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8 best bread makers for freshly baked goods at home

With these machines, there’s no knead for lots of effort to get your daily loaf

Zoe Phillimore
Friday 10 February 2023 11:45 GMT
We tried various different recipes, including white, wholemeal and brioche loaves
We tried various different recipes, including white, wholemeal and brioche loaves (The Independent)
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During lockdown, we all went crazy for making sourdough but, since normal life has resumed, who really has time to make their own bread? Well, with a bread maker, you do. Fresh bread every day – a dream that can very easily become a reality.

Perhaps you have a particular flavour of bread you just can’t get in the shop (we recommend carraway seeds and sharp cheddar). Or maybe you are gluten intolerant and want to make your own gluten-free bread. You might even just want to make your own fresh bread so you know exactly what’s gone into it. Whatever your reason, if you want to make your own loaves, a bread maker is definitely worth investing in.

Chuck some yeast, flour, salt, oil and maybe some milk into bread makers and a few hours later you’ll open the lid to discover the fluffiest loaf of warm bread. Bread makers knead, prove and bake your bread. Some will even chuck in extra ingredients towards the end, to give you a nice seeded loaf, say. They’re genius and we’re total converts.

When looking for the best bread maker for you, there are a few things to consider. Look at the size of them – most are larger than a microwave, so check you have space. Then look at the size of the loaf they bake. Some bread makers can do different-sized loaves, some only offer one size. If you’ve got a family of hungry bread-lovers to feed, we suggest going for a larger loaf maker.

Some bread makers are simple and have just a few options for different loaves, and some have a good 15 types of loaves catered for in their functionality, as well as making a foray into jam and yoghurt. Will you use those functions? Only you know the answer to that.

How we tested

We got baking with gusto. Our house has never smelled so good. We tried various different recipes with the machines, including white, wholemeal and brioche loaves, as well as flavoured bread. Things we wanted out of our testing was essentially decent-tasting bread that could feasibly replace the two loaves we buy from the supermarket each week. For this to be the case, the bread maker needed to be easy to use, offer an adaptable programme to make a variety of loaves and turn out decent bread.

We gave bonus points to the ones that didn’t take up the whole kitchen counter, and we admit we preferred ones with the little viewing window, so we could see how our bread was progressing. Here are the ones that rose to the challenge.

(Zoe Phillimore)

The best bread makers for 2023 are:

  • Best bread maker overall – Lakeland digital bread maker: £109.99, Lakeland.co.uk
  • Best compact bread maker – Lakeland white compact loaf bread maker: £79.99, Lakeland.co.uk
  • Best budget bread maker – Dunelm digital bread maker: £55, Dunelm.com
  • Best high-spec bread maker – Panasonic SD-YR2550 automatic bread maker: £199.99, Panasonic.com
  • Best bread maker for gluten-free loaves – Panasonic SD-R2530 fully automatic bread maker: £179.99, Panasonic.com
  • Best value for money bread maker – Russell Hobbs compact bread maker: £70, Dunelm.com
  • Best for novice bread makers – Judge Electricals digital bread maker: £95, Judge.co.uk
  • Best multi-function bread maker – Gastroback design automatic bread maker advanced: £119.99, Robertdyas.co.uk

Lakeland digital bread maker

Lakeland digital bread maker.png
  • Best: Overall
  • Dimensions: 36cm x 25cm x 29.5cm
  • Settings: 12
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

We were thoroughly impressed with the bread this machine produced, so, that first order of business gets a big tick. You can select how golden you want your bake to be, as well as choosing from two different loaf sizes. There’s a big viewing window, so you can clearly see what’s going on inside, and the LED display is clear to see. There are nine different bread settings, including a sandwich setting that produces bread specifically for a sandwich – there’s less crust, and our kids were fans of this. There’s also a gluten-free setting and a cake one too.

If you want more control, the Lakeland digital will also simply knead your bread for you (useful for pizza dough especially) or just bake it, if you prefer to do the kneading by hand. The only thing we struggled with is the sheer size of this bread maker – it’s a big ’un for sure. However, we liked that there’s a delay timer, in case you want to bake bread over night and wake up to the dreamiest breakfast ever. Plus, the keep-warm function will make sure your bread is that perfect just-baked temperature when you want it.

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Lakeland white compact loaf bread maker

Lakeland compact bread maker.png
  • Best: Compact bread maker
  • Dimensions: 31cm x 21.5cm x 25cm
  • Settings: 11
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

Comparatively small when standing next to others in its field, this bread maker won’t take up too much space in your kitchen. It makes just one size of loaf (1lb) but we found this perfectly adequate. It turns out delicious with a nice, chewy crust. Despite its size, the Lakeland compact can still do eight different types of bread, as well as cake, kneading of bread rolls or pizza. When baking, you can select the colour of your bread, from light to dark.

We found this bread maker really easy to use, with a clear display and a menu to remind us of all the settings. However, we did find that the white outside makes it look a tad old-fashioned. Plus points are the (albeit tiny) viewing window, a keep-warm function and a delay timer.

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Dunelm digital bread maker

Dunelm digital bread maker.png
  • Best: Budget bread maker
  • Dimensions: 37.5cm x 41.5cm x 60cm
  • Settings: 10
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

Sleek and compact, we liked that this bread maker didn’t look too obtrusive on our countertop. We found it pretty easy to use from a functional point of view, but we struggled initially as it doesn’t come with its own recipes for the size of the tin (2l). A bit of Googling to the rescue, but it would be less faff to have the basic recipes printed in the manual.

Having said that, once we landed on a recipe, we found it produced a delightful wholewheat loaf. As well as that, the Dunelm bread maker can knock up white, French, sweet, gluten-free, sandwich and buttermilk loaves. There are also options for a speedier setting, and a dough and cake setting too. Despite the relatively low price point, this bread maker offers plenty of settings and produces just as good loaves as more-expensive models.

  1.  £55 from Dunelm.com
Prices may vary
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Panasonic SD-YR2550 automatic bread maker

Panasonic SD-YR2550 automatic bread maker.png
  • Best: High-spec bread maker
  • Dimensions: 40.8cm x 25.2cm x 36.2cm
  • Settings: 31
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

If bread making, even with a bread maker, seems like a faff, the Panasonic SD-YR2550 could be for you. It has a bread mix option. Just pour in a bread mix (containing yeast) then add water and select the bread mix function. The bread maker does the rest for you. Smug with minimal effort? That’ll do nicely.

This high-spec bread maker senses the room temperature and the internal temperature of the bread maker to ensure perfect cooking and proving heat at all times. It also has a special paddle and ridged sides on the pan, which Panasonic claims replicate artisan bread makers. This is a claim we can neither confirm nor deny – but it did make some very tasty loves, including a very decent brioche. There are a dizzying 31 settings on this bread maker. It will make everything from a simple white loaf to sourdough and gluten-free loaves as well as cake, jam, and pizza dough. We were also very taken with the automatic dispenser, which drops in yeast and other toppings at just the right moment, to get the alchemy of bread making perfect.

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Panasonic SD-R2530 fully automatic bread maker

Panasonic SD-R2530 fully automatic bread maker.png
  • Best: For gluten-free loaves
  • Dimensions: 40.8cm x 25.2cm x 36.2cm
  • Settings: 30
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

If you’re gluten intolerant but still yearn for baked carbs, this bread maker could be a game changer. The SD-R2530 (bit of a mouthful, if we’re honest) has four gluten-free functions: bread (natch), cake, pizza and pasta (ooh). If you’re OK with gluten – the more the better, we say (nutritionists, we know that may not stack up) – there are 30 settings. These include a function for making your own sourdough starter as well as making raisin bread, wholewheat, rye and brioche. Essentially, whatever your bread-based jam is, this model has got you covered. Oh, and it actually does make jam too.

If the aforementioned raisin bread piqued your interest, Panasonic has deployed a little raisin and nut hatch on the SD-R2530. This will drop in the sweet load at just the right time, so everything is baked just so. In your face, Paul Hollywood. We found this bread maker very easy to use. The instructions gave us plenty of inspo, and we were able to cook up a wonderful nutty wholewheat loaf… although it did take five hours. Fear not – we later discovered the rapid functions.

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Russell Hobbs compact breadmaker

Russell Hobbs compact black breadmaker.png
  • Best: Value for money
  • Dimensions: 29cm x 32cm x 30cm
  • Settings: 12
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

This bread maker is on the smaller side, which is a relief in a kitchen busting at the seams with appliances. It’s sleek and black, so can sit discretely on your counter while baking you up a fresh loaf. And it does make a very decent loaf. You can choose from seven different types of bread (basic, French, wholewheat, sweet, gluten-free, sandwich and speciality), as well as jam, cake, and pizza dough.

We found the controls easy to navigate. The instructions come with recipes, including one for chocolate cake, which we were absolutely on board with. You can adjust the size and colour of your bread, so you’re getting your perfect loaf each time. There’s also a delay timer and a keep-warm function, so you can be sure you’re going to get fresh, warm bread almost on demand.

  1.  £70 from Dunelm.com
Prices may vary
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Judge Electricals digital bread maker

Judge Electricals digital bread maker.png
  • Best: For novice bread makers
  • Dimensions: 29cm x 28cm x 33cm
  • Settings: 12
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

If you want to give bread making a go but you’re still a bit worried you’ll somehow get it wrong, this Judge bread maker is a great starting point. The detailed instruction booklet offers up actual recipes and explains the theory behind why you layer ingredients in the pan the way you do. It’s totally foolproof – we’ve tried it, after all, and it produced a delicious wholewheat loaf for us.

Functionality wise, the Judge can whip up white, French, wholewheat, sweet, gluten-free and sandwich loaves. It can also make cakes and jam, dough and simply bake a loaf you’ve already kneaded. There are options for quick (two-hours) or ultra fast (1 hour 38 minutes) settings, if you are in urgent need of a loaf.

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Gastroback design automatic bread maker advanced

Gastroback design automatic bread maker advanced.png
  • Best: Multi-function bread maker
  • Dimensions: 34cm x 28cm x 36cm
  • Settings: 18
  • Gluten-free setting: Yes
  • Delay timer: Yes

This is a very sturdy bread maker indeed – it looks more like a mini oven. It offers eight pre-set bread making functions, spanning French bread to fruit bread and everything in between. There’s a gluten-free setting too. Plus, the Gastroback makes cake, jam, dough, yoghurt and, get this, ice cream. For the latter, you need to buy a separate attachment but, still, it’s doing some hard graft here.

The instructions are very detailed, so you’re not likely to muck up bread even if you’re a novice. And it turned out a beautifully golden white loaf for us. There is also a hatch where you can pop in nuts, seeds or chocolate chips for the machine to drop into the dough at just the right moment. Oh, and there’s a decent viewing window, too. The Gastroback can make three different sizes of loaf, and you can alter your colour depending on how crusty you want your bread. We mentioned the instructions, but we should say they encourage you to be adventurous – there’s recipes for cornbread, soda bread and more. This bread maker, although sizable, is a veritable Swiss army knife of bread makers.

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Bread maker FAQs

What should I look for when buying a bread maker?

There are a number of things to consider when buying a bread maker. Firstly, the shape and size you want your bread to be – when baking bread in the oven, you can choose your loaf tin, but when you bake it in a bread maker, all your loaves will be the same shape, so it’s important to think about how big or small you want them to be.

Secondly, consider how many settings you require. Some machines have the standard settings to make white, brown and wholemeal loaves, while others have the capabilities to make a whole range of additional foods, including ice cream.

Thirdly, a timer is a deal-breaker for some because delaying the start time can mean you can make sure there’s a loaf of bread waiting for you when you’re home from work or when you wake up in the morning. Similarly, an automatic dispenser is useful if you do want additional ingredients, such as nuts and seeds, to be incorporated midway through the bake. Finally, you may want to keep an eye out for additional accessories, for example, measuring cups and spoons, to make it easier to follow recipes.

What else can I make in a bread maker?

When you think of a bread maker, you might think it only makes bread, but it can also make a range of other foods. Cakes are probably the most common item, but you can also make jam, pizza dough, rice dishes, scrambled eggs and even yoghurt and ice cream.

Is a bread maker worth it?

A bread maker is convenient, useful and a very worthy purchase – it lowers the cost of producing your bread by up to half, you can customise your recipe however you like and you can cook in batches, so your household always has plenty of fresh loaves.

Is bread made in a bread maker healthier?

It’s thought bread made in bread makers is healthier than shop-bought bread, simply because you can choose exactly what goes into your loaf, to suit your dietary preferences. For example, you can cut the amount of salt and your loaf won’t contain additives. Similarly, you can add seeds to your homemade bread, giving it added fibre.

Can you make sourdough in a bread maker?

Yes, you can make sourdough in a bread maker. Some of the machines included in this list even have a sourdough setting, so it will take you minimal effort to make your favourite bread. Without a specific setting, you can also make a sourdough in a bread maker if you can adjust the settings manually.

Is a bread maker energy-efficient?

Bread makers are fairly efficient machines, especially in comparison with baking bread in a regular oven. While every device operates a little differently, on average, a bread maker uses between 0.36kWh and 0.41kWh when making a standard loaf of white bread.

The verdict: Bread makers

Lakeland has smashed it out of the park again with its digital bread maker. It’s easy to use, has enough settings to keep keen bakers happy, and produces reliable loaves relatively quickly. We liked that there’s a viewing window and that it has the ability to make very large loaves or something smaller for smaller households.

Not everyone is going to have the space for the large Lakeland number, so, we also highly recommend the Russell Hobbs bread maker. It’s much smaller, and offers excellent value for money. You won’t have to compromise on functionality really, either. Win-win.

For more kitchen appliance upgrades, read our guide to the best microwaves and the best slow cookers

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