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How to choose the best breadmaker for you
Find the best breadmaker for your kitchen with expert advice from this Which? video guide. Find out what we look for in a good loaf of bread, and the features you should look for when buying a breadmaker.
Which? video guide to buying the best breadmaker
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Want to try a breadmaker but not sure where to start? Confused about which features you need? Watch the Which? breadmaker video buying guide for our expert’s top tips on buying the breadmaker that best suits you.
Finding the best breadmaker to suit your needs
What to look for in a breadmaker
Most breadmakers are versatile enough to bake a variety of breads and other products such as cakes. You can also buy compact models, which are ideal for small kitchens, but often limit your options to a few types of loaf.
If you want to be able to wake up to freshly baked bread in the morning, look for a breadmaker with a delay timer. Other useful features to look out for include a rapid-bake setting and a viewing window, which lets you check on your bread as it bakes.
Benefits of buying a breadmaker
With the price of shop-bought bread ever rising, along with salt levels, there's never been a better time to invest in a breadmaker. By baking your own bread, not only will you save money, but you can also control exactly what goes into it – ideal for special diets such as low salt or gluten-free.
And because Which? tests the taste and appearance of homemade loaves, you can be confident that the Which? Best Buy breadmakers will give delicious results every time.
What else can I make in my breadmaker?
As well as different types of bread, from rye bread to fruit and nut loaves, some breadmakers can also bake cakes, though generally you have to mix the ingredients by hand first. You can also make jam or mix pasta dough.
Which? puts breadmakers to the test baking madeira sponges, strawberry jam and pasta dough – so check out the Which? ratings if you want to use your breadmaker in this way.
Watch out for breadmakers that are noisy or difficult to clean
It’s not just the quality of the loaf that makes a good breadmaker, as Which? tests have found. The kneading and process and mixing cycle can be very noisy, so check the Which? ratings for the quietest machines – especially important if you’re baking your bread overnight.
We also rate breadmakers on how easy they are to clean – the parts aren’t dishwasher safe, so look for one that’s rated highly in this area.
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Which? tests more thoroughly than any other organisation
Which? puts breadmakers through a series of independent and extensive tests, so you can trust the Which? Best Buy ratings.
Which? spends hundreds of hours baking to find the best breadmakers
When testing breadmakers, Which? spends 672 hours baking 178kg of bread. Our expert tasters rate each loaf for taste, appearance, texture and smell. We also test how easy it is to keep the breadmakers clean – that way, you can enjoy home-baked bread without too much effort.
