Best Bread Machines

Full-featured breadmakers offer more control

At the upper end of the price range, you'll find bread machines that do more than bake loaves. Although it costs more than others, experts say the Zojirushi BBCC-X20 (*Est. $200) sets the standard for bread machines. Experts at BreadInfo.com say that it's the most advanced breadmaker on the market. Robert Barnett of BreadMachineDigest.com bakes more than two dozen loaves in his BBCC-X20, reporting that each turned out perfectly. Professionals and consumers praise its build quality. Owners posting to Cooking.com award the BBCC-X20 an average of 4.6 stars (out of a possible five), with close to 300 customers rating it. High points mentioned in reviews are the Zojirushi bread machine's ease of use and quiet operation compared to the competition.

The Zojirushi BBCC-X20 bread machine uses dual paddles to mix dough, and it bakes horizontally, so loaves resemble traditional sandwich bread. Experts say two-paddle bread machines like this one do a better job of kneading than single-paddle machines. The Zojirushi BBCC-X20 has a sourdough-starter cycle and bake protection, which prevents the user from interrupting the baking cycle. You can make 2-pound loaves, as well as cake batter, jam and even meatloaf in this versatile machine. Unlike most other machines in its class, the Zojirushi BBCC-X20 allows you to enter your own baking times and cycles rather than being entirely confined to preprogrammed settings.

While we found the best feedback overall for the Zojirushi BBCC-X20 bread machine, it's important to note that we did find a number of negative user ratings at Amazon.com. Several users say the machine burned bread even on the light setting, and others complain that their breadmakers just stopped working. While we found these types of complaints about every model, it's important to note that the Zojirushi BBCC-X20 isn't immune.

Smaller families or singles might better appreciate the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 Home Bakery Mini (*Est. $155), which makes 1-pound loaves instead of 2-pound loaves. This machine also takes up less counter space than the Zojirushi BBCC-X20. This smaller breadmaker has so far received excellent reviews from owners -- including a perfect average rating in more than 100 reviews at Amazon.com. Owners say that the smaller loaves lead to less spoilage (without preservatives, homemade bread can spoil quickly if left on the counter). The Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini has pasta, pizza, jam and cake settings as well as a quick-bake cycle and a 13-hour delay timer. This smaller bread machine produces a taller, more vertical loaf of bread. It also costs significantly more than other small bread machines.

The T-Fal Home Baguette Maker, sold in the U.S. as the T-Fal Emerilware Bread and Baguette Maker (*Est. $150) -- is one of three bread machines reviewed by Vicky Sanderson of the Toronto Star. Sanderson likes its large viewing window and the twin kneading paddles for thorough mixing (especially important when mixing sweet breads). But she notes that the real standout feature is the four removable nonstick pans for making baguettes. The Emerilware Bread and Baguette Maker can bake up to 3-pound loaves. A handful of initial consumer reviews at Amazon.com are mostly very positive; one complains of a difficult time with T-Fal's customer service. About.com cooking equipment guide Jessica Harlan also reviews the Emerilware bread machine, praising its ease of use. She likes the option of making baguettes, but says the instruction book is not very clear.

Budget breadmakers

If you don't want to spend so much, editors at BreadInfo.com say the Panasonic SD-YD250 (*Est. $130) is a good choice, as long as you don't need custom cycles. Reviewers say it's a sturdy, flexible bread machine that makes flavorful loaves, and it gets high average ratings from more than 550 owners posting to opinion websites. Owners say it is solid and quiet, and its nonstick pan makes cleanup easy. This Panasonic breadmaker has a dispenser that protects the yeast and adds it to the dough at the right time, and like the Zojirushi bread machine, there's an audible signal for adding nuts or fruit. Unlike the Zojirushi BBCC-X20, the Panasonic SD-YD250 lacks a viewing window, but most owners don't seem to care much.

Compared to the Zojirushi BBCC-X20, the Panasonic bread machine, which also makes horizontal loaves, has one paddle instead of two. Experts say that two paddles are supposed to do a better job mixing and kneading large loaves. The downside is that you have two holes in the bottom of your loaf. While the Zojirushi can accept customized cycles and times, the Panasonic can't, so you're confined to presets. Those who don't plan on experimenting with custom cycles might not miss that feature. Unlike the Zojirushi, the Panasonic breadmaker doesn't have a jam cycle, nor can it make meatloaf. BreadInfo.com's editor likes the Panasonic bread machine, however, saying it's a "nice machine all around." Although this bread machine isn't quite as advanced as the Zojirushi, reviewers say the Panasonic is a nice basic, durable breadmaker, and it's an excellent value.

The West Bend Hi-Rise Breadmaker 41300 (*Est. $110), is an updated version of the West Bend 41200 model. This stylish-looking black breadmaker is a budget model that has dual blades for better kneading and loaf sizes that vary from 1 to 2 pounds. It allows customized settings, and unlike many breadmakers, the West Bend Hi-Rise has dishwasher-safe blades and pans. Because this is a new model, it has yet to earn many user reviews, although a handful of owners do rate it at Walmart.com. At that site, the West Bend bread machine earns perfect marks from users, who say it turns out excellent bread and is easy to clean.

We found no professional reviews of the Breadman Bread Machine TR875 (*Est. $90), but it earns generally high scores in more than 360 owner reviews posted to Amazon.com. Owners like its stainless-steel housing and relatively large viewing window. It has gluten-free, quick-bake and whole wheat cycles. Some owners, however, say the loaf (you can choose 1-pound, 1.5-pound or 2-pound sizes) is so tall that slices for sandwiches must be cut in half. A few owners wish the bread machine had cycles for pizza and pasta dough. We did read a small number of complaints about users receiving refurbished or defective machines, but based on overall reviews, it's a very good choice for those with gluten allergies.

Another Breadman model, the Breadman TR2500BC (*Est. $110), was picked as a best buy by the editors at ConsumerGuide.com but receives mixed reviews from owners on Amazon.com. Some say it is a worthy successor to previous Breadman models like the now-discontinued Breadman TR888; however, nearly 40 percent of the reviewers complain about the machine's durability and the company's customer service.

We found one professional review of the Sunbeam 5891 (*Est. $55) at ConsumerGuide.com, where it was selected as a best buy. It also receives good scores in owner-written reviews posted to Amazon.com and Cooking.com. Owners say that it's a good machine for the price and that it delivers tasty bread as long as you avoid the recipes in the manual, which some say call for too much yeast. The Sunbeam 5891 breadmaker has dough-only, bake-only and jam settings, as well as a signal that lets you know when to add dried fruit or nuts. We read a few complaints about the hard-to-read display, but owners are generally pleased with this machine, which they say pays for itself quickly. The Sunbeam bread machine makes a 1-, 1.5- or 2-pound vertical loaf.

We read mixed reviews of the Oster 5838 ExpressBake (*Est. $70). Editors at BreadInfo.com say it delivers a fine loaf in just 58 minutes, but with just one paddle, it occasionally chokes on raisins and other heavy ingredients. At Amazon.com, we read several accounts of brick-like and sunken loaves. Owners say you should be prepared to experiment with the amount of liquid and yeast in order to strike the perfect balance between soggy loaves and tough crusts.

Overall, if you want a simple, budget breadmaker, the Sunbeam 5891 looks like the best choice in its price range, and it has a few extra cycles not commonly found in similarly priced models.