By Barbara Solomon on March 7, 2013 in
A surprising number of websites and blogs are devoted to bread making -- and according to many, bread machines are the most wonderful invention since, well, sliced bread. Editors at Breadmachinedigest.com, maintain that unlike other small appliances that sit on a shelf collecting dust, bread machines are versatile and fun, will get lots of use, and can save you money over time.
Yet, Mason Currey reports a different sentiment for Slate.com. After testing five popular bread makers, he ultimately concluded that the loaves were not that good, and the effort was just not worth it.
Bread machines can be pricey, and users say there is a learning curve. So, we had to ask, could baking in a plain old loaf pan better "rise" to the occasion? The modern appliance and baking mainstay go head-to-head in this kitchen showdown. Here's what we found:
Round 1: Price
Winner: Loaf Pan
Some basic bread machines are pretty inexpensive, carrying a price tag of under $50. This is just a tad higher than the $30-to-$40 price of some ceramic loaf pans, which earn high marks for baking performance. Still, with editors at Fine Cooking Magazine giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the $10 Pyrex glass model - and users expressing satisfaction with metal versions priced as low as $7 -the edge goes to the loaf pan.
Round 2: Size and Appearance
Winner: Loaf Pan
Bread machines are big, boxy, and bulky - so it's no wonder that size and appearance are common complaints among owners. By contrast, loaf pans are easily stored out of sight when not in use - and ceramic styles in particular have decorative appeal, users say.
Round 3: Convenience
Winner: Bread Machine
According to Laura Moser of WallStreetJournal.com, a bread machine is great if you love homemade bread but don't have the patience for "all that kneading." More specifically, the editors of Breadmachinedigest.com maintain that with a bread machine, it takes a mere ten minutes to load the ingredients, start the machine, and check the dough's consistency; without a bread machine, they say, you'll spend 30 to 40 minutes mixing the ingredients - and additional time monitoring the dough as it rises and shaping it into a loaf before you can put it in the oven.
Round 4: Versatility
Winner: Bread Machine
Most bread machines offer multiple sizes - a degree of flexibility you won't find with a loaf pan. In addition, most machines have multiple cycles, allowing you to make white, whole wheat, French, sweet, gluten-free, or low-carb bread, as well as pizza dough, pasta dough, and sourdough starter.
Round 5: Extras
Winner: Bread Machine
Reviewers and users alike praise the "delay-start" feature on most bread makers, which lets you add ingredients in the evening and wake to fresh-baked bread the next morning. Other machine-only benefits include LCD screens, signals to alert you when it's time to add fruit or nuts and, with some models, the ability to program custom settings.
The Decision: The Bread Machine Wins!
For those who don't bake bread frequently, or who limit themselves to simple recipes or mixes, a loaf pan may make economic sense; but for those looking to replace much of their store-brought breads with homemade varieties, reviews suggest that a bread machine is the way to go.
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