Good:
- Relatively Quiet
- Versatile - many different programs
- Sturdy
- Separate Yeast Compartment
- Decent Motor Strength
Bad:
- Large Machine
- No Viewing Window
- Hard to Read Monitor
The Panasonic Bread Machine is a reliable mid level model. It has many different options, including whole grain, raisin bread, french bread, and quick breads/cakes. Most customer reviews are positive. However, the negative ones brought up some issues that need to be taken into consideration.First, the machine seems to be a very reliable one. People who have one say they last a long time, without needing repairs. Occasionally, there seems to be a defective one, but the majority of people have had no problems.
One unique feature of the panasonic bread machine is that it has a separate yeast compartment. This allows you to set the timer and the machine adds in the yeast at the appropriate time, preventing it from rising and collapsing. I've always gotten around that issue by layering the ingredients so the yeast doesn't touch any liquid or salt, but some people may find it convenient. However, it seemed like this was the most likely part to break or have problems.
With the yeast dispenser, Panasonic took away the viewing window. That would be a reason for me not to buy this machine, as I like to peek at my bread to see how it's doing while it's kneading and cooking. However, it may not be an issue for you.
Some people said that with the size of the machine, the height of it made it hard to read the monitor while it was on the countertop. I could see this definitely being a problem if you are under 5' 5"! Also, the size made storage difficult.
Overall, the Panasonic Bread Machine is a decent purchase if you are looking for a reliable machine with plenty of options. And you can get past the slight problems that I would have with it...
To find it at Amazon, follow this link:
Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker
