Freshly baked bread without the hassle: the best bread makers of 2024

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.

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

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.

His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.

In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.

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