Bread Machines Buying Guide

There is nothing better than coming home to the smell of freshly-baked bread. With a bread machine,  plus a little effort and the push of a button, your whole house can be filled with the delicious smell of hot bread  whenever you want. If this sounds like the best thing you've ever heard, or you know someone who might think it is the best thing ever, then a bread machine may be a great investment. Keep in mind that bread machines are frequent additions to appliance graveyards, so don't invest in a top-of-the-line model unless you're sure you need it. It's better to start with a smaller, less expensive machine and move up in a few years if you decide you really need it. Also, remember that it takes a long time to prepare and make bread from scratch. New bread mixes  can cut down on the prep time, but the bread will still take at least an hour to cook. Before purchasing your bread machine, consider what features are important to have and which models to buy depending on your needs.

Important Features

• Loaf Size and Shape
• The first thing to decide when choosing a bread machine is how big you want the loaves to be. If you are baking for just one or two people, a small loaf  might be enough. If you have a larger family or just really like having a lot of bread around, look into large 2-pound  models.
• Keep in mind that some larger models can also make smaller loaves, but they get the best results when used at full capacity.
• Loaf shape generally doesn't affect the quality of the bread. Some machines can make different shapes, although most stick to a square or rectangular loaf.
• Bread Variety
• Certain machines have settings for certain types of bread, such as whole wheat  settings or a sourdough  starter option.
• Machines also have crust control -- light, dark; soft, chewy, crispy; etc.
• Additional Features
• Some machines have a meatloaf setting or jam setting.
• There might be an option to add certain ingredients (cheese,  fruit,  nuts ) later in baking.
• Dough setting (for pizza dough  etc.).
• Some machines have numerous settings, while others may have only a few. Evaluate your baking plans before deciding what features you need. Don't pay for settings you don't need -- if you only want a nice loaf to have with dinner, you probably don't need all those features.

• Timers and Warming
• Some machines can be programmed to start at a particular time. 
• Some machines can delay start  for several hours. (Don't do this with recipes containing eggs  or milk! )
• The "keep warm"  feature keeps the bread warm for up to half an hour after baking.
• Cleaning Up
• Fresh bread is wonderful; cleaning is not. Look for models that offer easily removable parts for cleaning.
• Dishwasher-safe  parts are always a bonus.

Top Picks

ConsumerSearch picks these:

Breadman Ultimate TR-2200C  Best Overall Bread Machine	West Bend Just for Dinner  Best Small Machine	Zojirushi BBCC-X20  Best High-End/Full-Featured Machine

Large Capacity Bread Makers

These bread makers can produce up to 2 lbs. of bread loaves and, depending on the model, come equipped with a delay timer, multiple cooking functions, and express bake settings. They can also be cleaned easily by hand. Can't you just smell the fresh baked bread?

Melitta TR520 Horizontal Loaf Breadmaker, White	Sunbeam 5891 2lb. Delay Bake Breadmaker

Ingredients

See some important essentials below for mixing your bread before placing it in the machine.

Bread Flour  This type of flour should be used specifically for making bread as it is higher in gluten  and will make a firmer dough.	Water'  This may be a given, but it's important to remember to use good water when making your dough. Certain chemicals in water like fluoride can kill yeast, so try to use bottled water  or a water purification system before adding this ingredient.	Yeast  Without this, your bread will fall falt. Literally! Instant Active Dry Yeast  will rise faster, but as long as you aren't using cake or fresh yeast, any type will do.	Milk  Milk can improve the texture and flavor of your bread as well as keep it fresh for longer. Dry milk,  fresh milk,  buttermilk,  or soy milk  can be used depending on your preference.

Related Guides

Toaster Ovens	Ranges	Fermenting Crock Pots	Sandwich Makers	Waffle Makers

External Links

• BreadMachineDigest.com: Everything bread!