Bread Makers

Allbright :

A few years ago, I started grinding my own wheat with a Nutrimill (it’s great!) and I bought this bread maker for $200 upon many recommendations that it can handle dough made with fresh ground whole wheat. It can indeed make it into dough, but it does a horrible job baking it. So, basically, I spent $200 for a mixer–not a bread baker. It made me very sad, because the Zojirushi is touted as the best one for the job. I wish I had just bought the Bosch Mixer at the time instead.

For white bread it does a great job, but unfortunately, that isn’t what I bought it for!

Urquhart :

I used a different bread maker for 10 years and all my old recipes need about 3 tbs more water in this one, as do the ones in the accompanying booklet. I didn’t move to a different place or changed anything else.
Once I found that out, it works fine. I found also that making my own 2-rise cycle in one of the memory functions makes my bread a bit fluffier and we like it better that way, especially with whole wheat flour breads. Thanks to the other reviewer who mentioned that.

Albrecht :

Do not buy a bread machine if you like inexpensive store-bought generic bread (or if you are not well-disciplined in restricting your intake of superb-tasting bread). It is not worth the cost or effort. These machines are excellent for producing “artisan style” breads without all the questionable additives. The shelf life is much shorter, but this is never a problem because the bread vanishes so quickly.

If you are busy or in a hurry just let the machine do the job from start to finish checking and adjusting the moisture content when the additions signal sounds and centring the loaf after initial kneading ends. If you have time (and inclination) and want a traditional or special loaf shape set the machine to knead and rise and then hand work the final shape before baking it in the oven. Recipes always work well for me when I scoop flour and then shake it into a measuring cup (rather than scooping compacted flour with a measuring cup).

This bread machine has a large, good quality, heavy pan and 2 substantial paddles. I like the texture and size of the bread it produces. - Though they may be bigger than generic sliced breads, slices easily fit in a standard toaster. There are plenty of standard options to bake many different types of bread and 3 fully programmable settings which enable you to address every variation possible (that I can think of).

The instruction book is fairly comprehensive for basic recipes and also includes many interesting recipes. Allowing ten minutes at room temperature ensures easy removal of loaves on most occasions. After some 2+ years of very heavy use the non-stick surface remains intact and still works well.

Unlike other machines the motor does not slow down with heavy ingredients. It is vital to monitor the kneading process occasionally, since there is no feedback from a slowing motor if the mix is too dry - the motor maintains the same speed whatever the contents. In fact (compared to the 5 other (brands of) bread-makers I have owned over the last 15 or more years) this machine gives the impression that it could mix concrete quite capably.

What’s not to like about this machine? More “head-space”over the loaf would reduce the need for occasional cleanups. You must centre the dough if lop-sided loaves are to be avoided (as in all horizontal-panned machines). The price is rather steep (although less than half that of my first machine).

Because of its quality, the strength of the motor, and the ready availability of parts from the manufacturer’s website I expect this machine to last much longer than any of its predecessors.

This machine merits a score of 4.7 out of 5. Despite not being perfect, I thoroughly recommend it.

Ellsworth :

I have been living on my own since I was 23 (I’m 27 as of the time this review was written;). It was hard to get adjusted to having to have a full time job while still maintaining an apartment. One thing that was a little tricky was getting used to cooking for myself. Since I live alone, and live 30-45 mins away from work, I usually prepare simple things like salads and sandwiches because I didn’t find a reason to make extravagant, time consuming meals for just myself and well… I am also extremely lazy lol, I am a successful young professional but lately the domestic housewife in me has been slowly coming out. However, my limited cooking skills and experience, as well as my busy life (and ok.. LAZYNESS TOO lol) were still nipping at me. Being able to bake my own bread was something that “Domestic Danielle” always wanted to do, but “Clueless Baker Danielle” showed me a flash into the future and all I saw was my kitchen covered in flour and a cage match between me and a lump of dough trying desperately to knead that thing and then having it jump on my face and start to consume me like the blob. OK…. not a pretty sight I know!! There was only one way to satisfy both of my desires, and that was a BREAD MACHINE!!!

My sister has a bread machine and she loves it. When we would get together for family gatherings she would bring a loaf and it was always so delicious, and that too inspired me to start researching them. When I came across the mini Zojirushi, I knew it was love at first sight and absolutely PERFECT for me!! It makes a nice and small 1 pound loaf, which really can last you a couple days if you make small slices. It is also incredibly easy to use and the manual that comes with it is great because those recipes were made strictly for that bread machine. I also love the timer option on it! a couple times I have dumped the ingredients in either before I go to bed or before I go to work and set it so that I can have fresh bread when I wake up or when I come home from work (and waking up or coming home to that wonderful smell is ALWAYS a bonus hehe). And probably the best thing about this machine is that it does EVERYTHING for you!! It kneads and rises and bakes it all in the same cute contraption! As long as you measure everything as it is supposed to be measured then your bread will come out fine. I have made several loaves and they always come out great!

The only word of warning is that you might become like me and become a bake-a-holic. Since its so easy to do and since its so cute to watch it in the machine (I love the little window on the top hehe), you might find yourself becoming bake-crazy! Lately I have been experimenting with the recipes in the book and have been baking loaves for work or baking loaves for friends and people I associate with. I am thinking about baking one for my personal trainer and her family, because I mean what says thank you for helping me attain a hot body like a gift of an adorable bread loaf lol!!

Bottom line is that this is a great product that makes great bread! I am THE bread winner and this bread machine is a winner too!! Its just win-win all around!! I am also psyched to try out the dough function and try to make my own pizza and soft pretzels!! The possibilities are endless!! Uh oh world watch out!!! DOMESTIC DANIELLE IS TAKING OVER!!!

Quispe :

We purchased this bread maker for use on our boat. We are traveling in an area where one can’t purchase fresh bread. The bread maker does not take up much space and is easy to use. The quick bake cycle is great. The loaf size is perfect for two people and the bread has been consistently good. We have tried several of the recipes and have not been disappointed in the results. We highly recommend this product!

Ju :

I had been baking bread from scratch prior to this purchase, but didn’t want to spend over $200 for a bread machine. So after having bought a bread machine at a local thriftstore that had to be returned because it didn’t work once home, I decided to try the Sunbeam. The reviews seemed pretty good, and it’s affordable. But now that I’ve tried it, I have to agree with the person who wrote the second review and am also amazed that we both seem to be the exception. I have tried every combination I could possibly think of, including making loaves with both active dry yeast and quick yeast; breadmachine flour and regular flour; adding even gluten flour and baking soda. Still, every single loaf has fallen at least 3″. Also, the manual states that if one wants to turn off the default instant bread warmer feature, to hold in the start/stop button until it beeps. This feature doesn’t work on my machine.

On the positive side, the loaves are tasty and the texture is nice. But we probably won’t keep it. I guess it’s true; you get what you pay for.

Pitts :

I bought this in Feb 2008, used it two days ago and it was fine, then went to use it again yesterday and it was broken. The piece of metal with four prongs on it that sits in the bottom of the machine somehow broke off, so the bread machine motor still goes but the paddle doesn’t turn. Very frustrating.

I also thought the recipe book that came with it was very poor with very few actual bread recipes. I continued to use the recipe book that came with my old Proctor Silex machine (that one lasted 10 years!).

Frear :

I absolutely love this breadmaker. I make bread at least twice a week. It is so simple to use. Some reviewers say the lcd readout is hard to see, but I did not find this to be the case. It truly takes less than 3 minutes to get your ingredients into the machine and start it. Cleanup couldnt be easier. I cannot say enough good about this machine!

I personally use it more to make rolls than to make loaf bread. From start to finish, it only takes about an hour to have hot fresh rolls. I put my ingredients into the machine, set it to “8″– the dough setting–and after it stops kneeding, it only takes about 15 minutes for the dough to rise in the machine, then i remove it onto my oiled baking/cookie sheet, punch the dough down, form the rolls, cover with a cloth, let rise for about 15 more minutes, then bake for about 12 minutes and they are done!

My recipe is:
Put 1 1/4 cups warm water, 2T olive oil, 2T honey into breakmaking pan.
Add 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/4 + 1/3 cups old fashioned oatmeal, 1 1/4t salt, 4t wheat gluten, 2T dried milk, 2 1/4t quick yeast (or 1 pk quick yeast).
Bake 12 minutes at 375.

This recipe is just perfect. After the rolls come out of the oven, remove them immediately from the pan. Let sit about 10 minutes, then you can put them into a freezer bag and freeze them. I use them as needed. You can let them thaw at room temp, or pop them in the microwave for about 30 sec to defrost them. Always taste freshly baked.

Beck :

Although this is my third Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker, I am very happy with it’s features. I like the separate yeast dispenser, I like the choices in loaf size and crust color. I also feel it is quite forgiving if you are not perfectly accurate with your measurements. The main problem is the motor burns out after awhile; but, I do use it often, almost daily. My son once used it to make pizza dough (as he OFTEN did) and set it too close to the countertop edge. The machine fell to the floor but kept on working. It was the motor that eventually died.