The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Best BreadMaker

Barmaley's picture
Barmaley

Best BreadMaker

What is the best brand bread making machine from the point of view:

A) Features

B) reliability

C) warranty?

 

Any oppinion is appreciated :) 

sphealey's picture
sphealey

You might want to search for the previous discussions on this topic - there have been several.

IMHO for breadmakers there is Zojirushi, and there is everything else.  Zos are built like tanks, have all the features you need, and Zo actually sells spare parts (blades and buckets).  The only thing they lack is a pause function, which is a bit annoying, but other than that they approach the DC-3 level of perfection in a mechanical device.

sPh

pweimann's picture
pweimann

Although the Zo does lack a "pause" button, turning off the power or unplugging the machine serves the same purpose; when the power is restored, the Zo will continue on from the point at which it was interrupted.

Yerffej's picture
Yerffej

Given the type of breads and processes that you have been asking about I should note that you are most unlikely to be making great rye bread or sourdough bread in a bread machine.

Jeff

Barmaley's picture
Barmaley

I know, Jeff,

I am thinking about using it for kneading and proofing only using partial cycles

 

Crider's picture
Crider

"If you still have to use a bread machine to make sourdough, the best overall answer seems to be to use a bread machine that has a "bake now" option. When the machine has finished kneading, pull the dough out, pull out the paddle, and drop the dough back into the machine. Unplug the machine from the wall and wait for the dough to rise. Once it has risen, plug the machine back in and press the "bake now!" button."

 

Seems like a bit of extra work, but I suppose it might work.

sphealey's picture
sphealey

The 2-paddle Zo works fine for dough.  Anything you bake out in it, regardless of recipe, will be of the soft sandwich loaf type, but I have had no problem building a sour then having the Zo do the mix and first rise.  Out of the machine for 0-1 more rises (often in the refrigerator), then shape and bake on the stone.

sPh

Janknitz's picture
Janknitz

You should consider less expensive machines.  While everyone raves about the Zo, it's very expensive.  Some less expensive machines can handle the kneading and proofing just as well.  Look for those with programmable features and/or dough only cycles. 

cgmeyer2's picture
cgmeyer2

i've had 2 welbilts in the past 30 yrs. my current one has ~ 12 different functions plus it makes jams/jellys. i thought my 1st (shaped like a robot) expired but my aerospace engineer husband got it working again; we gave it to our son.

take care, claudia

tikidoc's picture
tikidoc

Love my Zo!

chetc's picture
chetc

Bread machines. I have purchased around 15 of them in the last 2 yrs, I mainly buy only the 2 lb models, I get them at yard sales but mainly at Thrift stores, the most expensive one I purchased was around $5.00 and down to about a bit under $2.00 and I use them to make bread at times, mostly use them to mix dough, and they do a good job at that, with a 2 lb Breadman, I can make enough dough for 3 large thin crust pizza pies easily. or 2 large loaves of bread, I give some of them away to my kids & relations, and sometimes I get them a back up machine when I see them for $2-3 dollars. I have gotten quite a few of them brand new at those prices too. I just love a bargain

 

     Chet