Bread Machine Recommendations?

LisaInN.Idaho · #1 10/31/12, 04:52 PM

So I have a big KitchenAid stand mixer and I've made plenty of bread the old-fashioned way, but what I'm looking for is recommendations for and against automatic bread machines. They really run the gamut price-wise and surprisingly, Cooks Illustrated has never done an equipment review on them.

Any recommendations for or against specific brands?

Again, not looking for mixer or Bosch kitchen center opinions...just for bread machines.

Thanks!

wanda1950 · #2 10/31/12, 05:33 PM

I have one I got at Goodwill--Magic Chef brand. I think it cost $5.00. I've got another one stored in my shed--can't remember what brand but it was a Goodwill buy also.

Both work well--the one I keep inside uses 3 cups of flour per loaf so it's one of the smaller ones. Makes one loaf. I just use the dough cycle and let the bread rerise in my own pan & cook it in the oven. The bread machine pan is not in the regular loaf shape--more like a giant roll so I don't let it bake in the machine.

I think you will get a lot of use & pleasure out of just about any machine but if you can afford it, I'd get one that bakes a loaf shaped loaf.

Mine are both pretty old & work great. The stem in the bottom of one of the pans did set up & my husband had to take it out & lubricate it. That's all the problem I've had.

I got the handbooks over the internet for free & all the recipes in them are good. It's easy to make dough for pretzels, rolls, pizza etc. & there are numerous great bread recipes on the internet. Just wish I didn't have diabetes so I could make more of them.

copperpennykids · #3 10/31/12, 05:39 PM

Panasonic YD250.

Makes excellent bread, loaf shaped. I can make a 5 lb loaf of whole wheat bread and have it turn out excellent every time (and made with honey

).

Ours has lasted 8 years and many many loaves of bread. I need to get a new one as the teflon has started coming off the paddle (if you cut the loaf of bread while the paddle is still in there, then it gets knife knicks....tell that to your 12 year old son!)

So if there was a drawback it would be that the machine outlasts the paddle.

Runs about $130.00 if you shop the internet well (and e-bay is usually high).

Ardie/WI · #4 10/31/12, 05:59 PM

In the past 22+ years, I've used up a few bread machines. All different brands.

If I were to buy a new one, it would be a Breadman.

Right now, I'm using one I bought from Goodwill for $5.00 and I also bought a new one once and, IMHO, I like them the best.

Realize that I only use them for the mixing and first raising and then I finish the dough by hand and bake it in my oven because I like the texture and shape of the loaf.

LisaInN.Idaho · #5 10/31/12, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperpennykids

Panasonic YD250.

Makes excellent bread, loaf shaped. I can make a 5 lb loaf of whole wheat bread and have it turn out excellent every time (and made with honey

).

Ours has lasted 8 years and many many loaves of bread. I need to get a new one as the teflon has started coming off the paddle (if you cut the loaf of bread while the paddle is still in there, then it gets knife knicks....tell that to your 12 year old son!)

So if there was a drawback it would be that the machine outlasts the paddle.

Runs about $130.00 if you shop the internet well (and e-bay is usually high).

Amazon has one for $119!

CJ · #6 10/31/12, 06:05 PM

I've had a number of them through the years, the Breadman being the 2nd best, but the Zojirushi (sp?) outshines them all. BUT... they all suck at baking bread. The Zoji does the most amazing job of kneading and proofing bread for you to shape and bake in the oven. I can't match it by hand kneading, nor can my KitchenAid stand come close either.

TheMartianChick · #7 10/31/12, 06:18 PM

I have a Breadman and have had it for many years. It works great. Whenever I make a post mentioning breadmaking going on in my house, this is what I am using to save my hands and wrists from the effects of carpal tunnel. It takes an hour and a half to make dough and 2 1/2 hours if you want it to actually bake the loaf. It can also be used for quickbreads, like banana bread or jams and jellies.

Joshie · #8 10/31/12, 07:08 PM

I've had one for more than 15 years. I rarely use it anymore. I don't think it's really easier than making bread by hand. If I did purchase one today I would get one that shapes loaves that look like regular loaves.

OH Boy · #9 10/31/12, 07:16 PM

I second the thrift store comments, you can find some machines there that are barely used at a really cheap price. I have had a regal bread machine for about ten years. It finally broke down, I found the receipt, I paid $179 for it about 12 years ago. Not bad I made a lot of bread with it over all those years. I found the exact same machine at Goodwill, looks like it was only used once or twice, paid $10 for it. Happy Dance!

Tirzah · #10 10/31/12, 07:19 PM

Wow, I'm shocked at Breadman getting such good reviews, mine did not last long at all.

I found a Zojirushi (sp

)at the Thrift for $7.00 (4 years ago) and I use it every week. I do not like bread baked in the machine I prefer to use the dough only cycle and shape my loaves however I want. If I were to buy a new one it would be a Zoijirushi.

starlady · #11 10/31/12, 07:48 PM

I also have a thrift store Breadman and like it. I use it both for making dough and for baking loaves. I think the trick is to know enough about breadmaking to know what the dough is supposed to look/feel like - a lot of the recipes I see online are written with much less humidity in mind than we have here in SC, so I have to decrease liquid or add flour to most recipes for the dough to turn out right.

I don't know that I'd pay full price for any bread machine, though - thrift stores around here always have a couple.

Belfrybat · #12 10/31/12, 09:52 PM

I've used a Hitachi for the last 10 years and love it. I paid $20.00 at a thrift store. Like others, I use it for the kneading and first rising, then actually bake the bread in the oven. I tried the baking feature a few times and didn't like the texture of the bread. Although I do occasionally use the delayed timer to wake to fresh baked cinnamon raisen bread in the mornings.

My suggestion is to buy a gently used one at a thrift shop that has various options like knead only, quick or long baking, crust colour and delayed baking. That way you'll get to try one without spending a lot of money.