Nothing beats the taste of homemade bread. Once you’ve had homemade bread, it’s tough-going back to regular store-bought bread.
Unfortunately, making bread at home requires a lot of kneading, mixing, and waiting. Not everyone has the time or energy to put into the process.
Luckily, modern technology has made life easier for everyone. What initially required a lot of energy can now be done by simply pressing a few buttons thanks to the best bread machines.
From plain white bread to artisan loaves, you can make just about any bread with bread machines.
Given the wide variety of bread machines, how does one select the best bread machine?
After some research, we’ve narrowed down some of the best bread machines in the market. If you’ve never used a bread machine before, we’ll also provide you with an easy-to-understand guide on how to use bread machines.
If you’re curious to know more, let’s get straight into it.
The 5 Best Bread Machines for 2024 Reviews
Let’s start by looking at some of the best bread maker machines in the market. We looked at various factors such as size and budget when deciding on the best bread machine.
Best Overall: Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker
First on our list is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker. With this machine, you can make various types of bread, including multigrain, whole wheat, rapid whole wheat, salt-free, sugar-free, and even vegan bread.
Have you experienced aching muscles because you spend way too long kneading your bread dough? Well, you can say goodbye to those aching muscles thanks to the double kneading blades on this bread machine. These blades thoroughly knead your dough, allowing the dough to rise properly.
In addition, it also comes with dual heaters on the bottom and the lid for your bread maker. This allows for even baking. You’ll be able to achieve that beautiful golden brown color with this feature every time you bake bread in it.
If you struggle with reading the display on your kitchen appliances, you’ll be pleased to know that this bread maker comes with an easy-to-read display.
Unlike slow cookers, your loaf can be ready to eat in around two and a half hours, thanks to the rapid settings feature on this machine.
You also don’t have to worry about setting up the machine near a power socket as it comes with a long 39-inch cord. It has an electrical rating of 120 volts / 700 watts.
Runner Up: Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker
The Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker is for all you pizza lovers out there. This is the perfect product to make the best bread machine pizza dough. Top the soft pizza dough with your favorite beef cuts, and you’ll be in pizza heaven!
It comes with 16 pre-programmed menu options in addition to 3 different crust colors and three different loaf sizes, allowing you to make a variety of bread. You can achieve a chewier texture and more rustic crusts with the special menu option on this bread maker.
This Cuisinart machine is known as one of the best bread making machines because it boosts a unique convection feature that allows proper circulation of air, which allows for superior color and texture.
If you’re the forgetful type, then this machine is great for you. It has audible tone reminders that tell you when you can add mix-ins like fruits and nuts. In addition, it has a second tone reminder that gives the option to remove the paddle or remove unbaked dough if more shaping is needed.
This machine also comes with some additional set-up features such as the 15-minute Pause, Bake-Only option, 12-hour Delay Start, and a timer. If you’re experiencing a power failure, it even has a Power Failure Backup feature.
Another great thing about this bread maker is that it comes with a 3-year warranty. So, if you experience any trouble, you can contact the manufacturer and use your warranty.
Best Mini: Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker
Another one of the best bread making machines is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker. This programmable bread maker allows you to make around one pound of bread or cake.
The settings on this machine allow you to choose various options, including dough for cookies, pasta, and fresh fruit jams. It also comes with an option that allows you to opt for a quick-bake cycle.
The LCD control panel is easy to read and allows you to look at your baking settings. In addition, this bread maker comes with a viewing window that allows you to watch your bread as it rises.
If you’re looking for some bread machine recipes, you can find them in the instruction manual of this machine. It’s also super easy to carry as it comes with a carrying handle.
Cleaning this bread maker is also easy as it comes with non-stick kneading blades and baking pans.
You can easily adjust the baking timer according to the kind of bread you’re making. It even comes with a 13-hour delay timer.
As this bread maker comes with a year-long warranty, you can easily contact the manufacturer if you face any issues.
Best Budget: Hamilton Beach Bread Maker
Are you working with a fixed budget? Then the best bread machine for you is the Hamilton Beach Bread Maker. If you’ve used the Hamilton Beach Grill, then you’ll have an idea about the product quality from this brand.
Not only is this machine super simple to use, but it also lets you bake a variety of bread.
In just three steps, you can make your favorite type of bread. Just add the ingredients, select a cycle and press the start button. This bread maker comes with 12 different cycle settings. Some of the options it includes are:
- Basic french
- Gluten-free
- Quick bread
- Sweet
- 1.5 lb express
- 2 l express
- Dough
- Jam
- Cake
- Whole grain
- Bake
From pizza dough to dinner rolls, you can prepare a variety of doughs in this machine. It also allows you to control the nutritional content of your bread; you can make bread without any preservatives or trans fats.
The digital display is easy to read and easy to set up for baking settings. Cleaning your bread maker will be an easy task as not only are the paddles and baking pan removable, but they’re also non-stick and dishwasher friendly.
If you’re struggling to find a good recipe to follow, simply take a look at the recipes that come with this bread maker. It’s not easy to find a bread maker with all these amazing features at such a low price.
Best Compact: Cuisinart Bread Maker
Last on our best bread machine reviews list is the Cuisinart Bread Maker. It gives users 12 pre-programmed menu options, which are fully automated, making baking a lot easier.
You can bake up to 2 pounds of bread. In addition, it gives you the option to choose from three of the following crust shades.
- Light
- Medium
- Dark
If you’re running low on space in your kitchen or if you’re looking for a bread maker to take along on your camping trip along with your portable grill and iron skillet, the vertical baking tray allows for a compact design.
If you need help picking out bbq equipment for your camping trip, we suggest looking at some of the following guides on:
You can also glimpse at your bread as it begins to rise through the viewing window and the interior light.
If you need to be away for a bit but want your bread to be done by the time you get home, this machine comes with a 12-hour delay timer. This means you can have fresh bread at any time you want.
How to Use a Bread Machine
Is it your first time using a bread machine?
Well, fret not. It’s not as daunting as it may seem. If you’ve used a rice cooker or an air fryer, you can definitely use a bread machine.
The process may vary a little depending on the machine you’re using, but the process is quite simple.
Regardless of whether you’ve used a bread maker before or not, it’s best to start with a basic dough the first time you use your machine. Then, be sure to read all the instructions.
You need to know the capacity of your bread machine. Don’t overflow the machine with ingredients. Also, ensure that your bread recipe is appropriate to use in a bread machine. Your usual bread recipe may not work for the machine.
Ensure that you have the right temperature and proportions for all your ingredients. You don’t really need a thermometer as such. Once you have your recipe down, you can select a cycle and press start.
Make use of the timer feature on your bread machine to ensure the best texture and color.
We suggest going through the instruction manual carefully before you just start adding ingredients, as each machine is different and may have certain features that are unique to it. You can only get the most out of your bread maker if you’re following the instructions and using it properly.
Conclusion
Baking bread becomes a piece of cake when you switch to a bread machine. You need two things to get chewy, perfectly colored loaves.
Firstly, you need the right recipe. Then, you need to ensure the proportions of your ingredients are accurate. Also, the temperature of wet ingredients can make a huge difference when it comes to preparing bread.
Secondly, you need a good bread machine. We suggest you carefully read through our bread machine reviews to find the perfect product for you.
Once you have these two things down, you’ll be making the perfect bread in no time.
