Best bread makers

Nothing beats a homemade loaf and, with the latest  and best bread makers, knocking up some quick rolls for breakfast or a French baguette for lunch couldn’t be simpler. They say the smell of freshly baked bread can entice potential buyers as they view your home, too, and it’s true that for many of us, it’s one of our favourite aromas. Making your own bread is healthier, and as well as saving time and money, it’s great fun to spend an afternoon baking with the kids. Before you know it, you’ll be as good as old twinkly eyes Paul Hollywood himself!

Use appliance expert Hayley Gilbert's guide to the best bread makers to bring out your star baker – and don't miss the rest of our kitchen appliance buyer's guides.

What to consider when buying a bread maker

Automatic functions

Look for automatic functions to make life easier. Not all models are automatic; some require the dough to be kneaded and added to the bread maker while others simply require you to add the separate ingredients while the machine does the rest. 

Versatility

Do you want to be able to create different types of bread and styles of loaf? Think about how versatile you want it to be as the higher the price tag, the more features and functions the bread maker will offer. 

Some designs come with pizza and pasta functions and can help prepare cakes and jams too, while others have a gluten-free setting.

Ease of use and storage

Check if the parts are dishwasher-safe and think about where you’re going to store it when not in use. If it’s going to sit on the worktop, measure up the space available and check dimensions before you buy as you want to be sure it will fit snugly without taking up too much space or hanging over the edge of the surface. If it’s going to be stashed away in a cupboard, check how high the shelf space is to ensure the machine isn’t going to be too big to fit.

Timers

Timers are another must to ensure perfect results, every time. A timer allows you to set the bread maker to start baking at a time to suit you, so you can wake up to warm crusty rolls or have a loaf waiting when you get home from work. Here’s a round up of the best buys with something for every budget.

The best bread makers

Buyers love this model as it offers 17 pre-set cycles including gluten free, sourdough, jam and yoghurt. The automatic dispenser lets you add seeds, nuts, raisins or anything else you fancy to your dough and you have the option of baking small, medium or large loaves. You can also delay the start time by up to 15 hours and there’s a 60-minute keep warm function too. Buyers say it’s great for experienced bakers as well as novices and there’s a step-by-step instruction booklet with a selection of recipes to get you started.

This one does all the hard work for you – simply add the ingredients, pick your programme and press start. Buyers like the fact that there are a variety of bakes to choose from – preparing dough for bread rolls, pizza and cake as well as making jam. But what makes this design stand out is the fastbake function that produces a fresh loaf in just 50 minutes. It also has a choice of three crust settings so you can really personalise your loaf. Buyers like the option to keep an eye on their bake using the clear viewing window while the 13-hour delay timer is really handy, too. It’s also got a cool-touch body so is safe if you have little ones running around

One of the best bread makers you can buy mainly for the gluten free setting, this bread maker features a variety of programmes and is easy to use with an automatic yeast dispenser as it adds it at just the right time to let the bread rise. The raisin and nut dispenser is another bonus, and you can even make jams and compotes. Any special dietary requirement is taken care of, as there are modes for different flours and grains such as spelt or rye. Some say it’s hard to clean and the lack of a viewing window is annoying. 

Easy to use, this model is nice and compact so is ideal for smaller kitchens. Users love the fresh taste and texture of the bread as well as the pizza bases. It comes with 11 settings and three crust settings along with three loaf sizes and an eco programme that bakes a loaf in under 90 minutes. Use it to make bread, pizza bases and sweet dough as well as cakes when you fancy a treat. Added features include an LCD display and dishwasher-safe parts.

Buyers love the taste of the bread this machine bakes as well as the variety of loaves it produces – crusty white, mixed seed, cinnamon, raisin… They also raved about how easy it is to use and the delay timer, which proves really handy for baking a loaf exactly when you want it. They also like its modern, compact design and the fact that it’s easy to clean. In our opinion, this is the best bread maker for those on a budget.

If there’s only a couple of you, this model is ideal as it bakes small loaves though buyers say it takes a few attempts to get it right. The 13-hour delay setting is handy for making sure you have your loaf ready when you are. There are 12 pre-set programmes including French bread, wholewheat, quick bread, sweet bread and dessert dough as well as different crust settings and a handy viewing window with LCD display. There’s also a 120-minute fast bake and a keep warm option.

This model is a great all-rounder at a good price. The 12 functions allow you to bake everything from basic loaves to French, wholewheat and gluten free as well as cakes, sweet dough and jam. Set the timer overnight so you can wake up to freshly cooked bread and use the keep warm function to hold it at the optimum temperature. Buyers liked the adjustable crust control as well as the non-stick coating for easy cleaning. The best bread maker if you're after something compact, we think.

Buyers love the fact that this model is easy to use and simple to keep clean. As well as the different bread modes, including rye. There are three loaf sizes and a choice of crust colour. A 13-hour digital timer allows you to choose when to have your loaf ready and it even adjusts for the ambient temperature on the room it’s running in. The dispenser means you don’t have to stand by the bread maker to add fruit or nuts at the right time, while the choice of recipes and clear instructions are also a bonus. If you want a bread maker that can make lots of different bakes, this is the best bread maker for you.

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