Baking your own bread in a breadmaker is becoming increasingly popular. But which one is right for you? We figured out the best bread maker for each preference.
The tastiest bread you bake yourself. Do you want to bake large loaves, or just small ones? Do you want your freshly baked bread waiting for you in the morning when you get up? Are you looking for an extra fast bread maker or one that you can also use to make pasta or pizza dough or even jam? So many preferences, so many breadmakers. We looked at sixteen that are now available and compiled a top 10 of bread-making machines that meet all those different preferences.
Why buy a bread maker for freshly baked bread?
The best argument for buying a breadmaker – at least in my case – is to bake a fresh loaf of bread in your oven yourself for a change. First of all, you spend minutes with sticky hands trying to knead a decent dough. Then you spend a couple of hours looking at your watch to see if the rise time is over yet. And finally, you constantly peer through the window of your oven to see how your carefully kneaded and risen dough collapses like a pudding and slowly charred.
And yet every morning I longed for the smell of freshly baked bread in the kitchen, without having to bike to the hot bakery to do so. So we bought a bread maker. What a treat! Nothing to worry about and every morning it’s like summer has come around again. We at bread maker recommend bread maker, that much is clear.
What is the best bread maker for you?
Bread-making machines do exactly what the name suggests: bake bread. But there are many differences between them. In one breadmaker you can bake loaves up to 1,500 grams, another is just compact and a third again very inexpensive. Some devices bake a loaf of bread within an hour, while often also include a timer to set exactly what time your bread should be ready. Check out the best bread baking machines from our test below.
The best of all 2024
Panasonic SD-YR2540HXD
As the best all-around bread maker, the Panasonic SD-YR2540HXD came out of the test. It lets you bake loaves in three sizes, up to 1.1 kg. There are 32 programs available, including 4 gluten-free programs and a special program for ready-to-eat bread mixes. You can also manually set and save your own programs. For crust color, you have three choices: light, normal and dark.
The Panasonic SD-YR2540HXD features a timer, which allows you to set 13 hours in advance when your bread should be ready. Separate dispensers allow for automatic addition of nuts, raisins and yeast. You not only bake bread with this bread maker, but can also use it to make pasta and pizza dough, jam and cake.
The aluminum inner pan with safe non-stick coating is easy to clean. One point to note, however, is that you should definitely not try to bake heavier loaves than specified. The kneading mechanism cannot handle that, so your dough will then not be mixed well.
- You can bake all types of bread with this bread-making machine, including gluten-free bread
- Max bread weight 1,100 grams
- Easy to use thanks to 32 programs
- Also own programs adjustable
- Automatic addition of additional ingredients
- Features a timer
- Also suitable for pizza and pasta dough and jam, among other things
- Quite pricey
The best buy 2024
Moulinex Pain Doré OW210130
If you go for the bread maker with the best value for money, then the Moulinex Pain Doré OW210130 is the best buy you can close. This bread maker does what you expect it to do: bake the most delicious loaves of bread. In doing so, you can choose from three sizes and three browning degrees.
There are 12 preset programs, including for gluten-free bread. While that’s less than many other appliances, in practice it’s enough for most breads you want to bake. An advantage of the Moulinex Pain Doré OW210130 is, that it is compact and thus does not take up too much space on your countertop. Also, the operation is very simple.
A disadvantage, however, is that this Moulinex bread maker does not have a viewing window in the lid, so keeping an eye on the baking process is not possible. Some users complain about the short cord, but that won’t be a problem in most cases. For its – otherwise not too low – price, this is an excellent choice.
- Good value for money
- Simple operation
- Compact model
- Sufficient programs
- Also for gluten-free bread
- No viewing window in the lid, so keeping an eye on the baking process is not possible
- Short cord
The best cheap 2024
Princess Wake Up 152006
Price fighter Princess offers a fine bread maker at a low price with the Princess Wake Up 152006. If you follow the instructions properly, a delicious freshly baked loaf of up to 900 grams will come out of the machine in a relatively short time. The Princess Wake Up 152006 has 15 programs, which you can manually adjust to your preferences as you wish. The color of the crust is also adjustable.
For a budget bread maker, the Princess Wake Up 152006 has notable extras. For example, when the bread is ready, the machine automatically switches to a keep-warm mode. In case of power failure, the bread maker has a 10-minute backup.
A great choice, then, if you don’t have much to spend or want to try out whether a bread maker is for you. What you then have to take for granted is the noise it makes while kneading and the somewhat rickety-looking housing, which in practice, however, proves to be solid.
- Good quality and tasty bread at a low price
- 15 customizable default programs
- Also programs for gluten-free bread and spelt bread
- Also suitable for pizza and pasta dough, jam, cake and yogurt
- Timer for delayed start
- Makes a lot of noise while kneading
- LCD screen is not illuminated
The best with automatic feed additional ingredients 2024
Kenwood BM450
Kenwood BM450 is not exactly the cheapest bread maker in the test, but you do get value for money. Especially for special fancy breads, this machine from the Kenwood kitchen is very suitable, because thanks to the automatic feed you easily add additional ingredients. This happens only after the kneading process, so the nuts, seeds and seeds are not crushed by the mixing process.
With the Kenwood BW450 you can bake all types of bread from 500 to 950 grams. There are 15 automatic programs available, including programs for gluten-free bread and a quick program that lets you bake fresh bread within an hour.
The housing of the BM450 bread maker is made of stainless steel, which looks very nice and is easy to clean. Disadvantage is, however, that the housing gets hot during baking.
- Automatic feeding of additional ingredients
- 15 baking programs, including gluten-free
- Max bread weight 950 grams
- Quick program for fresh bread within an hour
- Beautiful design
- Housing gets hot during baking
The best for gluten-free bread 2024
Inventum BM55
Almost all bread machines are suitable for baking gluten-free bread. In terms of results, however, the Inventum BM55 stood out in this area. When baking gluten-free bread, the dough must be kneaded for less time. It is also important that the trays can be cleaned properly (otherwise gluten from other baking may remain behind). The Inventum BM55 bread maker gloriously meets these requirements.
With the Inventum BM55 you can bake loaves of 800 grams. The normal bakery size. There are 12 programs available, in addition to gluten-free bread also for other types of bread. There are also programs for jam, cake and dough for pizza and pasta. There is also a quick program: your bread will be ready in an hour and a half. The bread maker has a keep-warm function and is 13 hours pre-programmable.
It is a pity that the handles of the baking tin have been cut back on this bread maker. These sometimes pop loose, which can be very annoying.
- Ideal for gluten-free bread
- Quick program for bread in an hour and a half
- Compact size and beautiful design
- Extensive capabilities, including for making loose dough, jams and cakes
- Dough hooks sometimes have difficulty coming out of bread
- Baking tin handles release quickly
The best compact bread maker 2024
WMF KULT X
WMF KULT X the name sounds hip and so is this bread maker. But the WMF KULT X is especially compact, with its width of only 22 cm. It bakes loaves of 450 or 750 grams, according to 12 pre-programmed settings. So not a bread maker for large families, but a small and tiny household could not wish for a better bread maker. And because of its limited capacity, it is also energy-efficient.
The WMF KULT X not only gives excellent baking results, it also looks great with its stainless steel housing. Above, the stainless steel is easy to clean. Nothing is missing from this bread maker, either. Everything has been thought of, even a viewing window in the lid to monitor how the fresh bread is baking.
Despite its small size, the WMF KULT X does make a noise maker while kneading. Nevertheless, we award this handsome outsider first place among compact breadmakers.
- Very compact bread baking machine
- Beautiful and easy to clean stainless steel housing
- Complete device, with all common features
- Low energy consumption
- Makes a lot of noise while kneading dough
Best for large loaves of bread 2024
Moulinex OW6101
If you have a large family, lots of blackheads or just a lot of hunger, then it is convenient to bake one large loaf of bread instead of several smaller loaves. For that, we think the Moulinex OW6101 is the best bread maker. You bake loaves of as much as 1,500 grams with it. If you like variety, then this bread maker also offers a solution. Because instead of 1 loaf of 1,500 grams you can also bake baguettes or pistolets with it, the baking molds for that are included.
The Moulinex OW6101 has 16 programs for different types of bread, loose dough (for bread, pizza or pasta) and making jam or cake. You can set a timer to enjoy delicious fresh bread at breakfast. Unfortunately, there is no automatic addition of ingredients possible, so you will have to do without those extra ingredients when using the timer.
- Max bread weight 1,500 grams
- Smaller baking tins for baguettes or pistolets included
- Simple operation
- Good value for money
- No automatic addition ingredients
- Takes up a lot of space
Best with warming function 2024
Inventum BM12
Waking up to the delicious smell of freshly baked bread every morning, who wouldn’t want that? But what if you want to turn over again? Will your bread then stay warm enough? The Inventum BM125 is a good bread maker to be assured that you will get nice warm bread that is not dried out. That’s because of its excellent warming function and timer function.
But that’s not the only reason to buy this fairly simple bread maker. You bake a good loaf of 1,200 grams with the Inventum BM125, but it also comes with an extra baking tin for smaller loaves of 900 grams. And apart from baking the tastiest loaves, you can do other things with it, such as make loose dough, jam and cake. Moreover, it is a fairly inexpensive bread maker with manageable dimensions. With the quick bake function, bread baking takes only 90 minutes.
Some users do complain about the dough hooks, which are sometimes difficult to remove from the bread, and the limited availability of spare parts.
- Excellent warming function
- Wake up to the delicious smell of freshly baked bread
- Choice of 2 bread sizes
- Simple operation
- Reasonably inexpensive bread maker
- Dough hooks sometimes get stuck in the bread
- Spare parts difficult to obtain
Best with start delay 2024
Panasonic SD-B2510WXE
As the best bread maker with delayed start, we name the Panasonic SD-B2510WXE In our test, delicious crusty bread came out of the machine, even the gluten-free bread worked fine. But to be honest, we also chose this bread maker because we think it simply belongs in the Top 10.
After all, the Panasonic B2510WXE is a best bread maker. You bake all types of bread with it in a simple way, be it brown, white, gluten-free or high-fiber bread. Delicious fresh bread, as you hope it comes out of your bread maker.
It is a pretty hefty device, though. But given the quality, that’s something you accept like you accept cookies on a website, you just want to use it. What the manufacturer did forget with this device is a dispenser for extra ingredients. which is a shame.
- Excellent results with start delay
- Choice of 3 bread sizes
- In addition to bread, also suitable for making jam, cake and loose dough
- Pretty big device
- No dispenser for additional ingredients
Best bread maker for hard crust 2024
Panasonic Croustina ZP2000
Do you like fresh bread with a nice crispy crust? Then we recommend the Panasonic Croustina ZP2000 as the best bread maker in this area. The heat reflective inner lid ensures that tasty crust and the rustic, oval shape of the bread fits right in. you bake bread with a Croustina appliance that you would only expect at the hot bakery.
What kind of bread you bake is entirely up to you. There are 18 programs available for all kinds of bread, including gluten-free. You can also choose to only make dough (for bread, pizza or pasta) and even for making jam there is a program. Of course, you can also make bread with a soft crust. Thereby you can even choose from two sizes.
For a Panasonic bread maker you have to dig deep into the purse, they are in the most expensive category of bread makers. And you must have the space for it, because a Croustina bread maker is a hefty device.
- Bakes bread with a nice crispy crust
- Also for soft bread in two sizes
- Rustic oval bread mold
- Plenty of uses
- hefty price
- Takes up a lot of space
Overview with the 10 best bread baking machines from our test
To make choosing the bread maker that suits you best easier, we put best 10 together once again in a table:
Buying a breadmaker: what to look out for?
If you are going to buy a bread maker, it is best to answer some questions beforehand. These questions will help you find a suitable bread maker:
- Do you have a limited budget? A good bread maker for when you have a limited budget is the Princess Wake Up 152006
- Want to bake special, fancy breads with extra ingredients in them? Then consider buying a bread maker with an automatic feed for those ingredients.
- Are you bound by a diet, such as gluten-free?
- How much space do you have in your kitchen for a bread maker?
- Want to bake large loaves of bread? With the average breadmaker, you will bake loaves weighing between 500 and 1000 grams. By comparison, a standard loaf of bread you buy at the bakery weighs 800 grams. If you want to bake a larger loaf regularly, choose, for example, the Moulinex OW6101 the best bread machine in this area from our test.
- Do you only want to bake bread, or also make cake or jam, or pasta and pizza dough? Almost every breadmaker has programs to bake different types of fresh bread as well as the ability to make jam, cake, pasta dough or pizza dough.
- Would you like to have breakfast with warm, freshly baked bread? There are several bread-making machines with timer and warming function. The Inventum BM125 and the Panasonic SD-B2510WXE are good options in this area.
- Do you like bread with a crispy crust? Then the Panasonic Croustina ZP2000 from Panasonic is the best bread machine you can choose.
Also note the power consumption, the accessories provided (measuring cups, etc.) and whether there are any harmful substances in the plastic housing,
Conclusion: which bread maker to choose?
There is quite a lot to choose from when it comes to bread-making machines. The important thing is to know what you expect from the appliance. Once you have that in mind, we recommend that you take another look at our Top 10 and choose the machine that best suits your needs. If you are looking for a bread maker that performs averagely well, with ample usage options and is also not too expensive, then we recommend our best buy: the Moulinex Pain Doré OW210130.
Frequently Asked Questions
Properly speaking, a breadmaker works like a baker in a bakery. It kneads the ingredients into a good dough, adds the extra ingredients in time, lets the dough rise at the right temperature and bakes the bread until it is done, with a crispy crust.The great advantage of a bread baking machine is, you no longer have to depend on that baker.
The best bread maker is the one that suits you best. In terms of performance, the Panasonic SD-YR2540HXD came out best in the test, but it is quite pricey. If you are looking for a good and cheap bread maker, we recommend the Princess Wake Up 152006. In between is the bread maker with the best price/quality ratio, the Moulinex Pain Doré OW210130. Look above in the overview of test results and you will see which bread maker best meets the features you find most important.
The Consumers’ Association has not tested breadmakers recently. The website does refer to a test by the BBC. From it, the Panasonic SD-B2510 comes out best. This is the “smaller brother” of our test winner, the Panasonic SD-YR2540HXD. With slightly fewer features, but excellent baking results.
If you’re going to buy a breadmaker, the first thing you need to know is what you want to be able to do with it. If you make a lot of specialty breads, then an automatic dispenser will come in handy. Do you want to bake small loaves, or extra large ones? Besides baking bread, do you want to make pizza or pasta dough in the bread maker, or jam or cake? Do you want your bread maker to start working automatically, so you have freshly baked warm bread for breakfast in the morning? All things you can compare in this article. Check out the Top 10 which is the good bread maker that best suits your needs.
To calculate the price of a homemade loaf of bread, you need to consider three things: the purchase price of your bread maker, the cost of the ingredients and the cost of energy. Assuming a 100 euro bread maker that lasts 500 loaves, you come up with 20 cents per loaf as depreciation on your bread maker. For ingredients, you spend about 50 cents for a “normal” loaf and suppose you use 20 cents worth of energy. Then you come to a cost price of 90 cents per loaf. That’s easily a euro cheaper than a loaf at the bakery (usually even more). So you can say that baking your own bread is definitely cheaper than buying a loaf at the bakery.
Panasonic’s breadmakers are considered by many to be the best in this category. There are six appliances in the 2024 collection. Two of them are especially for the lover of crusty bread with a hard crust: the Croustina SD-ZP2000 and SD-ZP2010. The SD-R2530 and the SD-B2510 are basic breadmakers without too many extras.The most complete Panasonoic breadmakers are the SD-YR2550 and the SD-YR2540, the No. 1 in our Top 10.
The short answer to this question is: a pack of ready-made bread mix and water. This is how easy it is to make a home-baked loaf with the breadmaker.
If you really want to bake your own bread, then of course you choose to put together your own recipe. As a base, you need four or five ingredients: flour, wheat flour, yeast, salt (unless you’re baking low-salt bread) and water. You can expand that base with ingredients like raisins, nuts, seeds, chocolate, you name it. Often the bread maker you buy comes with a booklet of recipes.