The Ultimate Need to Read Bread Maker Buying Guide

Best Bread Maker Quick Comparison

What Exactly Is a Bread Making Machine?

A bread maker is a small piece of machinery that you can use to make bread from scratch at the home. It is also known as a bread making/ bread machine. This machine is basically an oven that holds a small-tin like item inside. At the bottom of the tin is an axle, and this axle is connected to an electric motor. The axle has a waterproof seal, which means that there are no leakages. There is a metal paddle in there too, and it clicks right on to the axle.

Bread Maker History (A Brief Look Back)

Bread is one of the most popular foods in the world, and this has been the case for thousands of years. In fact, the first known instances of bread-making date as far back as 300 BC, with Egypt taking the plaudits for pioneering the art. However, during those times, the methods of making this popular source of carbohydrate were rather primitive, and there is no evidence that there existed bread makers that could be commercially distributed for use at home.

In fact, the first modern breadmaker was produced in Japan in 1987 by a group of engineers who spent a year closely studying the commercial bread makers at the Osaka International Hotel. In the same year, the Funai Electric Company launched the first automatic bread maker available for sale. It debuted in the US under the brand name Dak Auto Bakery model FAB-100-1.

Over the years, breadmakers have become popular in the world, notably because of their convenience and ease of use. There are probably millions of bread makers in American homes today.

The Main Manufacturers 

Panasonic

This Japanese company started out in 1918. In the first couple of years, Panasonic was known for its range of light bulb sockets but gradually expanded to become what it is today; a global force in the manufacture of all kinds of electronics, from computers all the way to bread makers such as the SD-ZB2512 and the SD-2501.

Cuisinart is a home appliance company that started out in 1971, with the primary goal of introducing an electric food processor into the American mainstream. From 1986, the company embarked on a massive diversification effort, encompassing all types of cookware and bake-ware. The Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker is one of their most recognizable bread machines.

Zojirushi is yet another Japanese company that sells all types of home appliances and electronics. It is known for its dispensers and vacuum flasks, but it does a good job of rolling out some affordable breadmakers such as the Home Bakery Virtuoso® Plus  Breadmaker BB-PDC20, Home Bakery Virtuoso® Breadmaker BB-PAC20, and the Home Bakery Maestro® Breadmaker BB-SSC10.

T-fal is a French outfit that started out in 1954. It is well known for its nonstick cookware and a penchant for producing frying appliances in more amounts than any other products. It sells the T-FAL ActiBread Breadmaker.

One of the more recent appliance companies in the market, Kuissential was launched in 2011 and has a heavy lean toward kitchen and coffee products. They manufacture the Kuissential 2-lb Programmable Bread Machine, which promises to ‘transform your kitchen into a bakery’.

Breadman is a specialty brand that focuses solely on the manufacture of breadmakers of different types. Here, you have plenty of choices, with some of the machines available being the 2.5 lb. Bakery Pro Bread Machine, 2 lb. Programmable Professional Bread Machine, 2 lb. Convection Bread Machine, Deluxe Rapid Bread Machine and plenty more.

Benefits of Using These Nifty Machines

Fresh Bread: With your own breadmaker, you get to make fresh bread right at the home, and nothing in the world beats the delicate tones of dough that has been allowed to rise and then made into bread for consumption just a few minutes after leaving the maker.

Savings: If you have to trot out to the store to buy a bread every time you feel you need one, then you are going to be doing that a lot, and it takes time and money. With a machine at home, the only thing you have to worry about is getting the ingredients together. The ROI is definitely worth it. 

Control: Since you are making bread on your own, you have the ability to decide the conditions under which to prepare it. For instance, you can decide what kind of ingredients to go with and what to leave out. You can also decide to tinker with recipes and come up with something that matches your palate and preferences. 

Ease of use: You don’t need to be a baker at a 5-star hotel to get your bread right. Breadmakers come with manual and are easily programmable to give you the result you want. 

Getting Started With Your New Machine

Breadmakers come in all types and sizes. Some will make you one-pound loaves at a go. Others will go to 1.5. Yet others will make you two pounders. Additionally, some machines require you to go with the dry ingredients of your bread first, while others will require you to pile up the wet items in the recipe.

You will find that some makers out there have a range of settings and others have a single on/off button, so you need to take a long look at your manual.

Generally, once you insert all your ingredients in the machine, configure the settings and hit the start button, you are well into the process of making your bread.

Here's a Quick Video on How to Use a Bread Machine

Making Bread By Hand Vs. Your Bread Maker

People who make bread by hand swear by the process. The enjoy the whole process of seeing the ingredients come to life and enjoy having the flexibility to knead the dough manually, just the way they like it. They also love the fact that they get to shape their bread into all sizes and shapes by hand.

A breadmaker, on the other hand, allows you to simply put the ingredients together. You really don’t need to do much, except throw everything together and program your machine. The approach is loved because of its great results over a short period of time. With a breadmaker, you can also set the timer and go about your business until it’s time to sit down to the delicacy.

Whichever approach you choose to go with, homemade bread beats store-bought alternatives any day!

How About Cleaning Your New Machine

Start by unplugging the breadmaker, then wipe all the outer areas using a slightly damp cloth that has a little vinegar in it. Turn the machine over and around and use an old, dry toothbrush to get rid of the little pellets of dirt in all the tricky places such as the air vents. Do not at any point dampen the tooth brush.

Remove all the detachable parts inside the machine and gently put them in your kitchen sink. Turn on the hot water faucet and gently wash these parts with a sponge. Avoid scratching of any kind and if you can avoid the dishwasher, do so.

Give time for your dishwasher attachments to dry completely before finally putting the unit back together.

Features to Consider In a New Bread Maker

Breadmaker Size

Bread-makers are known less for their actual size and more for the quantity of loaf they can make. As indicated earlier, the most common ones can make 1,1.5 or 2 pounds of bread. Those on the bigger end can make 2.5 to 3 lbs. of bread at a time. Generally, the user can vary the size of each individual loaf and as well as its shape, depending on the machine they are using.

Kneading Paddles

The Price

Specialty Options

There is a dazzling array of specialty options when it comes to bread makers, and below are some of them:

• Non-stick pans
• Alarms
• Delayed start
• Recipes
• Adjustable loaf sizes
• Programming options
• Yeast, fruit and nut dispensers
• Current monitor
• LCD displays
• Jam maker
• Gluten-free

And a lot more!

Bread Maker Programs

Bread Maker Noise Level