Making bread from scratch can seem daunting, but with the help of a trusty bread machine, you’ll be serving up fresh homemade loaves in no time! All it takes is 10 minutes to measure and add your ingredients – then select your setting, let the machine do its thing for 3-4 hours, and enjoy that mouthwatering smell of freshly baked goods wafting through the air.
The 3 best bread machines of 2022
Best overall: The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker is our top pick! Boasting even baking and thorough kneading capabilities as well as standard-sized loaves, you’ll make mouthwatering baked goods every time.
Best on a budget: Oster Express Bake Breadmaker! This trusty starter machine is much more than your average appliance; it mixes, kneads, and bakes evenly with a whopping 13 settings. And all of this at an unbeatable budget – now that’s something worth celebrating!
Best for small households: If you’ve a small family and want to bake delicious homemade bread, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Maestro Breadmaker is just what your home needs! This nifty machine can whip out one-pound loaves of fresh bread in no time – perfect for those cozy dinners with loved ones.
Best bread machine overall
With this bread machine, you get an unbeatable combination of kneading without breaking a sweat and perfect baking every time. Plus, the loaves come in standard sizes that fit perfectly with whatever dish you make!
For those looking for exceptional bread-making results, the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus is a home baker’s dream! Out of all the machines tested – with up to three rounds each and two more loaves of white bread as extra assurance in quality – this one rose above every other machine. With it you can count on banquets full of perfectly domed, uniformly browned and consistently fluffy bakes packed with even mix-ins that are sure to please everyone at your table.
Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker
- The bread maker has double kneading blades and dual heaters for even baking and browning.
- The rapid courses allow you to bake a loaf of white or whole wheat bread in just 2 hours and 25 minutes.
- It has a large, easy-to-read LCD with the code on the lid for course selection.
- The electrical rating is 120 volts / 700 watts, with a cord length of 39 inches.
Pros
- The bread machine produces standard-sized loaves that rise evenly and are a consistent color.
- There is a wide variety of settings and the ability to customize your settings.
- The bread machine is pre-programmable and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cons
- The blender is expensive and takes up a lot of counter space.
Best bread machine on a budget
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use bread machine to get baking, the Oster Expressbake is a great place to start! It’ll whip up delicious loaves with perfect texture and color every time– and it’s packed with 13 different settings so that your options are endless.
The Oster Express Bake is like a bread-making rocket ship! With its speedy Express setting, you can whip up a two-pound loaf of deliciousness in under an hour—that’s quicker than your average grocery store run. Just be aware that the results might not come out as high and fluffy as bread made on the Basic cycle…but overall, it will still taste great – experts agree!
Oster Expressbake Bread Maker
- 650W bread maker with up to a 2-pound loaf capacity.
- 13 settings for making a variety of bread, dough, jams.
- Three crust color selection options: light, medium, and dark
- Express Bake setting bakes bread in under an hour
- 13-hour programmable baking timer.
Pros
- The bread machine produces bread with an even rise and makes three loaf sizes.
- It is affordable, compact, and has a fast baking time.
- There is a variety of settings, including a window and pre-programmable feature.
- The machine comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cons
- The bread machine is somewhat noisy.
- The loaf size isn’t relatively standard.
- The crusts are slightly thicker than our top pick.
Best compact bread machine
Bake fresh and delicious homemade bread with confidence – now that’s something worth celebrating! The Zojirushi Maestro will help bring your baking aspirations to life! Its precise calibration for one-pound loaves of bread makes it the perfect kitchen companion for small households.
I’m a bread-baking enthusiast who loves the taste of fresh homemade loaves–but unfortunately, most recipes make too much for just one or two people! To get that perfectly crisp crust and perfect texture in my small-batch baking endeavors, I’ve discovered Cuisinart’s Compact Automatic Breadmaker. With its ability to whip up 1-pound loaves with ease, it takes all the hassle out of making miniature masterpieces at home.
With Zojirushi’s Maestro, you can enjoy a delicious one-pound loaf with home-baked allure. During testing, it delivered the classic golden hue and domed top every time — plus that coveted nice crumb texture! However, this model is designed for small households, so don’t expect quite an ordinary shape – those loaves come out cube-like! It might be tricky to remove from its pan, but worth the effort.
Zojirushi Maestro Breadmaker
- The automatic 1-pound bread maker has a removable and washable auto-add dispenser that automatically dispenses nuts and other ingredients.
- It has various healthy course settings, including Multigrain, whole wheat, quick whole grain, gluten-free, salt-free, sugar-free, and vegan.
- Its versatile course settings include bread and pizza dough, pasta dough, cake, and jam.
- The three homemade memory settings allow the user to customize the Knead time, rise time, and bake time.
- A recipe book in full color with 50 delicious recipes is included
Pros
- The oven produces an even bake, which is perfect for small households.
- It has a variety of settings and the ability to customize cycles.
- The stove is pre-programmable and compact.
- It comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cons
- The loaves of bread produced by this machine are oddly-shaped.
- It can be challenging to remove the bread from the pan.
What else we tested
What else we recommend and why
Breville Custom Loaf ($298.95): The Breville Custom Loaf is a top-tier bread maker for experienced bakers! With 13 automatic settings and nine customizable cycles, you’ll have all the tools to create your favorite recipes easily. Plus, it boasts two unique features: a collapsible paddle that won’t leave an unsightly hole in your loaf once baked and an automated fruit & nut dispenser, so those crucial add-ins are added precisely at the right time! Whoever said baking had to be complicated?
Cru X GG Bred ($78.99): Discover an empowering appliance that looks as good as it performs: the Cru X GG Bred! With its bold and compact design, this collaboration between Cru and Ghetto Gastro will make a statement on your countertop. Its 15 settings give you plenty of versatility to explore different bread types while producing results just as great – if not better than- significantly cheaper machines. It might cost more, but when the style is essential too, nothing beats the Cra X GG Bred for making delicious loaves with class!
What we don’t recommend and why
Cuisinart Convection Breadmaker ($177.95): If you’re looking for an all-in-one bread machine that can do it ALL, this 16-setting option might be your new best friend. Get ready to whip up heavenly loaves of white and wheat – but watch out when attempting gluten-free varieties, as the results may not come out as expected!
Cuisinart Compact Automatic Breadmaker ($128.95): I had high hopes for my gluten-free loaf, but unfortunately, it didn’t rise to the challenge. On top of that, even my white and wheat loaves weren’t as perfect-looking as those made with a newer Oster Express Bake – oh well!
Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough and Bread Maker ($109.99): Craving homemade loaves of bread? With the Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough and Bread Maker, you can get fresh-baked treats straight from your kitchen. This versatile machine handles wheat and white loaves with ease and produces a denser texture in gluten-free recipes – all at an attractive price tag!
Our bread machine testing methodology
Here are the standards we examined while testing the bread machines:
Bread quality: I tested bread machines, baking up basic white and wheat loaves with mix-ins like sunflower seeds and flax seeds. I even went so far as to try out gluten-free recipes for those who avoid gluten in our diets! All done using the same ingredients – it was an actual battle between these bakers to see which one rose to the top when it came time for warm slices fresh from in their ovens.
To evaluate the quality of each loaf, I carefully inspected them for a lovely golden hue, consistent texture, and even rising – docking points if they weren’t perfect. Then I sliced through to ensure there were no tell-tale signs of over or under-baking!
Size: When adding a bread machine, counter space was an essential factor. We looked for products known for their compact designs and took extra care in finding the perfect fit!
Capacity: If you’re looking for the perfect loaf size, there’s no need to worry! I tested several bread machines with various capacities – from one-pound loaves up to 2.5 pounds, that same grocery store-sized two-pounder being standard across almost every device (except Zojirushi Maestro).
Bread machine tips and tricks
Play with settings
Got a programmable machine? Unlock the possibilities and make it into your very own mini oven! Whip up delicious treats like mac & cheese, apple crisp, or even bread pudding–and if you want to get creative, why not try making soup, stew, or lasagna too? With some tinkering around its settings (via that ‘homemade menu’ feature!), this trusty machine can do much more than just baking!
Use good quality ingredients
To get that perfect, fluffy loaf of bread you’ve always wanted, Hamel guarantees the key is in the quality. She recommends King Arthur or gluten-free flour for a delicious outcome and advises avoiding less expensive flour with low protein content if using your trusty ol’ bread machine! Trust us – we wouldn’t lead you astray when baking delicious loaves of yummy homemade goodness.
Invest in a kitchen scale
Take the guesswork out of baking and level up your kitchen game by investing in a digital kitchen scale. Bakers know it’s all about precision, so tap into that inner chef-flow with accurate weigh-ins to create cakes, cookies, and bread baked just right every time!
Bread machine FAQs
What is the best yeast for bread making?
From classic sourdoughs to more ambitious homemade bread recipes, the yeast you select can make all the difference. For baking in a bread machine, active dry or instant yeast is your best bet for making delightful loaves every time!
How long does homemade bread last?
Homemade bread is delicious, but it will only stay fresh for a while! We recommend finishing the loaf within two or three days to ensure you can enjoy your homemade creation for as long as possible. If that’s not feasible, store whatever portion of the loaf remains in plastic wrap and pop it into your freezer – this will help extend its life significantly.
Check out our other guides for Dough Mixers
