Buying a bread maker for your kitchen is a purchase that pays off every time you use it. Finding the right fit for your needs can be daunting, as there are hundreds of machines to choose from. We are the pioneers of in-depth product reviews and after countless hours of researching the different options available on the market today, we’ve put together a list of the best bread makers by category. Our goal is to give you a well-rounded list of top models at your fingertips and saves you time better spent baking than on the internet.
How Did You Choose Which Bread Machines to Review?
We reviewed the bread machines based on six categories, and include our top picks as well as three runners-up for each category that made the grade for the most commonly searched for bread maker. Each has its unique qualities, but all of our picks have similar features that are standard in today’s bread makers.
Also, we include bread machines for specialty 2-pound loaf types such as gluten-free bread. After our list on this page is a breakdown of these features, as well as other style and size considerations to look for when deciding on the right fit for your needs. Before you make a decision on which bread maker is right for your home kitchen, take a look at what we found.
Breville BBM800
Best Automatic Bread Maker
Coming in ahead of the pack by leaps and bounds in our reviews and landing at the top spot for best automatic breadmaker is the Breville BBM800. The Breville raises the bar for bakers, filling in the gaps that other high-end bread makers miss and giving the advanced chef all the tools they need to produce bakery-quality fresh bread. The stylish, stainless steel light medium bread machine has a robust set of 13 settings that include basic, wheat, French and specialty bread; and a gluten-free bread and jam cycle. The viewing window, bread pan and sophisticated operating system lets home bakers make custom adjustments to the time and temperature for the best bread.
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
Alternative: Hamilton Beach 29882 Bread Maker
The Breville BBM800XL Bread Machine is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Hamilton Beach 29882 Bread Maker is perfect for dough prep for rolls and pizza, and allows you to bake homemade bread without preservatives or trans fats.
Zojirushi BB-CEC20
Best Professional Bread Maker
Topping our list for best professional bread maker is the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme. A high-end machine that pulls out all the stops including multiple functions for different loaves of bread, a 13-hour delay timer, and settings that let you cook meatloaf and jams; the light medium Home Bakery Supreme bread machine gives you the flexibility and durability needed to do the job right. Tested by professionals, results report that the Home Bakery Supreme bread machine consistently kneads dough better than food processors or the traditional hand method. When paired with the quality and engineering that the Zojirushi bread machine brand is known for, this chic bread machine soars above the competition in its class to make the perfect convection bread.
Breadman TR520
Best Bread Maker for the Money
Our pick for the best bread maker for the money is the Breadman TR520 best bread machine. The Breadman is an all-around baking machine that has many of the robust features of more expensive bread machines. It makes our list as it matches or beats the competition in the standard settings for different kinds of bread. We especially like the TR520’s rapid bake function; taking one hour to produce a golden brown loaf sizes of bread, instead of the two hours that most models on the market offer, add to that the crust settings to create a three crust. Another feature that put the Breadman bread machine on top is its simplicity; an easy-to-navigate menu takes the hassle out of conversions and temperature calculations.
Alternative: Oster CKSTBRTW20 Bread Machine
The Breadman TR520 is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Oster CKSTBRTW20 features one-hour rapid baking setting, 12 agile preset functions, the standard three choices for crusts, and a 13-hour delay timer.
Zojirushi BB-PAC20
Best Gluten-Free Bread Maker
When it comes to handling the many stages needed to make the perfect loaf of gluten-free bread with your bread maker, the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker takes the cake. The gluten-free setting has a rest cycle, three rise stages, a baking period, and a keep warm function at the end of the process that browns the loaf of bread to perfection. We also like the striking bread machine’s quick bake settings, divided into categories by bread and programmed to handle the subtle differences between the types of flour used and the delicate requirements of specialty recipes.
KitchenAid KSM150PSMC
Best Kneading Machine
Our pick for the best kneading machine is the KitchenAid KSM150PSMC Artisan Series, 5- quart mixer. The large bowl can knead enough dough for four loaves of bread at one time. It comes with a two-piece pouring shield, a kneading hook, flat mixing blade, and a wire whip. The KitchenAid’s strength is in its design, drawn from 97 years of experience in making top-of-the-line mixers. The KSM150PSMC has ten speeds to control mixing and a 67-point rotation that evenly kneads dough without leaving dry spots in the corners of the bowl, not to mention the automatic fruit and nut dispenser. Adding style to function, it’s available in 25 stunning colors.
Alternative: Cuisinart SM-55 Stand Mixer
The KitchenAid KSM150PSMC is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Cuisinart SM-55 features 12 mixing speeds, a powerful 800-watt motor, and a large mixing bowl. Other innovative features include a 15-minute timer that automatically shuts down the mixer and an extra large splash guard that keeps the mess to a minimum.
Panasonic SD-YD250
Best Horizontal Bread Maker
The Panasonic SD-YD250 automatic breadmaker with yeast and automatic nut dispenser is our pick for the best horizontal bread machine, scoring high marks for its ease-of-use, precision, crust settings for a three crust and the quality of the loaf sizes brings to the table. Panasonic is a leader in making the best bread machines, and the SD-YD250 is at the head of its class for its no-frills attitude when it comes to making bread. This breadmaker design gives bakers ample options to choose from for different settings but doesn’t overwhelm the user with too many adjustments and custom features. We like that the baking pan can make a 2.5-pound loaf, big enough for the whole wheat family to enjoy, just kidding here.
Alternative: Hamilton Beach 29881 Bread Maker
The Panasonic SD-YD250 Bread Maker is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Hamilton Beach 29881 Bread Maker is an all-purpose, inexpensive bread machine that comes in ahead of the game and produces homemade bread that exceeds the price tag.
What are the Basics I Should Look for in a Bread Maker?
There are standards that all bread makers have in common, no matter what the cost or how many bells and whistles the maker comes with. Before making a decision, take some time to familiarize yourself with the basics of a bread machine. Don’t forget to read some reviews on Amazon either as they might shed some more light.
- Preset Functions
- Most brands design their best bread machines so that they are easy-to-use. They have standard settings to accommodate different kinds of bread; including basic, French, Wheat, and sandwich. This feature takes the work out of making the best bread possible , the temperature and time settings are already pre-programmed into the machine. Most bread machine models also have a rapid bake cycle and a delay timer that lets you set up the bread mix and continue with your day knowing that homemade loaf sizes awaits you once you return home.
- Specialty Functions
- Specialty features on a bread maker include settings for gluten-free bread that use complicated steps when baking the best bread, the ability to cook jam and even meatloaf, and custom options for the knead, rise, and bake cycles. These include the capacity to adjust the time and temperature, which is useful for advanced bakers who have their preferences based on specific bread recipes. Other accessories on an advanced bread maker are trays that automatically add yeast, fruits, and nuts to your whole wheat bread. For sweet bread or recipes that depend on precision timing when adding a rising agent, these features go a long way and take the awkwardness out of waiting for an alarm to sound to add crucial ingredients to your bread maker.
What’s in the Box?
Depending on the bread machine and the price tag, most come with recipe books, DVD instruction manuals, different kneading blades, and measuring cups and spoons. Bread pans are another important feature across the board, as the size of the loaf that they can produce, is a significant factor when deciding which model to buy. The largest loaf size produced by a bread maker we list, weighs 3 pounds, while most that we included produce between 1 and 2.5 pounds.
How Does the Price Come into the Picture?
We list a variety of bread makers in our reviews that range in price from under a hundred dollars to well over it. While the difference is quality between the machines is reflected by how much they cost, the affordable ones we list are included because they are the best for your buck.
If you are a beginning baker, who wants fresh bread without having to take a cooking course, one of the basic machines on the list will get you the best bread. For advanced bakers who need custom options that control tricky parts of the baking cycle, more expensive bread maker models that we review to provide you with the features you need.
These machines are the best on the market, offering custom settings, precision, and quality that you expect from a professional convection bread maker. The price for that is higher than more simple machines, but the results that you can achieve pay off.
What Else Should I Look for in a Bread Maker?
After deciding on how you will use a bread maker, the options that you need, and the price that you want to pay; other important considerations are style and size.
- Style
- The bread machines that we review come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are options for small kitchens, stylish additions to a modern space, and bread maker models that are considered state-of-the-art for their appearance and function. When choosing the right model, take the time to add your personal design taste to the list of requirements for buying one.
- Size
- A final consideration when deciding on the right bread maker is the size. Our list has machines that can take up a small, stand-alone kitchen island, and those that fit on a pantry shelf or in a cabinet when not in use. Think carefully about where the machine is going to go in your kitchen. Far too often the best bread machines end up in the basement after a few weeks because they take up too much room instead of other equipment.
Final Thoughts
Bread machines are a convenient appliance for your home that can cut costs when buying groceries, make it easy to make bread at home the way you want it, and bring a homemade touch to any loaf of bread with your bread machine.
The variety of machines available means that you have plenty to choose from as far as size, the amount of bread that can be made, and the control over the baking process. Taking the time to find the right one makes life easier; after the decision is made, you take home the bread machine that fits your kitchen, style, and tastes instead of struggling to make do with the latest brand advertised you can finally start making bread.
We hope that the information that we provide helps to guide you through this process, and gives you the best bread possible and finds you a bread maker that adds to your household’s mealtime enjoyment for years. After all, it only takes you 13 hours to produce those warm loafs.
