Best Bread Machines
I bought the Zojirushi Supreme Breadmaker 10 years ago, and it has served me incredibly well. I must have made hundreds of loaves in it! But I also use it for other things: jams, cakes, and more.
Now, my bread rises more on one side than the other, and the coating on the blades is starting to wear off. With my family growing (or at least their appetites), it’s time for an upgrade!
Consumer bread machines can handle up to 2.5-lb loaves, which is great, but sometimes I wish they could do even more...
One alternative to making bread entirely in the machine is to use the bread maker just for mixing and kneading, and then bake the dough in the oven. Lately, I’ve been using my Zojirushi bread machine as a dough maker. I take the dough out, let it rise a bit longer, shape it, and bake it in the oven. It might sound intimidating, but it’s really not—and making smaller buns or “ficelle” (like mini baguettes) is sometimes more convenient than a massive 2-to-3-lb loaf. To each their own!
With that in mind, I’m also considering commercial-grade mixers, like the KitchenAid 8-Quart Commercial Countertop Mixer.
Here's a polished version of your standout for the Zojirushi bread machine:
The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus is an upgrade from the Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker I currently own. It offers more programs, like “European,” “Gluten-Free,” “Salt-Free,” “Vegan,” and even a “Sourdough Starter” option (which I’m excited to try). Plus, it still makes jams and cakes. Zojirushi bread makers are highly regarded and a reliable investment.
The Breville Bread Maker can bake 2.5-lb loaves, which is perfect for big families or families that eat a lot of bread (like mine). It offers a wide range of programs, though it doesn’t include a cake option like the Zojirushi. It has a single blade for mixing and kneading, compared to the Zojirushi’s two blades. However, it does have an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, which is a nice bonus.
The Oster Expressbake Bread Maker can also bake loaves up to 2 lbs, and it offers settings for dough and jams, though it doesn’t include a cake program. Like the Breville, it uses a single blade to handle all the mixing and kneading.
KitchenAid does a lot of things but I think its mixers are what they are the most famous for. This 8-quart will handle and contain anything for my big family. I may need to fill up most of those 8-quart to make some big bread dough, but I’m not sure I’ll fill it up for homemade whip cream…tempting though…
