What bread machine should I buy?

Deciding which bread maker to buy can be a daunting task. Costs can vary wildly and the most expensive ones are not always the best solutions, while many of the cheapest ones can break down more frequently. This creates a false economy as you end up replacing the machine year after year, costing you more in the long run.

What’s a fan of fresh bread to do?

The following three bread makers are considered by many experts and owners to be the best in their class:

• Zojirushi Home Supreme Bakery
• Panasonic SD-YD250
• Programmable 2 pound sunbeam.

They’ve been selected for inclusion here based on features and price, but I’ve noticed some overlap in the prices of the two lower models. In total, you can expect to pay as little as $70.00 for the Sunbeam and up to $250.00 for the Zojirushi. That’s a big difference in price, but there’s also a big difference in features and durability.

Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Bread Maker

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme bread maker is the Rolls Royce of bread makers, and is considered by many to be the best overall bread maker on the market.

It makes flat loaves, between one and two pounds, valued by most bread machine owners as the prettiest, and more like those baked in a conventional loaf pan or available at bakeries. To handle the mixing challenges that a flat loaf brings, the Zojirushi breadmaker uses two mixing/kneading paddles. Experts agree that this is a huge advantage over more common single-vane machines. A more thorough kneading leads to a more consistent rise and crumb.

The Zojirushi has more useful cycles and options than any other bread maker I’ve come across, including a sourdough starter cycle. I have never seen that in any other bread maker. As a fan of sourdough breads, this is a real plus for me. The owners say that the Zojirushi bread machine is very flexible and can do more than just make bread. There are cycles for jams, cakes and even meatloaf. There are three custom memory settings and a 13-hour long delay timer.

The Zojirushi gets solid reviews from owners, with over 300 reviews written on Amazon.com and another 200 on Cooking.com. I did find a small number of complaints about durability, but nothing that seemed different from other high-end bread makers. Some others complained about how big and heavy the machine was, but I think that’s to be expected with a bread maker of this quality and capacity. If you only want the best in your kitchen, you’ll want to shell out the extra money to get the amazing Zojirushi bread maker.

Panasonic SD-YD250

If you’re not into custom cycles, the Panasonic SD-YD250 may be a better option for you. According to reviewers, Panasonic’s SD-YD250 automatic bread maker is the best mid-range bread maker on the market. It’s a robust and easy-to-use bread maker that makes regular horizontal loaves, which most people prefer to the more common uprights. I found it odd that this bread maker lacks a viewing window, a fairly standard feature on other bread makers. However, given how little you can see through the advantages of other models, I doubt you’ll miss out.

I love the durability of the Panasonic bread maker. Of the more than 350 owner reviewers who rated the Panasonic SD-YD250 Bread Maker on Amazon.com, more than 70% gave it a maximum rating of 5 points. It consistently makes good bread. The only cons the reviewers at Epinions.com mention is that they are now eating more bread than ever.

Many write that they say they have used their machines for years. There are only a handful of complaints about breakage issues. While not the cheapest model of home bread maker, we often get what we pay for. I have had to replace more than one bread maker simply because they had worn out. In such cases, “cheap now” creates a false economy as you have to constantly replace them. However, given Panasonic’s track record for durability, I’d say it’s a great choice.

Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Bread Maker

If Panasonic is a bit more than you need or want to pay for, the Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Programmable Bread Maker may be your best bet. It’s a solid performer at a low price. Home cooks have praised its ease of use and overall performance, as well as its affordable price.

The Sunbeam 5891 is packed with all the basics you’d expect from a great bread maker: crust color selector, regular bake, and dough-only cycles, you name it. Like most bread makers in its price range, it makes a vertical loaf, rather than the horizontal one available on more expensive machines. It has a nice easy approach with 12 pre-programmed cycles and surprisingly a jam cycle.

To be fair, I did find some complaints about its durability and many owners say that the recipes in the manual could be better. Some reviewers have also complained about the LCD screen, saying that it can be difficult to read. Despite these complaints, owners of the Sunbeam 5891, posted on Cooking.com and Amazon.com, gave the Sunbeam Bread Maker a good overall rating. It is considered by many to be the best bread machine available in its price range.

So whether you’re looking for a basic, budget-friendly bread maker or you’re ready to move up to the best home bread maker available, you’ll be hard-pressed to go wrong with any of these three bread makers.