Bread Maker Buying Guide

What the best bread machines have

  • Consistent performance: A quality bread maker will turn out loaves that are nicely shaped and have good color, a crisp crust, a light and airy crumb and most importantly good flavor, according to Mason Currey of Slate.com.
  • A decent warranty: Anything less than a one-year warranty tells you the manufacturer doesn't have confidence in its machine, according to BreadMachineDigest.com.
  • Straightforward instruction manual: BreadMachineDigest.com notes that the manual should include precise directions, time charts for each cycle, information on cleaning and care, contact information for repairs and a recipe book.
  • Streamlined appearance: A bulky, plastic exterior is a turn-off, according to editors at The Wall Street Journal who prefer an attractive stainless-steel design.
  • Relatively quiet operation: Rattling and churning that jolts you out of bed at 4 a.m., when your delay-start program kicks in, is a definite deal-breaker, according to Slate.com's Mason Currey.
  • Intuitive controls: Displays should be easy to read and shouldn't require much time or effort to locate the desired setting, according to BreadInfo.com.
  • A basic cycle and a dough cycle: These two are really all you need to make almost any type of bread, according to BreadMachineDigest.com; all other cycles and options are gravy, and you should pay for them only if you're sure to use them.

Know before you go

How many servings do you need? A good rule of thumb is that a 1-pound loaf yields about eight slices and a 2.5-pound loaf, about 20.

Is loaf shape important to you? Unlike vertical loaves, horizontal ones look more like those you'd find in a bakery or supermarket; but some vertical-pan machines are cheaper and smaller, meaning they take up less counter space.

Do you want to peek? A viewing window is a nifty feature, but experts say it's not essential -- so don't pay more for a model with one unless you're sure you'll use it.

Will you use a timer? You'll pay more for this feature -- but don't underestimate the pleasure of waking up to bread that started baking while you were snug in your bed, thanks to the delay start.

What kind of bread do you want to bake? A fancy machine with bells and whistles may be appealing, but depending on your needs, you may be perfectly happy with a modest array of cycles.

What's your paddle preference? Single-paddle machines are less expensive and usually do just fine, although Jessica Harlan of About.com recommends dual paddles for machines with horizontal pans, so the ingredients can be properly mixed and kneaded. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Do you want loaves with raisins or nuts? If the answer is yes -- meaning you intend to bake fruit or nut breads -- you'll want a machine with an add-ingredient signal, allowing you to pour in add-ons at the right time, ensuring they don't get dried out or mashed up.

Need a loaf stat? Most machines have one or more quick cycles for situations when you need to speed things up. These cycles shave about an hour off the cycle time, but they may produce slightly flatter loaves and require fast-rising yeast.

Value expectations: The dollars and cents of it

One of the benefits of owning a bread machine is that it can actually pay for itself over time. Bakery bread, or even supermarket bread, can add several dollars to a family's weekly grocery bill. By contrast, staples like basic flour, sugar, salt and yeast are fairly inexpensive. Of course, fancier ingredients, like nuts, fruit or specialty flour, may cost more. "Paying off" your bread maker directly correlates to the initial cost of the machine: the cheaper the unit, the faster you'll see your investment pay off!

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