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See why.The Best Bread Machines
We found two machines that are easy to use and make a variety of consistent, tasty loaves.
By Grace KellyPublished Dec. 17, 2021
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What You Need To Know
While some might thumb their noses at the idea of a machine taking over the time-honored process of making bread by hand, bread machines can produce a variety of stellar loaves: white bread, sweet bread, dense and chewy rye, babka swirled with chocolate, and more. They are great for those who love freshly baked bread but don't have the time or energy to devote to hand-formed boules. Of the models we looked at, three stood out. The Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker was easy to use and consistently baked gorgeous, even-crumbed loaves of bread. Its higher-end counterpart, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker, also baked impressive loaves, though the control panel was slightly less intuitive. Our Best Buy, the Hamilton Beach HomeBaker 2 Lb. Breadmaker, was a great, less expensive option that also made consistently good bread.
What You Need to Know
At its most basic, a bread machine automates the process of baking a loaf of bread. Just add the ingredients in the order called for in the recipe, pick your settings and preprogrammed cycle, and press “start.” A few hours later, a beautiful loaf of bread emerges.
The machine takes care of the mixing and kneading and also has timed rest and “punch-down” intervals that vary depending on the type of bread. In addition, you can select your desired crust shade: light, medium, or dark. The most basic loaves take about 3 hours to make, from start to finish.
All the machines we tested had the ability to make 2-pound loaves, though some also had options for other bread sizes, ranging from 1- to 2.5-pound loaves. Most store-bought bread comes in 1-pound loaves, but we found that most bread machines came in bigger sizes. All the bread machines had preprogrammed cycles, including ones for baking basic white and wheat breads, and beepers that signaled when it was time to add any mix-ins such as nuts and/or dried fruits. One machine we tested featured an automatic nut and fruit dispenser that added the mix-ins to the dough at the appropriate time.
We made a variety of breads in each machine: basic white bread from each machine’s recipe booklet, our recipe for basic wheat bread for bread machines, and our recipe for sweet bread with almonds and dried cherries for bread machines. After the first few rounds of bread making, we did some further baking in our favorite machines.
Consistent results turned out to be the key factor that separated great bread machines from OK ones. We were especially impressed by the two Zojirushi bread machines, whose loaves were consistently picture-perfect. They had airy but sturdy interior crumbs and were the perfect shape...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Performance: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
With an easy-to-use interface and multiple bread options (including a “Homemade” option, which lets you customize the kneading, rising, and baking times), this reliable machine impressed us with its picture-perfect loaves. Two kneading paddles ensured a well-integrated dough with an even-crumbed interior that, while light and tender, was also sturdy enough to cut without falling apart. We also liked the traditional, rectangular-shaped loaves the machine produced. The only area the machine struggled in was with crust shade, which often came out a bit lighter than the setting we selected (medium), though the bread still tasted delicious and was perfectly baked.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
We were very impressed by this less expensive option, which made uniform loaves with an even, tight crumb. It was also incredibly easy to use, with a simple manual function panel and straightforward options. While the loaf shape was a bit taller than it was wide, which led to some large sandwiches, we were impressed with how consistently sized each loaf was, from basic white bread to wheat bread to the cherry-almond sweet bread, which emerged from the machine with a beautiful golden crust and evenly distributed mix-ins. The only quibble we had was that the power cord was a bit short, so sometimes we had difficulty getting it to reach an outlet.
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
With a fancy heated lid and dual paddles for kneading, this machine formed and baked beautiful, golden-crusted loaves with even-crumbed interiors. The machine’s heated lid helped it achieve the exact chosen crust shade every time. However, the control panel was slightly confusing to use, and we wished that the display screen showed a timer for how long the bread would take to make rather than the time of day.
Recommended with reservations
- Performance: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
This bread machine generally made lovely even-crumbed and golden-brown loaves of bread. Sometimes the bread’s top crust was lumpy-looking, but each loaf still had a nice, even crumb inside. We liked the viewing light, which let us see inside the machine, as well as the nut and fruit dispenser, which automatically dispensed mix-ins at the appropriate time and allowed a real “set and forget” experience. On the downside, we found it a bit difficult to remove the bread pan; we really had to wiggle and pull at it to get it out. The collapsible paddle also proved to be more of a pain than an asset; we often had trouble keeping it upright when we first inserted it into the bread pan, and when we finally did get it upright, it didn’t always collapse before baking as it was supposed to.
Not Recommended
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
This bread machine sported an easy-to-understand (if a bit dim) display screen, and we also liked the handles on the outside of the machine, which made for easy maneuvering for storage purposes. However, the metal exterior and the lid heated up significantly during baking, making it hot to touch when opening the machine and removing the bread. It was also rather loud when kneading, and the results were inconsistent; sometimes a decent loaf with an even crust emerged, but other times the top of the bread was sunken in and the crumb was too light and feathery, falling apart when cut. We also had issues with the bread pan handle being too close to the top of the bread pan—on more than one occasion, it baked into the crust.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
While this machine was easy to use, inconsistent results bogged it down, along with loaves that nearly always had indented, punched-in tops. This could be a result of proofing time and/or temperature, combined with the top of the bread hitting the top of the machine, punching it down. Another con: We found that the removable lid came off a bit too easily; one time when we went to open the machine at the end of the baking cycle, the lid fell off completely. This seemed like a burn opportunity waiting to happen.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
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