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Fresh baked bread is a tried-and-true side dish for almost any meal. Instead of heading out and buying a baguette at the grocery store, why not try baking it yourself with a bread maker? The This Old House Reviews Team has found the best bread makers on Amazon to suit your kitchen. Here are our top picks.
Best Value
Hamilton Beach Bread Maker Machine
- $90
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 12 pre-programmed settings
- Two loaf sizes
- Three crust shades
- Delay timer
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked that this bread maker was easy to clean. They also said that it made minimal noise, so they were able to use it while they were watching television in the living room or working in the home office. However, the machine produced caved loaves for some customers. Other customers claimed that it was ineffective at mixing dough.
Best Accessories
KBS Bread Machine
- $149.96
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 17 pre-programmed settings
- Three loaf sizes
- Three crust shades
- 15-hour delay timer
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers mentioned the tempered glass and stainless steel build of this bread maker, stating that it was both durable and stylish. For some users, it didn’t properly mix the ingredients. For others, the manual was difficult to follow.
Best For Quick Baking
Zojirushi Bread Maker
- $381.14
- $447.99
- 15% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 15 pre-programmed settings
- One loaf size
- Three crust shades
- 13-hour delay timer
- One-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were happy with this machine’s useful timer function, easy-to-use design, and durable build. However, other customers found it hard to concentrate with the machine on because it made loud noises.
Most Compact
Cuisinart Bread Maker
- $129.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 12 pre-programmed settings
- Three loaf sizes
- Three crust shades
- 13-hour delay timer
- Three-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Those who gave this product positive reviews said that it was lightweight and took up minimal space. They also liked its interior light because it gave them better visibility of their bread. However, many users were annoyed at how often it beeped while it was on.
Best For Cake
Pohl Schmitt Bread Machine
- $99.99
- $129.97
- 23% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 14 pre-programmed settings
- Three loaf sizes
- Three crust shades
- 15-hour delay timer
- Two-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers were pleased with this bread maker’s intuitive design and convenient display. On the other hand, unhappy customers said that it didn’t always bake loaves all the way through. They also didn’t appreciate that it was made in China despite being advertised as a Swiss manufacturer.
Buyer’s Guide
You can expand your cooking horizons by using a bread maker to create your own delicious, home-baked bread. This buying guide covers the important elements you should consider before purchasing a bread maker for your kitchen.
Settings
Most bread makers come with numerous settings—often a dozen or more—that are programmed to make different recipes. These settings adjust the size of the loaf, the color of the crust, and the type of bread.
Size
Measure the available space you have on your counter or in your cabinet before purchasing a bread maker. Bread makers usually have a tall and skinny or short and wide build. If you have a small kitchen, opt for the former option.
Capacity
Tied closely to size, capacity refers to the maximum amount of dough a bread maker can bake at once. Most bread makers have a capacity of one or two pounds.
Cleaning
Most bread machines are built with a mix of hand-wash and dishwasher-safe components. You usually have to wash the exterior by hand. However, the removable pan and other interior parts are sometimes safe for the dishwasher to save you time.
Features/Accessories
Bonus features and accessories that may come with your bread maker include:
- Fruit and nut dispenser
- Oven mitt
- Recipe book
- Viewing window
- Rapid baking
- Delayed baking
- Yogurt setting
- Jam setting
- Cake setting
How To Use a Bread Maker
If you’re new to making bread with a bread maker, it may seem confusing. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to keep doing it over and over again. To help you get going, here are some tips.
Follow Instructions Closely
An easy way for your bread to get ruined or your machine to break is to not read the instructions. Different types of bread require different ingredients and settings, so follow the machine manual and bread recipe closely.
Start Early
If you want to have your bread ready by dinnertime, you need to get started on it early in the day. See how long your bread maker recommends baking the specific type of bread that you want, and plan accordingly.
Check Often
Don’t be afraid to look through the lid while your bread bakes to track its progress. Doing this every 20-30 minutes makes it more likely that you will notice an issue before it’s too late. One common problem that happens sometimes with bread makers is that the blade doesn’t engage or mix the ingredients. Another common error is filling the maker’s chamber with dough that’s too wet or dry.
Be Aware of Temperature
The ambient temperature of your kitchen can affect how your bread bakes. If your home is too cold, the dough may not rise enough. On the other hand, if your home is too warm, the dough may overproof, which results in a flat loaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does my bread maker take to make bread?
It depends on the bread maker and the setting. However, it usually takes three or four hours for standard two-pound loaves.
Can I make gluten-free bread using my bread maker?
Some bread makers have a gluten-free setting that’s designed to work with gluten-free flour alternatives. You shouldn’t use your bread maker to make gluten-free bread if it doesn’t offer this pre-programmed mode.
Where should I keep my bread maker when I’m not using it?
You can store your bread maker on a counter or in a cabinet or pantry. It’s best if this counter, cabinet, or pantry is in your kitchen to keep it close by when you’re ready to use it again. If you’re keeping it on your counter, unplug it to prevent turning it on by mistake.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team?
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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