Baking bread a most wholesome and satisfying pastime. From the inviting smell of fresh bread wafting throughout the home to the contentment of slicing into a perfectly baked loaf, it's a timeless activity that's perfect for families and food fanatics alike.
But baking bread, fun as it may be, is rarely as simple as it seems: older gas ovens, not having the right dish, or even issues with environmental conditions, bread baking comes with a high risk of failure, which after waiting all day for freshly baked bread, can be disheartening.
The best bread makers of 2024 at a glance:
Bread makers take away the pain and hassle of baking perfect bread, and make it in significantly less time. From fruit bread to crust thickness options and more, not only do bread makers reduce the stress of baking, they also make baking bread you'd never thought to have made possible.
Do you love the taste of fresh bread but hate kneading dough? No problem, countless bread makers simply knead the dough to perfection for you, so no more worrying about whether you've kneaded quite enough before your hands ache.
Best bread makers of 2024
Best overall
Morphy Richards Perfect for quickly whipping up a loaf within 55 minutes, Morphy Richards Fastbake breadmaker is an all-in-one kneading, baking machine, with a fantastic variety of breads to make, as well as some easy-to-prepare doughs for pizza.
For the curious baker, the Morphy Richards breadmaker has a viewing window for watching your bread knead and rise throughout the baking process. With countless modes for jams, crust types and timing delays for waking up to the smell of fresh bread in the morning, the Morphy Richards Fastbake is a sublime choice for amateurs and professionals alike.
Though the Morphy Richards Fastbake Breadmaker is a bargain considering its features, some don't quite meet the mark of its primary breadmaking options. Its cake mode, for example, seems a little pointless, as no rising or kneading is required for cake baking.
Considering its other options, however, the Morphy Richards Fastbake Breadmaker is a stellar choice, just leave cake baking for the oven.
Pros
- Fantastic range of features for many types of bread
- Ideal for rapid bread-making
- Excellent value
Cons
- Some users dislike the 'cake mode'
| Dimensions | 305 x 405 x 285 mm |
| Number of programs | 12 |
| Types of bread | White, wholewheat, gluten-free, french bread, pizza dough, sweet bread, sandwich |
| Jam-making option | Yes |
| Sizes available | 630g, 907g loaves |
| Crust settings | Yes |
| Weight | 6.2 kg |
| Additional features | Kneading functionality, viewing window 13-hour delay function |
Best bread maker for variety
For a phenomenal array of bread, as well as pasta, yoghurt, porridge and even cereal, TEFAL's one-of-a-kind bread maker is a one-stop machine for creating some delightful dishes that are tough to make from scratch at home.
Designed for true baking artisans, TEFAL's pain and delices bread maker has a delightful array of features to pick and choose from to create the ultimate loaf without the hassle. Can't have gluten? Make gluten-free bread, even gluten-free sweet bread without lifting a finger.
But that's far from all, the TEFAL pain and delices bread maker excels at making yoghurt, pasta, cereals and more, and its included measuring jug, yoghurt pot and kneading hook make baking and cooking a hands-free breeze. There are so many delicious foods to create from scratch, that you won't be short on exciting dishes for a considerable amount of time.
If we were to nitpick, we'd love a viewing window to peek into the bread maker itself, watching it knead or bake would be fascinating. Otherwise, the TEFAL pain and delices bread maker is a bargain at its price.
Pros
- Fantastic included accessories
- Perfect for making a range of bread and other foods
- Compact and affordable
Cons
- Lacks viewing window
| Dimensions | 298 x 290 x 317 mm |
| Number of settings | 20 |
| Types of bread | White bread, French bread, gluten-free, wholemeal, rye, sweet bread, sweet gluten-free |
| Jam-making option | Yes |
| Sizes available | 500 g, 750 g, 1 kg |
| Crust settings | Yes (3) |
| Weight | 4.7 kg |
| Additional features | Leavened doughs, pasta, porridge, soft white cheese, yoghurt/ drinkable yoghurt, cereals, measuring jugs and recipe books, kneading paddle |
One of the better deals on bread makers online, this terrific Russell Hobbs bread maker is ideal for whipping up loaves of bread within a moment's notice, and there are plenty of options for baking fanatics too.
Select from up to 12 separate programs to find the perfect bread, with wholewheat, gluten-free and even sweet bread such as brioche being an option. Pour your ingredients into the Russell Hobbs Electric Bread Maker, and let the machine take care of the rest. Time your bread for an early rise, and find your home full of the aroma of fresh bread from the moment you start your day.
Choose between two sizes, 750g and 1kg of bread, which is bound to be plenty to feed the family, or a particularly hungry bread enthusiast for an afternoon. You can also monitor your bread's baking via a viewing window, which is a nice feature for eager bakers to keep an eye on the bake's progress.
If we were to nitpick about this budget-friendly bread maker, we'd undoubtedly note the unfortunately dark LCD, which isn't great, especially for those with poor sight. It can be difficult to see what setting you're on without the correct lighting, so it's something to bear in mind when preparing your bread.
That being said, the luxury of a bread maker at a fantastic price cannot be understated, it's a fantastic price and is worth every penny when all's considered.
Pros
- Brilliant value breadmaker
- Plenty of options for a variety of breads
- Easy to use with countless settings for perfect bread
Cons
- Slightly dark menu screen
| Dimensions | 282 x 328 x 277 mm |
| Number of settings | 12 |
| Types of bread | Basic, French, wholewheat, sweet, gluten-free, sandwich, malt loaf |
| Jam-making option | Yes |
| Sizes available | 750 g, 1 kg |
| Crust settings | Yes (3) |
| Weight | 4 kg |
| Additional features | Cake baking, 13 hour delay timer, viewing window |
On the higher end of bread makers, the Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC is perfect for making a wide variety of bread to satiate even the most enthusiastic baking artisans. Made with stainless steel, this flashy bread maker is easy to clean and blends well into a modern kitchen aesthetic.
With a choice of up to 31 distinct programs, bakers can look forward to warm, delightful loaves up to 1.1 kg, and the bread maker is full of customisation options to make your bread truly special. Perhaps its finest feature is its automatic fruit and nut dispenser, which evenly incorporates your added ingredients into the dough without needing to lift the lid.
The height of convenience, the pleasure of tucking into french bread, and the delight of having fresh jam is all capable with the Panasonic SD-YR2 bread maker.
Our only gripe with the bread maker is its lack of viewing window, which is commonplace even on lower-end bread makers. Not being able to see your bread's progress is disheartening, but some may argue that the delight of seeing a perfect loaf baked and ready is the real joy.
Pros
- A fantastic array of breadmaking features
- Easy to use and highly customisable
- Three different sizes to choose from, up to 1.1 kg
Cons
- No viewing window
| Dimensions | 362 x 395 x 252 mm |
| Number of settings | 31 |
| Types of bread | White bread, french bread, wholewheat, quick bread, sweet bread, gluten-free, rye bread, pizza, brioche |
| Jam-making option | Yes |
| Sizes available | Medium, large, extra-large (up to 1.1 kg) |
| Crust settings | Yes (3) |
| Weight | 7.5 kg |
| Additional features | Automatic raisin and nut dispenser, fast bake options, overnight baking, add ingredients signal |
Lakeland Baking bread is wonderful, but bread makers have a tendency to be a bit on the bulkier side, so a compact option is must-needed for smaller kitchen spaces. Lakeland's suitably small Daily Loaf Bread Maker is the perfect, cost-effective solution for any home.
Choose from 11 settings for making the perfect, golden loaf, from crusty to French, or even gluten-free, there are plenty of delicious options to bake without lifting a finger. Knead, bake and eat, this Lakeland compact bread maker is superbly convenient.
As a cheaper option, there are undoubtedly fewer options to pick from with this compact bread maker, but for most it's plenty. The Lakeland bread maker is a must-need for stress-free baking without taking up much space in the kitchen.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and easy-to-store
- Solid programs for bakers
- Quick bread that's mess-free
Cons
- A limited number of programs
| Dimensions | 310 x 215 x 250 mm |
| Number of settings | 11 |
| Types of bread | Crusty, gluten-free, wholemeal, French, sandwich. |
| Jam-making option | No |
| Sizes available | 453 g |
| Crust settings | Light, medium, thick |
| Weight | 4.84 kg |
| Additional features | Dough kneading, pizza dough, viewing window lid |
How to choose the best bread makers for you:
What do you want to make?
Bread makers have a variety of modes and programs to pick from: white bread, french bread, wholewheat and more, there are plenty of breads to choose from, but that's not all. Countless bread makers can also make pizza dough, pasta dough, jams, yoghurts and more, so you've got a lot more food to make with a single machine.
Generally speaking, having more modes means more freedom, so you should absolutely pick something with more versatility if that's what you're looking for, but if you're particular about your love of bread, stick to cheaper models.
How much should I spend?
A more expensive bread maker means more modes to choose from, which is ideal, but it also means a greater degree of control over your bread. Some bread makers, including those mentioned in our roundup, include fruit and nut dispensers, which evenly disperse additional ingredients throughout the dough, which is wonderful for adding some variety to your daily loaf.
You can also choose different bread sizes with pricier bread makers too, so you're not making too much or not enough bread at once. Much like the best slow cookers, you get what your pay for, and paying a little extra now can make the difference between buying additional machines to make other foods which a single bread maker might also be capable of.
Do you have the space?
If you're like us, your cupboards are already filled with convenient kitchen gadgets that make food quicker and better than you can typically do without them. But unlike one of the best sandwich toasters, which fit snugly away, the best bread makers of the year are large and unsuitable for packing away neatly. These large devices are made to make up to a kilo of bread at a time, so space is a necessity.
When picking a bread maker, it's best to go with compact if you don't have the space, otherwise, you'll be stuck with something you might only use on a rare occasion that's taking up a counter's worth of space.
FAQs: your questions answered
Is using a bread maker cheaper than buying bread?
Once you've bought a bread maker, which is a little pricey from the get-go, you're probably wondering if the ingredients required to make bread are cheaper than buying a cheap loaf of bread from the shop instead, and it's a definite yes, but within reason.
To make a basic white bread, all you need is flour, yeast, water and oil, and a pinch of salt. If you buy a large quantity of flour, and a decent helping of yeast, you can make a huge amount of fresh bread for a fraction of the price of a regular sliced loaf. But affordability ends once you start to choose more artisanal recipes, including fruit and nuts, eggs, or making cheese and yoghurt is bound to be expensive in the long-run, and the shelf life of homemade food isn't as good as shop-bought goods.
So it's a real mixed bag, but it's certainly got some advantages for bread addicts, and for the sake of having fresh bread at home, it's a phenomenal gadget to have.
Is a bread maker any good?
Bread makers are perfect for busy people who still love the taste and smell of freshly baked bread, adding your ingredients into a breadmaker, leaving it to its own devices and returning to discover a perfect loaf is one of the finer experiences to be had in the kitchen.
Utilise timer options, make a huge variety of delicious foods, and more, bread makers are sensational at what they do, and are more than worth grabbing.
Why use a bread maker instead of an oven?
Bread makers are great for bakers because they're less messy, flour and other ingredients are all contained within the bread maker itself, and it saves a lot of time to make. Finding a cool, dry place for your dough and waiting patiently whilst wondering if you've kneaded the dough enough, or whether your kitchen conditions are right, is truly a thing of the past.
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Ryan Houghton is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.
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