The Best Bread Machines for All Types of Bakers

If you like to churn out loaf after loaf like you’re running your own bakery, invest in the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker. This countertop appliance can do it all when it comes to bread—and then some!

The Breville bread machine has all the bells and whistles you could want, including the ability to make four different-sized loaves, plenty of presets (these include white bread, sweet bread, crusty loaves and pasta), plus the ability to manually program the machine to your exact specifications—perfect for bread perfectionists. You can also pause the cycle shape or glaze the dough inside.

Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Despite all these luxury functions for artisan breads and precisely baked loaves, this bread machine also makes great basic white bread. “This one made the loaf we preferred over all others,” says Alicia. “And the wheat loaf was also one of the best loaves of the test with even browning, tender crumb and rounded top.”

And if you ever find yourself at a loss when using this machine, Alicia says you needn’t look further than the booklet included in the box: “It’s well written and gives lots of hints, tips and recipes to make the most of this bread maker.”

“If you’re looking for a gift for an avid bread baker, this would be it,” says Alicia.

Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Features

• Makes 1-, 1.5, 2- and 2.5-pound loaves
• Manual setting plus 13 preset functions
• Customize the crust: light, medium or dark
• 13-hour delay function
• Fruit and nut dispenser
• Includes fixed and collapsible paddles

Pros 

• Top-of-the-line machine with bonus features
• Our breads resulted in even browning, tender crumb and rounded top
• Disperses mix-ins evenly
• Versatile pause function allows for hand-shaping crusts and adding glazes
• Includes pizza and pasta dough settings, which are great extras for passionate home cooks
• Stores customized settings for personal recipes
• Collapsible paddle makes for a more seamless loaf

Cons

• Higher price tag

If you love the idea of baking your own bread but aren’t quite sure where to start, our Test Kitchen recommends the Cuisinart Bread Maker.

This affordable machine does everything that most bakers need—especially bakers who are just starting out. Just measure the ingredients, make your bread selection (choose from 12 options including white, artisan, packaged mix and even cake) and press start. This Cuisinart bread machine takes care of all the rest including proofing and kneading.

Taste of Home Test Kitchen

“We were all very happy with the results of white and wheat breads,” says Alicia. “The texture is nice and airy which is a nice contrast to the crunchy crust.”

Unlike other models, this Cuisinart bread maker doesn’t have a special chute for extra mix-ins, like the nuts and fruit needed for this panettone, but our team didn’t have any issues. “The mix-ins were surprisingly well dispersed,” explains Alicia.

She sums up this bread maker: “Overall, this is a good bread maker. The team liked the compact, stainless steel design, and the display was very easy to understand and use.”

Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Features

• 12 pre-programmed options
• 3 crust settings: light, medium or dark
• Customizable loaf size: 1-, 1.5- or 2-pound loaves
• 13-hour delay start
• Includes kneading paddle and hook to easily remove the insert

Pros 

• Includes a packaged mix setting—ideal for newer bread bakers
• Intuitive controls
• Easy-to-read display
• Compact, stainless steel design

Cons

• Does not include a chute for adding fruit and nuts

There’s no doubt that bread machines make mixing, kneading, proofing and baking bread simple. The Hamilton Beach Premium Dough Bread Maker goes one step further by making clean-up just as easy.

This top-notch bread machine has a dishwasher-safe paddle and pan—a unique feature among the bread machines our Test Kitchen tried. Our team liked this because once the bread is done and a slice (or two) is sampled, all that’s left is to load the dishwasher—no scrubbing up in the sink.

As for the bread this machine makes, our Test Kitchen team gave it two thumbs up. “All our tests produced even browning, tender crumb and rounded tops—all that you would want in a loaf of bread,” explains Alicia.

When you’d like to expand beyond basic sandwich loaves, you can do that with the push of a button. Add your ingredients and choose from 14 different programs, including one just for banana bread. Who doesn’t love the idea of banana bread on demand?

“If you want bells and whistles but not a crazy expensive price,” says Alicia, “this is the model for you.”

Features

• Makes 1-, 1.5- or 2-pound loaves
• Includes a measuring cup, measuring spoon, paddle and paddle-removing tool
• Choose from 14 preset programs
• Delay timer
• Automatic keep-warm function

Pros 

• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Creates exceptionally tender bread
• Features settings for popular bakes including sourdough, gluten-free bread and pizza dough

Cons

• The mix-ins are not evenly distributed throughout the loaf
• Takes up a good amount of space