Whether you’re looking to make bread for the first time or regularly enjoy a homemade loaf but need a little extra help, investing in one of the best bread machines will ensure you can always enjoy the delights of a freshly baked loaf without stepping outside your front door. With hands-on experience baking and tasting homemade loaves, I’m confident that my best round-up of bread machines will help you decide which one’s right for you.
To determine which bread machines are the best of the batch, I’ve conducted consumer report research combined with online reviews, considering power, setting options, design, capacity, user ease, and most importantly, the end results. The Homes team is also currently working on testing every bread machine in the guide, to give you a real-world perspective on each appliance.
Based on our research, the best bread machine is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus, which produces consistently good results with an excellent texture and crust. However, this exceptional appliance comes in at a premium price, making it more suitable for sophisticated bakers. If you’re on a budget, but still enjoy a homemade loaf, the Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough & Bread Maker is a smart buy. Despite its price, it offers 14 settings and can produce a 2lb loaf.
I recommend many other great bread machines, including compact appliances or those suitable for large families who’ll appreciate extra capacity. Here are the best bread machines you can buy right now.
The quick list
Here are the best bread machines you can buy right now based on our comprehensive testing. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.
This Zojirushi bread maker gives an excellent performance and has the benefit of a gluten-free and sourdough setting, for bakers that want to bake more than a standard loaf. However, it does come in at the top end, so it best for those who want to bake more than the occasional loaf.
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The Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough & Bread Machine gives an excellent performance. It can bake a 2lb loaf, has 15 settings, including one for gluten-free bread. This bread maker also boasts an express setting if you want bread in a hurry. It's a real steal at under $100.
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This luxury bread maker has plenty of features, including 13 settings, crust color control, delay start, a fruit and nut dispenser and an interior light to enable you to check what's happening to your bake. It is on the expensive side, but if you bake regularly, it's worth the investment.
This is a compact bread machine that makes up to a 2lb loaf, which are taller than they are wide. With 12 settings, color crust control, delay start , plus more, it isn't short on features. Plus, it's perfect if space is tight, or you'd prefer to store your bread maker away when it's not in use
You won't be making large loaves with this mini bread maker, but you can bake a 1lb loaf, but expect it to come out cube-shaped. It has 8 settings, and the option to choose a soft, regular or firm loaf and to bake a quick loaf in 2 hours. It's small, lightweight and best for small families.
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This Oster bread maker is super speedy and will bake a loaf in 1 hour. However, Oster does warn that an express bake will leave the loaf denser. It offers 12 bread settings with 3 crust settings, and a 13 hour programmable baking time so you can wake up to a fresh loaf
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I started baking as soon as I could see over the top of my mom's kitchen countertop, and I haven't stopped since. I can't confess to being an award-winning baker, as I'm more about the taste than the look, but I've certainly spent a good deal of my time trying out new kitchen appliances and working out the pros and cons of each. While I started baking fresh bread by hand, I've now come to realize the freedom that using one of the best bread makers gives —resulting in a loaf just as impressive as one made by hand, with the benefit of giving you back time, and making it easier for you to enjoy fresh bread daily.
Best overall
For a picture-perfect loaf every time, you can’t beat the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus, although it doesn't quite beat Breville's Custom Loaf on size, which offers an extra 0.5 lb in capacity. Whether you opt for classic white or hearty whole wheat, it will come out with a rounded top, a crispy but not tough crust, and a tender crumb. The Virtuoso Plus is the best bread machine for sophisticated bakers as it has a setting for making a sourdough starter and another that allows you to program in your own recipes. Plus, you have a selection of 3 crust colors. When it’s the optimal time to add cranberries or walnuts, the machine beeps to remind you.
The Zojirushi bread machine gains a 4.7-star rating out of 6,882 reviews on Amazon. User's say "this machine is worth the investment", and "it's simple to use, very quiet and stable," plus, "my bread is soft and moist and perfect each time".
The bright LCD display is easy to program and unlike those on other bread machines, it tells you what time your bread will be done, rather than how much time is left. That means you don’t have to do math in your head but rather see exactly when your pumpernickel will be ready to be slathered with butter.
Depending on your bread making needs, the Zojirushi does come in at the top end, so if you are looking to make the occasional loaf or are new to bread making, you might prefer to invest in a less expensive model to start.
Best budget
Although it’s budget friendly, the Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough & Bread Maker doesn’t skimp on settings, making it the best bread machine for budget-conscious shoppers. In addition to the typical settings including jam, cake, and gluten-free, it has some unusual ones. There’s a cycle specifically for French bread and one for artisan dough that gives dough made with a sourdough starter an extra slow cool rise before you shape it yourself into a boule. And like virtually all models, you can set it to bake overnight; if you opt to sleep in, it will keep your bread warm.
User's give this Hamilton Beach bread maker a 4.5 star rating out of 3,736 reviews at Amazon. They say "if you are a first time buyer of a bread machine, this is a very good choice", and "it produces excellent, consistent results". However, because of the small footprint, loaves can be tall.
The Hamilton Beach has some timesaving features. When you haven’t planned ahead of time, it can whip up a loaf start to finish in under 2 hours on the Express setting. And clean-up is truly a breeze as you can chuck both the pan and the paddle in the dishwasher. Overall, it's easy to see why Artisan Dough & Bread Maker is one of the best bread machines. It's also neat and will look compact if kept on your worksurface. It's worth comparing it to Cuisinart's compact bread maker, which just like the Hamilton Beach model, is also available at an affordable price.
Best luxury
If you’re looking for a beautifully designed machine with a lot of fancy features, you’ll love the Breville the Custom Loaf. It can make a loaf that’s up to 2 1/2 pounds, among the largest of any electric bread baker. Although, if you'll looking for even greater capacity, West Bends 3 lb Hi-Rise Bread maker will give you a larger loaf. It has 13 settings, including one for an extra-crusty loaf and another for gluten-free bread, making this one of the best bread machines around.
The Breville is pricey but has a lot of nice extras including some you won’t find on any other machine. There’s a dispenser that automatically adds the fruits, nuts, or chocolate chips so you can truly set and forget it, regardless of your recipe. Although be warned, if you’re making a large loaf, the extra ingredients probably won’t fit into the compartment and will need to be added manually — but you will hear an beeping sound when the ingredients need to be added.
The Breville Custom Loaf scores a 4.3 star rating out of 1,368 reviews at Amazon. Users say, "I love the preheat feature which allows for a lovely rise", and "the nut dispenser is a lovely feature". Although some say the collapsible paddle is difficult to clean.
After it finishes kneading, the paddle folds down. That means you don’t have to extract it from your baked bread and there’s no crater in the bottom of your loaf. An interior light makes it convenient to see what’s going on inside the machine without opening the lid. It's a small feature, but it's brilliant, and will keep children entertained for hours! Like all Breville appliances, it has a plug that’s particularly easy to pull out of the socket.
Read our full Breville Custom Loaf review
Best compact
The Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker takes up less space on your countertop because it’s taller than it is wide. You do, however, wind up with an unusually tall loaf that you may want to turn on its side to slice to get reasonably sized portions. So, if you're looking for a loaf to impress guests, it might not be what you're looking for, but for everyday use it's a good choice.
Even though it’s compact, this bread baker can still turn out a loaf that’s up to 2 pounds — an extra pound on top of what Zojirushi's Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker can offer. Plus, it has a dozen settings including a special one for packaged mixes. You can control the color of your crust and when it’s the right time to add in the raisins, you’ll hear a reminder beep.
Users give this Cuisinart bread maker a 4.6 star rating out of 268 reviews at Best Buy. They say "it's a very easy machine to work and does not take up much space", and "it comes with an easy to use instruction and recipe booklet". However, some comment that it is a bit loud.
In spite of its relatively low price, the Cuisinart is a beautifully designed brushed stainless-steel appliance. It has an interior light for checking progress without opening the lid to sneak a peek. You get a very thorough instruction manual plus a booklet with lots of appealing recipes. Add it all up and you have one of the best bread machines for the money.
Best for small families
No need for a giant machine if there’s only one or two of you sitting down at the dinner table. Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker makes an adorable cube-shaped loaf that won’t leave you with a lot of stale bread. In addition to a setting that allows you to adjust the color of your crust, it has a bread texture setting that lets you choose soft, regular, or firm. On the Zojirushi Mini Breadmaker, you will find fewer settings and there’s no gluten-free cycle. However, it does have a quick 2-hour setting if you want to bake on impulse.
Zojirushi's mini bread maker achieves a 4.5 star rating out of 2,132 reviews on Amazon. Users say "the bread comes out perfectly", and "the bread texture is remarkable". Overall the reviews are extremely positive and it works well for small households.
The machine itself is small and lightweight, and even has a carrying handle to make it easy to stash away when you’re not using it. With its white plastic casing, it’s not a trophy appliance to dress up your counter top, but it's the best bread machine for small families. However, for the size of loaf it produces it's at a premium price point compared to Cuisinart's Compact Automatic Bread Maker.
Best for speed
You can get a loaf of bread from the Oster 2 lb bread maker almost as quickly as if you drive to the store, which is one reason this appliance made our best bread machines list. Its Expressbake 1-hour setting is the fastest you’ll find on any machine. Oster does warn that loaves may come out denser and darker than you’re used to, but still you can have the pleasure of fresh-from-the-oven loaves without planning in advance.
The Oster Expressbake gains a 4.5 start rating out of 9,213 reviews at Amazon. Users say "it makes a good loaf of bread without much mess or fuss", and "it's a good price and is well built".
There’s also a slightly longer 1 hour and 20 minute cycle and of course longer settings for breads and a variety of baked goods including white and whole wheat. You don’t get a gluten-free setting or settings for any other out of the ordinary bread types though. However, it does come with a 13-hour programmable baking timer, to give you the option to enjoy a fresh loaf first thing in the morning or when your return home.
The Oster comes in basic white but is one of the cheapest machines on the market, with a similar price point to Hamilton Beach's Artisan Dough & Bread Maker. But even at this price you get an LCD display that’s easy to program and a viewing window to take a peek at what's happening inside.
Best for versatility
The new Sensio Bella 2lb Bread Maker gives you lots of flexibility at a super affordable price. In addition to 12 settings for all kinds of bread from basic white to whole wheat to gluten free, not to mention yogurt, jam and cake, you can vary the color of the crust, speed things up with a 2-hour cycle, and keep your freshly baked loaf warm for an hour. It even features a sourdough-starting setting, just like our overall winner, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus.
This bread maker scores a 4.4 star rating out of 581 reviews at Best Buy. Users say "it's super easy to use and it makes delicious hot bread", and "it's sleek and modern design, looks great on my kitchen counter". Although some say it's noisy when kneading.
The Bella has a few features you might not expect from such an inexpensive model. There’s an LCD screen for making your selections and a viewing window to check to see how your loaf is rising and baking. You get a little tool to help remove the paddle from the bottom of the loaf before slicing — this is a big help as paddles can sometimes be tricky to remove, especially if you've selected a thicker crust. As the pan is coated with a nonstick finish it is easy to clean by hand, but you can pop both it as well as the paddle in the top rack of the dishwasher, making it super convenient.
Best large bread maker
If your family goes through bread like gangbusters, you’ll want the West Bend 3 lb. Hi-Rise Bread Maker. It can make a jumbo 3lb loaf, the largest of any electric bread baker. And on those days, when only one or two are home for supper, you can make a petite 1 ½ pounder. This machine has two kneading arms, which the manufacturer claims makes for very thorough mixing, a lighter taste and a higher rise. The finished product is shaped like a traditional loaf, making it easy to slice.
This West Bend bread maker gains a 4.3 star rating out of 2,169 reviews on Amazon. Users say "the horizontal dual blade design , ensure an even and thorough kneading process" and its "programmability and simplicity" make it user-friendly. Although some are disappointed that it lacks a jam setting.
The West Bend is loaded with all of the features you expect on a bread machine, including a dozen settings, crust color control and delay start. There is no express setting, unlike Hamilton Beach's Artisan Dough & Bread Maker, and some of the settings require up to 3 hours but the long time is a reflection of the size of loaf and may also help give a tender texture and a high rise.
If you want to rely on your bread maker for all of the bread you eat, and you have a family, this model is certainly worth considering due to its large capacity.
Best for settings
The Cuisinart CBK-200 2lb Convection Bread Maker makes the list because it offers 16 settings. All of the basic programs you would expect are included, such as white, whole wheat and gluten free as well as rapid settings. But, there are several specialty options too, such as French/Italian, low carb, pizza dough, artisan dough and sweet breads. It also comes with 3 loaf size options, 1, 1.5 or 2lbs, and 3 crust color options, giving you extensive customization.
This Cuisinart appliance gains a 4.4 star rating out of 4,892 reviews on Amazon. User's say its "powerful, relatively quiet, reliable", and "the build quality is excellent and the perfect loaves I'm getting our heavenly". Although some experience the bread pan popping out.
This bread machine features a unique convection design, which Cuisinart claims will circulate the air for superior crust color and texture. It doesn’t disappoint, producing loaves with good rise, shape and thick crusts, which can be where bread machines fall short. It even alerts you when to ‘Mix-in’ fruit and nuts or when you can take the dough out to shape yourself, should you choose. It’s on the noisy side, but it’s the best choice for those wanting to bake an assortment of loaves and are keen to experiment beyond the standard loaf. For all it's functionality is comes in at a good price, as is around $100 cheaper than Breville's Custom Loaf.
How we tested
Our guide for the best bread machines is based on extensive, consumer report research and online reviews. We rated things like power and how well each machine performed for various settings. In addition, we looked at how user-friendly and practical it was to use, design, capacity and number of extra features.
When we test the bread machines we take several factors into account. The final result — the quality of the bread produced — is the most important point. But we also look at how easy the appliance is to use, how well it mixes the dough and the capacity of the automatic dispenser to add extra ingredients, and if the machine has one, plus many more elements. The range of setting is also considered and the maximum size of loaf that can be baked. All of these factors help us determine which bread machines are best for specific categories, such as best compact or best premium bread machine.
We are currently working on reviewing every bread machine in our guide to give you the best possible information to make the best choice for you.
How to choose the right bread machine for you
Machine size: Bread machines are bigger than you think, so checking you’ve got the space for it is imperative. Check the dimensions before you buy and measure out where you plan to sit it — remember, you will need to factor for opening the lid on top and space is needed around the machine for it to vent. It’s good practice to leave some space in front too because some machines can ‘walk’ while they knead and you don’t want it to end up on the floor.
Loaf size: Don’t go straight for the biggest loaf size on the market. The bigger you go, the more space the machine will take up, so you could end up storing more than necessary. On top of this, you will likely waste a lot of bread if you can’t finish the loaves. Remember, there’s no preservatives in homemade bread, so it will expire quickly. If you want an idea for size — a one-pound loaf should provide eight slices, and an extra half pound will give you another four slices.
Baking too much bread is just one of the 8 bread maker mistakes you never knew you were making. Stuck between using a bread machine vs oven? We've got the answer.
Bread machine FAQs
When to replace your bread machines
Warranties for bread machines vary from one to three years, though how long your machine lasts will depend on how often you use it. You may be offered an extended warranty but we don't recommend them, as the cost of lifetime repairs are likely to be less than the cost of the warranty itself.
If all of a sudden your bread is not coming out correctly, the problem may be related to the recipe, the ingredients, or even the temperature and humidity. It’s most likely not a problem with the machine itself. The owner’s manual or a reputable cookbook should be able to help you troubleshoot and achieve better results. To keep the paddle kneading properly, you should also make sure that both it and the area around it are thoroughly clean, so that baked-on gunk isn’t preventing it from moving.
An acrid smell could be caused by burnt bits in the bottom of the machine, so be sure to clean under the loaf pan after every bake. If the control panel doesn’t operate correctly, the lid doesn’t close securely, or the machine simply doesn’t operate, you need to take your machine to a professional or replace it. A repair quote of more than half the price of a new bread machine is an indication that it’s time to buy a replacement.
What kind of yeast can you use in a bread maker?
Baking a loaf of bread is about getting the yeast right, so you might wonder if you need to use a particular type of yeast when using a bread maker. Both bread machine yeast and rapid-rise yeast are designed to be used in a bread machine, and unlike active dry yeast, they work faster. However, if you use active dry yeast in your bread machine, dissolve it in water before adding it to your ingredients.
Can you make sourdough in a bread machine?
Yes, it's possible to make sourdough in a bread maker, and some bread machines have specific settings. However, it can be a tricky bread to make, and if you are used to making it by hand you may need to adapt your recipe for your machine.
The one issue is that a bread machine can't react and respond to the dough as you would, and sourdough isn't as predictable as using yeast. Your bread machine can't tell if the dough needs more time to rise, or if it's risen too much before baking. So, if your bread maker doesn't offer customizable settings, you may find it harder to achieve the result you desire with sourdough.
Is it cheaper to make home made bread?
The cost of a loaf will vary depending on the price and quality of the ingredients you use. If you are making an 'artisan' loaf, with high-quality flour and added ingredients, such as olives and nuts, you may still save more than buying the equivalent at your local deli. You'll also find that a basic white loaf will be cheaper than buying it from a quality store. However, although you can save money, it does cost you your time, even when using a bread maker.
