttons at the front, this bread machine allows you to select the desired program and customize the setting such as loaf size and crust color in no time, even if you have never used this bread maker before. There is also a large viewing window at the top that allows you to monitor the whole baking process (which is quite enjoyable to watch, to be honest). The baking pan is removable and covered with a non-stick coating which makes it very easy to clean, but keep in mind that it shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher in order to avoid unnecessary damage.

Hamilton Beach 29882 2 lb Non-Stick Bread Maker

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The Hamilton Beach 29882 2 lb Non-Stick Bread Maker is another great bread machine that allows  you to make all kinds of bread in no time. It’s equipped with 12 automatic programs that include french bread, gluten-free, and whole grain.

There is also a nice Quick Bread setting that allows you to make a nice loaf in no time (this is a program that doesn’t use yeast, so the bread will be a little bit more dense). On the other hand, there is also the express program that makes a loaf with yeast in about an hour.

The standard programs take about 3 hours. This bread maker is also capable of preparing dough, cake, and jam for you just like most other bread makers.

This bread maker makes two loaf sizes – 1.5 pounds or 2 pounds. There are also the standard 3 crust settings (light, dark, and medium) that allow you to make bread just the way you like it.

The interior pan featured on the Hamilton Beach 29882 2 lb Non-Stick Bread Maker is non-stick and detachable. It is also dishwasher-safe, making for super easy clean up. This bread maker also comes with two kneading paddles that are dishwasher safe.

The machine uses only one paddle to make bread, which means you can put one in the dishwasher while using the other one. The unit will remain cold to the touch while operating, thus eliminating the chance of accidents and it’s also equipped with non-stick feet to prevent it from sliding around the counter.

Finally, the Hamilton Beach 29882 2 lb Non-Stick Bread Maker also features a delay timer, letting you prepare the ingredients ahead of time and have warm bread waiting for you right when you want it. Additionally, this bread maker is equipped with a reminder to add fruits and nuts.

It will start beeping when you need to add these ingredients, so there is no need to look at the clock all the time to not miss the time. It also beeps once the cycle is over. As a nice addition, you also get a booklet with whole-grain and gluten-free recipes prepared by Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods.

How To Use A Bread Machine Properly

Using a bread machine properly should not be very hard. The exact procedure will depend on the bread machine in question and the recipe you are using, but if you follow the instructions properly everything should be fine.

Just remember that it’s important to measure ingredients precisely and put them in the machine in the order in which they were listed. However, even if you mess something up, in 90% of cases you’ll still end up with an edible (and probably quite tasty) loaf of bread.

Which Crust Color To Select?

Most bread machines (and all of the models featured in our top 5 list) allow you to select between different crust settings – light, medium, or dark. But which one should you select? It’s actually not just a matter of color, but of crispness.

If you prefer a soft crust, go with light. On the other hand, if you’d like the crust to be more crispy, choose the medium or dark setting. Finally, if the recipe you are using features a lot of grains, sweeteners and fruits or nuts, it’s safer to try the light curst option as the crust might brown too quickly otherwise. 

How To Use Yeast In a Bread Maker?

Using yeast in a bread machine is quite straightforward. In fact, yeast is usually required, except for some specific cycles designed for yeast-free bread. In general, you should always follow the instructions provided in the manual of your bread machine or the recipe you are using. In most cases, you should make a small hollow space in the middle of your flour and place the yeast there.

Why Is My Bread Not Rising Properly?

If the dough in your bread machine is not rising properly, this might require a little bit of troubleshooting as there are a couple of things that might have gone wrong. First of all, you should check if the yeast you are using is fresh.

The most common cause of dough failing to rise is just yeast that has gone bad and isn’t properly working. Furthermore, if you are dissolving the yeast in a liquid, it might be at the wrong temperature. Also, if salt is combined directly with yeast, the yeast will not work.

Finally, if you have used too much flour in relation to the liquids, the dough might end up being too stiff thus making it impossible to rise. If none of these options are the cause of the dough not rising, there might be something wrong with the dough machine you are using.

What If My Bread Collapses While Baking?

If the bread you are making in the bread machine rises and then collapses during the baking phase, resulting in a lopsided loaf of bread, there may be two causes for this. First of all, the baking temperature might be too low.

The dough will rise as it is supposed to, but if the temperature inside the bread machine is not high enough at this moment, the bread will collapse before it has had time to set. Alternatively, the dough could have been over-risen.

Having your bread collapse while baking generally shouldn’t happen if you are following the instructions and recipes that came with your bread machine. If this keeps happening, do contact the manufacturer as there may be something wrong with the unit.

On the other hand, if you are experimenting with your own recipes, it is normal for this kind of thing to happen and you might just need to tweak the recipe a little bit.

How Do Bread Machines Work?

What does a bread machine do? Obviously, it makes bread, but what exactly happens once you put in the ingredients? Well, the machine will basically go through all the phases involved in making a loaf of bread by hand.

If you have ever made a loaf of bread or basically any other baked goods by hand, you probably know this – the process has four distinct phases – mixing, kneading, rising, and baking. The bread machine does exactly the same, only in a much more efficient way.

First, it uses the kneading paddle (or sometimes two) to mix ingredients and knead the dough. Once the dough is ready, the temperature in the bread machine rises slightly while the dough rises. Depending on the settings used, the dough might be kneaded and allowed to rise multiple times.

Finally when the dough is ready for baking, the bread machine basically turns into an oven – the heat is turned on for the appropriate amount of time and voilà – a freshly baked loaf of bread appears.

Why Should I Buy A Bread Machine?

Who doesn’t love the smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread? However, making and baking a loaf of bread by hand is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Even if you love baking, it can often be hard to find the time in the day-to-day grind. And who has the energy to do it after coming home from work? Well, a good bread machine can do everything for you. All you need to do is put in the ingredients.

On the other hand, the reason to buy a bread machine is painfully obvious for some people. If you are allergic to wheat, flour, or even the additives often used in bread, buying a loaf from the bakery is often a no-go. Having a bread machine at home allows you to make bread that corresponds to any dietary needs you might have.

Features To Look For In A Bread Maker

Every bread machine out there is made to perform the same task – make a loaf of bread. But how do you know which one to get? Different bread machines have different features, both on the outside and on the inside. Here are some things to think about before deciding which one to get!

Kneading Paddles

Every bread machine has a kneading paddle, and it’s actually one of the most important parts. The kneading paddles are always removable as they need to be clean, but it might be a good idea to check if the paddle is dishwasher safe too, as that can make cleanup much easier.

Some bread machines, like the Hamilton Beach 29882 2 lb Non-Stick Bread Maker (number 5 on our list) also come with a spare paddle which allows you to use one while the other one is being washed. Dual kneading paddles are also an option, and machines with dual paddles, like the Zojirushi BB-PAC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker knead the dough almost as it was done by hand!

Delay Timer

In our opinion, the delay timer is one of the best features a bread maker can have, which is why all of the bread machines we chose for our top 5 list. What’s the point of having a bread maker if you can’t have a fresh loaf of bread waiting when you come home?

This is exactly what a delay timer allows you to do – just add the ingredients, choose a time when you want the bread ready, and the machine does everything for you.

Ease Of Use

Bread machines can have a lot of options to choose from and a lot of different settings you can play around with. This is why a nice straightforward instruction manual is really important. Additionally, it might be a good idea to look for a bread maker with easy-to-use intuitive controls.

Final Thoughts

If you still aren’t sure whether getting a bread machine is a good idea, take our advice and get one anyway. After all, a bread maker will pay for itself soon enough! If you consider how little money you need for the ingredients of a basic loaf of bread, compared to the prices of sourdough bread, you’ll realize you’ll actually save a ton in a matter of months, especially if you have a family that likes to eat bread often.

We think that having a bread machine at home is a real blessing and when it comes to choosing which one to get, we hope this guide has been helpful!