Bread Machine Reviews

2019-12-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest: I love my bread machine. I use it almost every day. However, the way I use my bread machine is probably not the way you use yours, nor the way someone else may use hers.

You see, we each have different wants and needs in a bread machine. For me, I just make basic wheat bread. I use the machine to mix up the dough, then bake it in the oven. So a low end, basic machine works just fine.

But for you, you may want something that can handle a stiffer dough – maybe you make a lot of multigrain bread. Or you could want a quiet machine that you can use overnight. You also may prefer something that comes with a lot of options.

However, all of us want a reliable machine that we can trust to make decent loaves of bread, not brick doorstops. On this website, I'll be compiling reviews on a number of popular brands of bread makers. Each one I'll review on number of factors. These will include:

Price
Time or Bake Cycle
Noise – Can you sleep while it's running?
Number of Programs – dough cycle, types of bread made,
Loaf Capacity – How big your loaf is.
Warranty
Can it make more than bread?
Shape of Bread Pan
Timer
Motor Strength – stronger motor can handle thicker types of bread dough.
Reliability – Does it work as promised? Customer service handle problems promptly?

I hope that these reviews will help you find the machine that works for you and your family. I would like to give you one centralized site to find the bread machine that's right for you, rather than having to hunt down reviews all over the web. I don't have any vested interested in one particular brand over the other – I have a Breadman, but the way I use it may not work for you. I've put links on each review page to where you can purchase that bread maker at Amazon – if you do purchase through my link, I make a small commission. (Thank you!)

If you would like to see a bread machine reviewed that I don't yet have, please feel free to email me. I'll try to add it as soon as possible!

Zojirushi BB HAC 10 bread Maker – Zojirushi BB HAC10 Home Bakery 1 pound Loaf Programmable Mini Breadmaker

2010-04-07T17:57:00.001-07:00

Zojirushi BB HAC10 bread maker is the ideal choice for small families.

It bakes 1 pound loaves without waste, so you can always have your fresh bread on the table. Zojirushi mini breadmaker is also perfect design if you have limited space on the countertop in your kitchen.

One new feature unique to this model is setting cookie/pasta dough. Zojirushi BB HAC 10 will prepare delicious homemade cookie and Pasta dough and save lots of your time for sure.

Zojirushi Bread maker makes a wide range of bread, pastries and jams for you and prepares doughs pizza rolls, croissants and other cakes

It has 13 hour delay timer and includes an easy instruction video, manual and Zojirushi bread recipes booklet.

Zojirushi breadmaker is very quiet performance machine, running smoothly, and it is a great time to get one for yourself.

Black & Decker Bread Machine Review

2009-12-22T09:33:00.001-08:00

Good:

Inexpensive

Sturdy Paddle

LCD screen easy to read

Bad:

Hard to read buttons

Many complaints of shaking and walking.

Top tends to stick

Some people reported burnt bread.

Not many recipes in book, but easy to find bread machine recipes online.

Overall: Not Recommended

While previous models of the Black and Decker bread machine have gotten good reviews, the Black & Decker B2250 does not look to be a good model to purchase. It has many complaints of burnt bread, the top tends to stick, and it tends to shake and walk when in use. However, it is inexpensive, with a sturdy paddle and easy to read LCD screen.

If you do decide to go with this model, make sure to keep the receipt in case it doesn't work out.

For more information, visit Amazon at the link below:
Black & Decker B2250 All-In-One Automatic Breadmaker for 1-1/2 to 2-Pound Loaves

Panasonic Bread Machine Review

2009-12-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Panasonic Bread Machine Overview:

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

Oster Bread Machine 5838

2009-12-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

Best For:

Just starting out
Basic bread making

Good:

Compact Model
Affordable
Horizontal loaf of bread

Bad

Weak Motor
Problems with bread collapsing
Inadequate Mixing

The Oster Bread Machine 5838 is a decent model at a decent price. For under $60, it's a great deal at Amazon. If you are interested in a machine that will make a basic loaf of bread at an affordable price, it's a great option.

The 5838 comes with a few good features. It has a thirteen hour delay, as well as a one hour warming feature. So you can set it up in the morning for a fresh loaf of bread when you come home. It also has a rapid bake cycle, as well as a regular cycle. One thing I especially liked about this model was that it makes a horizontal loaf of bread, so it would be more in the traditional shape.

However, that feature may cause a few of the problems people cited in their reviews. Some people had trouble with the dough mixing adequately. Many times, flour was left on the sides. This is probably because the Oster Bread Machine 5838 only has one paddle in the horizontal pan.

Other people reported that the loaves collapsed on the top when using the regular cycle. However, this may be from using rapid rise yeast instead of regular yeast in that cycle.

It also has a weaker motor, so you may not be able to get heavier grains and add ins such as raisins to mix properly through the dough.

However, if you are looking for a base model bread maker that just makes bread and pizza dough, the Oster Bread machine 5838 is an affordable and reliable option for you.

To see the Oster at Amazon, please follow this link: Oster 5838 ExpressBake Breadmaker, White

COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE

2009-12-11T06:17:00.000-08:00

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The owner of this website may receive compensation for recommendations made in reference to the products or services on this website. This compensation may be in the form of money, services or complimentary products and could exist without any action from a website visitor. Should you purchase a product or service that was recommended by this website, it is understood that some form of compensation might be made to the website owner. For example, if you click on an affiliate link at this website and then make a purchase of the recommended product or service, the website owner may receive compensation.

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Save on Your Bread Machine at Amazon!

2009-12-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share with you a quick trick I found for saving a little bit on purchases made through Amazon.

There is a site called Swagbucks. When you use the site to do searches, you have a chance to win swagbucks. For about 40 of them, you can get a $5 gift code for Amazon.

I like to use this to do my first few searches of the day. I usually win one or two swagbucks a day, but sometimes you earn larger amounts. I then save them through the year, and cash all of them out for Christmas. It gives me about $60 towards those purchases - so not a lot of money, but enough for a few gifts!

If you're interested, you can check it out here. If you get started searching now, you may have enough for a little off your bread machine before too long!

Breadman Bread Machine TR2500BC

2009-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it, but the TR2500BC I would not recommend. Over half of the reviews were negative. People had problems with the pan not staying in place, causing the dough to not mix. There were problems with overbaking. There were problems with the machine walking on the counter. Even the automatic dispenser unit had problems, not dispensing the add ins at the right time or at all.

If you are interested in Breadman, I would recommend the TR875. For a few dollars more, you get a much better machine.

Breadman Bread Machine TR875

2009-12-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

The Good:

Reasonably Priced
Quiet
Small
Does Not Get Overly Hot

The Bad:

Has trouble mixing heavier grains.

If you're looking for a good basic bread machine, the TR875 may be a very good option. In general, reviews are positive. The machine is quiet, small and makes a good loaf of bread. Many people like the gluten-free cycle. It also comes with a low-carb cycle.

However, if you want to make your own bread using heavier grains, this may not be powerful enough for you. People have reported inadequate mixing when they use whole grains.

Also, there seemed to be a run of problems earlier this year where refurbished machines were being sold as new. That problem seems to be corrected now, but when you open your machine, make sure to check that the plastic cover over the display is still intact, the twist ties are still on the cord, and the machine itself is not dented or dirty. Amazon does have a really good return policy to cover this sort of incident, and hopefully the company has resolved this problem as well.

Breadman Bread Machine TR2200C

2009-12-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, this model is discontinued. However, it has been a very popular model, for good reason. If you are interested, you can still find used and refurbished ones on Amazon from time to time.

Everyone who has this model seems to rave about it being very reliable. It produces a large loaf (2 lbs) for it's size, it has a tray to automatically dispense add-ins, and it has many cycle options.

However, it tends to be a little noisier. People who use it compare the noise it makes to a dishwasher. You also need to limit the ingredients used to less than 5 cups, or you risk overflowing the bread pan.

You can find it used for about $50. If you are looking for a new Breadman, the best one I've seen so far is the TR875.

Breadman Bread Machine

2009-12-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Breadman is one of the most popular brands of bread machines. They are reasonably priced, fairly good quality, and have plenty of features. I personally use a Breadman that I've had for 8 years now - it's loud, but still runs just fine. However, there seem to be a few issues that people experience commonly.

First, the instruction manual tells you to run the bread machine empty to burn off any machine oil. This is good advice; however, the manual doesn't tell you that if you leave the pan in the machine, you are likely to have a very hard time removing it. If you follow this step, make sure to leave the pan out of the machine and the top open. Also, use the quick cycle.

One common complaint with this manufacturer is that it seems to be very hard to find replacement parts. I did see several paddles on Amazon, but if you have an older model, you may be out of luck.

Most models now come with a gluten free cycle, allowing you to make GF bread for far less than what you would pay in the store. They also allow you to make jam. However, some models seem to not have the motor strength to properly mixed heavier doughs, such as those with whole grains.

Below, I'm going to link to individual models as I review them. I'll also include a summary of the good and bad points about each machine.

Breadman Bread Machine TR2200c - noisy but reliable. Discontinued.
Breadman TR875 - good basic model. Does not handle heavier grains, but reliable.
Breadman TR 2500BC - not recommended. Many problems reported.

Zojirushi Bread Machine – BBCC-X20 Review

2009-12-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

Best Features of this Machine:

Traditional shaped large loaf.
Many different programs.
Powerful motor.
Quiet.
Long timer.

Worst Features:

High Price.
Two holes from paddles in bread.
May be issues with quality control.

Recommended for:

Large families.
People who bake a lot.

As I started doing research into the Zojirushi Bread Machine, I was really impressed. It does seem like the "zo," as some people affectionately call it, has a lot of great features. However, there are a small percentage of negative reviews that have me a bit worried. $200 is a lot to spend on a bread machine – so I know I want to make sure I'd be getting the best possible machine at that price point.

First, there are a lot of great features with the Zojirushi BBCC-X20. It makes a more traditional shaped loaf, which is something I know my family would prefer. One of the reasons I usually bake our bread in the oven is to get a better shape – one that's easier to slice for toast. There are also a lot of different programs for bread, as well as the ability to create 3 custom programs. You can also make sourdough bread, jams, and cakes in the machine. It has one of the strongest motors out there, which makes it perfect for thicker doughs. It has a 13 hour timer for programming bread ahead of time.

There were a few things that gave mixed reviews. Most people said it was quiet (though there were a few exceptions). This could be because the paddles were inserted incorrectly or the machine was off balance. Also, some people did not like the short electrical cord. At three feet, they found it wasn't long enough – though I believe it's that length for safety.

The machine works best for large loaves of bread. People who tried to make bread recipes with less than four cups of flour found that the loaves were misshapen and often overcooked. So if your family does not go through bread quickly, this machine may be a little much for you.

With the shape of the pan, you need two paddles to get the ingredients to mix properly. This leaves two holes in the bottom of the bread, which many people did not like. Also, in smaller loaves of bread, the dough tended to end up higher on one side, leading to an uneven loaf.

There were also a lot of complaints about the teflon coating. For some people, they found that the coating lasted about a year before it started to flake off. Others said they had no problem as long as they followed the instruction manual. If you use this machine, you should never put the pan in the dishwasher and avoid abrasive cleaning products. Most people said they could clean it by wiping it out with a damp sponge, although some had to soak it to loosen baked on bread.

Unfortunately, it seemed that a small number of people received defective machines, which may indicate a problem with quality control. For some people, the Zorijushi made bread that was unevenly baked – hard on the bottom and undercooked on the top. Another complaint was that the seal above the paddle leaked, causing lubricating fluid to get on the bread. Both of these problems are covered by warranty.

Overall, if you need a machine you will use frequently for large loaves of bread, I would recommend the Zorijushi. Just make sure to keep your receipt in case you end up with one that made it past quality control.

My Favorite Bread Machine Recipe

2009-12-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

Here's my favorite bread recipe, adapted for use in the bread machine. I use the 2 lb loaf setting and the dough cycle, then bake the bread in two pans in the oven. I then slice both, and freeze one (it only keeps for two days without freezing). However, you could cut the recipe in half and bake it in your bread maker - I just like the shape of the bread better from my oven!

Here's the order I put in the bread machine:

2 cups warm water with 2 TBSP warm water
1 TBSP salt
3 TBSP shortening
2 TBSP sugar
5 cups flour
1 packet yeast

If you want to bake it in the bread machine, cut the recipe in half:

1 cup warm water with 1 TBSP warm water
2 tsp salt
1 TBSP + 2 tsp shortening
1TBSP sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast (from jar - much cheaper than packets if you bake a lot!)

Tips on Buying the Best Bread Machine

2009-12-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of bread machine options. In fact, there are so many that it can be hard to decide which one you should get! On top of that, the best bread machine for you may be different from the best one for someone else.

However, you can use some simple principles to decide which bread machine is the best for you. There are certain things you should look for in every bread machine. After that, choose the one that best fits your needs.

Every bread machine should come from a reliable manufacturer. While most of the big brands are fine, there are a few that have several complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau. Most of their machines may be fine, but they may have a few defective ones (hey, it happens to the best of us!) What's important is whether the company took action to fix a customer's problem, or if they tended to just ignore the problem.

Next, decide what you need in a bread machine. Here's a list of questions you can ask yourself:

What kind of bread will I bake in this machine? If you are going to bake dense, heavy bread, then you need a stronger motor. Also, consider if you want to make more than bread.

How often will I use this machine? If you are going to use it every day, you want something with high reliability and a good warranty.

When will I use this machine? If you are going to use it overnight, you want a machine that runs quietly. If you want hot bread when you get home from work, you want a machine with a timer.

Am I going to use this machine to bake in? Some machines work fine to mix breads, but tend to give baked breads an extremely brown crust – especially breads with a high sugar content. Others give you a light crust as you ask it to.

With these questions in mind, you can look through the available options to choose the best machine for you.