Breadmaker reviews: Features explained
Non-stick bread pans make life easy
Breadmaker features
Accessories
All the breadmakers we've tested come with a measuring beaker and a measuring spoon. Breadmaking is very exact. A few grams here or a teaspoon there can have a big effect on the taste, texture and appearance of your loaf, so always use the utensils provided to get your measures spot on.
Bread pan
Your bread bakes in a non-stick bread pan. This contains the kneading paddle, a rotating shaft that drives the paddle, and a handle to lift the pan out of the breadmaker. Use plastic rather than metal utensils on the non-stick surface and wash the pan by hand.
Cool wall
All the breadmakers we've tested have insulated outer walls that stop the surfaces from getting too hot during baking. Nonetheless, they do get warm – especially ones with a stainless steel outer body – so still take care around your breadmaker.
Always use an oven glove, or tea towels, when removing the hot bread pan after the bread has baked.
Kneading paddle
The breadmaker's kneading paddle mixes the ingredients in the bread pan and kneads them into dough. Some kneading paddles collapse after the kneading cycle but they will still leave a hole in the bottom of your bread. When you clean the pan, remove the kneading paddle, as some baked bread can accumulate beneath it, which could affect the efficiency of the breadmaker.
If the kneading paddle is difficult to remove, fill the bread pan with warm, soapy water to let it soak.
Some breadmakers have twin paddles, which creates a more rectangular-shaped loaf, but most breadmakers on the market have an almost square-shaped pan.
Viewing window
A viewing window isn’t necessary, but inquisitive bakers can check on their bread as it bakes with the help of a viewing window. This means you won't need to open the lid and therefore reduce the temperature inside the breadmaker - which could affect how well bread rises.
Our breadmaker reviews mention which accessories and extra features each model comes with, such as an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, delay timer and keep warm, - as well as how they useful they are.
How to use a breadmaker
Control panel
Breadmakers have settings for the size of loaf, type of flour being used and even your preferred shade of crust colour; all of which can be selected via a menu on the control panel.
Delay setting
A delay setting is a helpful feature to look for on a breadmaker, especially if you want to wake up to freshly baked bread.
Most breadmakers come with a 13-hour delay option, but this includes the time taking to complete the bread cycle, so it’s more of a countdown timer.
Set your breadmaker before you go to bed and wake up to deliciously fresh baked bread the next morning.
Automatic dispenser
If you're a fan of making bread with added ingredients, consider buying a breadmaker with an automatic fruit and nut dispenser. The breadmaker will cost more, but will mean that you don't have to wait around to add ingredients manually.
Rapid bake
A white loaf can be baked in less than an hour with some breadmakers. This is useful if you’re in a hurry, but the end result is rarely as good as when you bake on a standard program. In our experience, the longer the 'rapid' bake setting the better the results.
Breadmakers can make speciality bread
Breadmaker baking options
White, brown, or seeded bread
Breadmakers can produce white, brown, wholemeal and seeded loaves. But you’ll have a wider choice of baking programs, loaf sizes and crust finishes when baking white bread.
Some breadmakers also come with a setting for baking rye bread.
Gluten-free
A breadmaker is handy if you suffer from coeliac disease and need to go gluten-free. Coeliac disease is a condition caused by intolerance to gluten, which is found in barley, rye and wheat flour as well as oats. Breadmakers with this setting allow you to make your own gluten-free bread using special bread mixes or the recipes provided.
Speciality bread
Most machines come with recipes for more inventive bread as well as standard white, brown and wholemeal. If you're looking to impress at a dinner party, you'll be able to bake everything from ciabatta to sun-dried tomato and parmesan bread.
You can bake from scratch with the raw ingredients or use bread mixes that need only butter and water added to them.
Other things you can make with a breadmaker
Cake
Some breadmakers also feature a 'bake-only' setting and come with a selection of recipes to get you started. Most machines don't mix the ingredients so you'll have to do any stirring, beating and folding yourself, with the breadmaker only taking care of the baking cycle.
You’ll need to remove the kneading paddle and remember to line the pan with baking parchment before adding the cake mixture.
Breadmakers can also make jam
Jam
Some breadmakers are good for making jam, with the fruit and sugar cooking at very high temperatures. And the finished product has a pleasingly homemade taste.
Dough
If you want to make bread rolls, buns or croissants, the kneading paddle on a breadmaker will do all the labour-intensive kneading for you. You’ll simply need to leave the dough to rise then bake it in the oven.
Pasta
Breadmakers can also mix and knead pasta dough. However, you will still have to roll it out and flatten it, using a pasta machine, then cook it in the usual way.
Cleaning a breadmaker
Avoid dishwashers
Dishwashers can damage the non-stick surfaces of your breadmaker, so always wash the baking pan and paddle by hand with a soapy cloth dipped in warm water.
For any hard-to-remove residue, soak the pan with warm soapy water first.
Plastic utensils
You should use plastic utensils for scooping ingredients in or out of your breadmaker. Metal can damage the non-stick surface of the bread pan.
Next: go straight to our list of latest breadmaker Best Buys, or see our tips on buying the best breadmaker for you.
