The 5 Very Best Bread Machines

Capacity: Up to 1.2kg | Features: 25 bread and dough programs; fruit/nut dispenser

If you want an everyday breadmaker with the capacity for a little extra, then Panasonic is a good bet. Two sources — keen home bakers both — recommended Panasonic’s range of bread makers to us. “For the purists and those keen on dietary needs, the Panasonic Fully Automatic Breadmaker [also known as the SD-R2550] with its gluten-free options is a godsend,” says Bridenstine. “My cousin, a celiac, swears by it, and having tasted her sunflower-seed gluten-free bread, I’m inclined to agree.” However, it’s not just a gluten-free device. There are various other bread baking types included (such as sourdough, brioche and whole wheat), while the built-in raisin and nut dispenser means you can automatically add fixings to your bread later on in the mixing process so as not to destroy them.

A similar model, the Panasonic SD-2501, was recommended by journalist and home baker Sally Howard, who called it “a ‘workhorse’ domestic model that has been on the market for over a decade [previously the 2500].” The differences between the two are slight — the SD-2501 has 25 programs, the SD-R2550 has 20. The key features are the same: It’s not too big (so it can stay on your kitchen worktop), and it has several different programs for bread (including French and Italian loaves). Howard has had hers for several years, bakes all of her family’s bread in the maker, as well as using it to whip up pizza dough.

Capacity: Up to 1.36kg | Features: 12 programs, 3 crust colors

Bridenstine bought the SAKI for its enormous capacity: it makes loaves which are 250g larger than any other on our list. “It immediately appealed to me, perfect for hearty family breakfasts,” she says, calling it her “diligent sous-chef.” You can select from 12 programs, three loaf sizes and three crust color options — and despite what you might fear from such a large capacity machine, it’s whisper quiet. “The machine’s gentle hum as it works is music to my ears, not the usual noisy clatter of kitchen gadgets,” says Bridenstine. That’s particularly important, as many larger bread makers are loud given the torque needed to knead the dough. And though it’s got a large capacity, it doesn’t take up substantially more counter space than our best pick. That said, it’s worth measuring your workspace: You will need a deep counter as it’s 17 inches deep.

Capacity: Up to 900g | Features: 15 programs

Let’s be clear: This is not the bread maker for a studio apartment. It weighs 24 pounds (that’s quite heavy to pick up and put back in a cupboard after using it), and measures a foot deep by a foot-and-a-half wide, and one foot high. But if you have the space, the size enables the maker to produce standard-size rectangular loaves, as well as the smaller bread-machine sized loaves that the other machines in this list produce. (One bugbear I have about bread machines is the short, squat loaves they produce.) It’s beloved by chef Stephen Parker of Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer in Nashville, TN. “Whether you are a veteran at bread-making or brand new to the baking world, this is an easy-to-use machine that churns out perfect results every time,” he says. “Its range of settings allows for a variety of recipes — everything from white bread, to multigrain and sourdough — making it quite a versatile machine to add to your arsenal of kitchen appliances.”

It also has two paddles to mix ingredients (bread makers usually only have one), which means a more even, better knead — ensuring you get a good rise from your bread. But two heating features are what makes this machine worth including. First, it has an initial resting time within its process, which gently heats the ingredients to a standardized temperature. This means your bread is more likely to rise evenly. And second, its heated top ensures the crown of your loaf is browned as evenly as the three other surfaces, meaning you get an all-over golden crust.