The 3 Best Bread Makers, Tested and Reviewed
We made 18 loaves in machines by Zojirushi, Breville, Amazon Basics, and other brands to determine which can deliver bread you want to finish in one sitting
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There’s nothing quite like a homemade loaf of bread, from crusty sourdough with just the right amount of tang to fluffy sandwich bread that makes an ordinary weekday lunch into a treat. And yet, many home chefs who are comfortable baking just about anything else are intimidated by baking bread.
Enter: the bread machine. These countertop devices are meant to take the stress out of kneading, rising, and waiting, with a “dump it and forget it” vibe (which is completely wrong; more on this later).
I tested six of the top bread machines to see which actually perform against bread baked in the oven the “old-fashioned way” and which are easiest for amateur and experienced bakers alike to use in their own kitchens.
- Tips to Make Good Bread in a Machine
- Bread Makers We Tested: Amazon Basics Programmable Bread Maker Hamilton-Beach Digital Automatic Bread Maker Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker CBK-110NAS Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker CBK-210NAS Zojirushi
- How We Tested Bread Makers
Tips for Baking With a Bread Machine After Testing 6 Models
While bread machines might seem like a fix-it-and-forget-it appliance, let me assure you that they are not. Some have a steep learning curve and require you to keep coming back and starting the next part of the program. Others require very precise measuring and layering, and might not perform as well with some recipes.
• Using a bread maker takes trial, error, patience, and persistence. However, over time you can develop a routine and quickly make homemade bread. Here are some tips to consider:
• Start by following the recipes in the instruction manual exactly. They are customized to the machine. From there, venture into other recipes, but know that even recipes that claim to be specifically for bread makers may not work with your machine. Some third-party recipes worked with some machines but were disastrous with others.
• Follow layering directions exactly. You can’t “mix it and dump it in” like some people think.
• Start on a lighter setting when it offers options for light, medium, or well-done bread. You can always add more time but can’t take it away.
• Read directions for which paddles go with which programs. Some machines have multiple types, such as for making jam vs. bread.
• Gluten-free: Remember that you can’t simply substitute gluten-free flour in all recipes. Look to the manuals or specific recipes online for these machines for gluten-free options.
• Clean machines promptly after they cool. The dough becomes much tougher to remove, even after just a few hours.
• Paddle missing after baking? Don’t fret–it’s normal for it to sometimes get stuck in the bread, though it can really take a chunk out of the loaf.
• Start with preset programs before working toward customized ones. They are simpler and help with confidence and understanding the machine.
• Sometimes your loaf just won’t look good in the end. If it still tastes good, throw the crumbles on a sheet pan with eggs or egg whites, cheese, and sausage or bacon. You’ll love the homemade vibe of a breakfast casserole and won’t care about the shape or consistency.
Photo: Alex Frost Photo: Alex Frost
Use these tips, practice a lot, and, before long, your kitchen will smell like a bakery and you’ll glide past the processed bread aisle at the grocery, confident that, with a little determination and the right machine, you can do it yourself in a short afternoon.
Sneak Peek: The six bread makers we tested ranged in price from roughly $80 to $450, with the latter price for the wildly popular Zojirushi, which is frequently a favorite on CR competitor sites. Consumer Reports is happy to share that we disagree with them. You don’t have to spend the equivalent of some people’s car payment on a bread maker. This is a case where the luxe pick is a nice-to-have but not a must-have. Also, none of the machines had issues with motor strain or moving around as they worked.
Bread Maker Testing
These bread machines delivered some beautiful and delicious loaves and some really ugly, tasty ones. Others resembled brains, while others had crusts that were far too crisp or crumb that was too dense. In other words, they varied widely.
Baking Bread Soon?
We have a roundup of all the tools you’ll need to make the best bread of your life.
