If you’ll be buying a bread maker for the first time, you need to ensure that you make the right choice. You don’t want to invest your hard-earned money in a product that won’t help. So, that’s why I wanted to write on Buying Guide on what are some of the most important factors to consider while shopping for the best bread maker?

Factors to Consider Before Buying Bread Makers – Buying Guide

Table Of Contents

1. How many Pre-programmed Menu Options in Bread Maker?

Different bread makers come with a different number of pre-programmed menu options. These menu settings allow you to make various bread varieties depending on your preference and that of your family. 

If your bread maker is equipped with this feature, you’ll be able to make varieties like French bread, Whole Grain Bread, Quickbread, Cake, Dough, and a host of other homemade bread. While some bread makers come with 10 menu options others come with 12, others 14 while others come with 15 settings or even higher. 

The number of menu options you choose will depend on your baking needs. If you’re one of those who love trying different new options in the kitchen, a unit with 15 settings or more can be a good choice for you. 

But, if you may not find time to try so many options and you just want a unit that makes the ordinary bread plus some other few varieties, then you can pick a unit with 12 pre-programmed options or less. 

2. Is it Easy to Clean Bread Makers?

Generally, your bread maker will be requiring cleaning after every bread-making session and keep it clean and ready for the next use. With that in mind, you should choose a machine that’s designed in a way that’s easy to clean. 

The best bread makers come with removable kneading paddles and baking pans. With these two being removable, you’ll be able to easily clean and later reassemble them. These components should also be dishwasher-safe. 

If they are machine washable, then you can easily and quickly clean them using your dishwasher just like another utensil in the kitchen. Additionally, the baking pan should also feature a finish that makes it non-stick. That will also enhance the cleaning process. 

3. How Much Noise does Bread Maker make?

Bread makers aren’t generally quiet. They make some amount of noise and you’ll hardly find a unit that operates completely quietly. However, different units from different brands have varying noise levels. 

The amount of noise a machine makes is an important consideration to make when looking for the best bread maker for your needs. You don’t want a unit that will wake everybody up when you decide to make some bread in the morning for breakfast. 

If you have a little member of your family, you know they don’t like being woken up in the middle of their sleep. So, a machine that produces minimal amounts of noise will be the perfect choice for a home. 

Some of the best bread makers come with AC motors that generate very little noise amount. So, if you want to make your bread in a quiet and calm environment, you better choose such a machine. 

4. How Many Hours for the Delay Timer in Bread Maker?

The Delay Timer is an essential feature that the best bread maker has. With this feature, you’ll be able to command your machine to make bread at a particular time so that you and your family will have it fresh when you want it. 

Most of the best bread makers come with this feature. However, different machines have a different number of hours for the delay timer. For example, one unit may have up to a 13-hour Delay Timer while another may have up to 15-hour Delay Time. 

Depending on how busy your day usually is, you should go for a unit that allows you the freedom to set the time you want it to make bread even in your absence. This feature also allows the unit to add various ingredients at the precise time to ensure that the results you get are the best for a delicious and fresh loaf of bread at any time.  

5. Can Bread Maker Make Different loaf sizes?

The size of the bread you want will depend on factors such as your appetite at that particular moment and the size of your family. So, when going for a bread maker, you need to have this in mind. 

While some bread makers are designed to make 1-pound or 2-pound bread, others come with an adjustable function to allow you to make the size of the bread you want. A unit with this feature is important as you can easily adjust and make the right size of bread depending on your needs at that moment. 

You can adjust the baking pan size to make 1.5-pound, 2-pound or 2.5-pound loaves of bread. For a big family, a machine that can make at least a 2-pound loaf will be good. At the same time, you may require making a 1.5-pound bread if not everyone in the family is going to have bread. 

6. How durable is the Bread Maker?

The durability of any appliance depends on how well it’s constructed. Remember, a bread maker isn’t a cheap machine and you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars for a product that won’t serve you more than a few weeks.

Bread makers should be constructed using materials that can handle the pressure and mistreatment of everyday use. The materials should also be able to resist corrosion and rust that can accelerate its wear. 

Some of the best bread makers come with high-quality parts constructed of heavy-duty plastic, stainless steel, and other materials reinforced with high-end finishes to prevent rusting. A durable machine is a great value for money. 

7. How User-friendly is the Bread Maker?

Whether you’re buying a bread maker machine for the first time or you’re just upgrading the one you currently have, you want a user-friendly unit. Several factors contribute to a unit being easy to use. Some of them include the following:

  • Power cord length
  • Size and weight
  • Recipes
  • Crust controls
  • Gluten-free settings
  • Accessories

a.) Power Cord Length

A user-friendly machine should come with a long enough power cord. Keep in mind that bread makers run on electricity. Depending on where your power outlets are located in your kitchen from the countertop, the length of the power cord will determine how convenient you’ll be using the machine. 

If your bread maker has a short cord, you’ll find it very limiting if your socket isn’t easily accessible. Some of the best units come with 39-inch or more power cord length, which can give you great flexibility on your kitchen countertop. 

b.) Size and Weight

You probably don’t want a bulky product, especially if your kitchen is one of those that don’t have a lot of space. When it comes to the size, you should go for a unit that won’t take up a lot of space on your countertop. 

Some good models come with a vertical baking pan that allows a compact, standing design that won’t consume a lot of counter space. But, if your kitchen has enough space on the counters, you won’t mind going even for a horizontal unit. 

The size aside, weight is another thing to consider. A too heavy unit will be inconvenient in the kitchen. A lightweight unit on the other hand allows great convenience when it comes to moving the unit from one spot to another or when cleaning it. 

c.) Recipes

As a first-timer break maker user, a little help to get you started into making great restaurant-like bread recipes won’t hurt. Some of the best bread maker brands offer a host of recipes that will help you make nice bread varieties for your family. 

Whether you have lots of skills in the kitchen or you’re just learning, you’ll need somewhere to refer to whenever you want to make that piece of delicious bread. 

d.) Crust Control

The idea behind purchasing a bread maker is not only to make bread at home and save a great deal of money. You also want a unit that can produce the same qualities you find in your nearby bread store. 

So, a unit with a crust control feature will help you make a loaf of bread with dark crust, light crust, or medium crust depending on your preference. Most of the best bread makers come with these 3-crust settings (Dark, light, medium). 

e.) Gluten-free Settings

As much as we love making delicious foods at home, most people are also concerned about their well-being. While the conventional units couldn’t make gluten-free bread, contemporary bread makers are designed to make this easy. 

Gluten-free cooking requires various conditions such as temperature and time. Therefore, look to ensure that your machine has all these settings if you wish to be preparing gluten-free loaves at home. 

f.) Accessories

There are some essential accessories that you’ll be requiring during your bread-making session. These include a measuring spoon and cup. The best bread makers come with these accessories for free. If your unit doesn’t have these accessories, you might need to buy them separately, which will be an added cost. You probably don’t want that. 

8. What’s the Price of Bread Maker?

Price is a must-consider factor when buying any kitchen appliance and a bread maker isn’t different. Bread makers are priced differently depending on various factors such as brand, size, and several features, among others. 

You should go for a unit that you can afford. You don’t want to break your bank for one single kitchen appliance. Though a quality break maker will need you to pay a little more, remember that not expensive products are high-quality. 

The general idea is to find a well-performing product that’s at a reasonable price (affordable). Also, ensure you buy from a reputable brand that stands behind its product by offering guarantees and money-back warranties in case something goes wrong with the machine. 

9. What’s the Bread Maker Overall Performance?

The best bread maker you want to invest in should be a high-performing unit. When it comes to the overall performance, various factors come to play. One of them includes safety and efficiency. Some of the best units are equipped with features like power interruption recovery to ensure a smooth and safe bread-making process. Other things to consider include:

  • Wattage
  • Dual-kneading blades
  • Dual bottom heaters
  • Rapid settings
  • Auto shut-off
  • Versatility

a.) Wattage

Different bread makers come with different wattages, which depends on the kind of motor used. For instance, you’ll find a unit with an 850W motor and another with a 650W motor. A high wattage motor is powerful and will make bread without issues. 

However, this means that its power consumption is also high. If you’re buying a unit that will be baking for an entire family, a higher power will be okay. However, if you’ll be buying a unit that makes 1-pound loaves, 650W or below will be okay. Keep in mind that you want an effective unit that’s energy-efficient at the same time. 

b.) Dual-kneading blades

Some of the best bread makers come with dual-kneading blades to ease the kneading process and enhance the entire bread-making process. A unit with dual blades will smoothly knead your dough perfectly and make it ready in the shortest time possible. 

c.) Dual bottom heaters

These ensure that your bread is baked properly and within a shorter period. Not all bread makers come with dual bottom heaters, which mean that you have to choose carefully.

d.) Rapid Settings

You probably don’t have all day to make a loaf of bread for your family. So, you want a unit that’s effective enough to make loaves fast. The rapid settings or controls help to fasten the baking process and get your bread ready in less than 2 hours. Some machines can make a 2-pound bread within 1 hour and 25 minutes. 

e.) Auto Shut-off

What happens when your bread maker finishes baking and you’re not around to switch it off? Well, will the bread over-bake? You don’t want that. Thus, go for a unit that comes with this feature so that it will automatically switch off as soon as the process is complete and your bread won’t spoil. 

f.) Versatility

Last but not least, you should go for a unit that’s as versatile as possible. The versatility of your bread maker will depend on what else you wish to make besides bread. You may want to make some jam with your unit, for example. So, can the unit do that? Well, check first before buying to know how well it’s equipped for a more-than-just-a-bread experience. 

Final Thought

The above are the important factors to consider while buying the best bread maker for your needs. By following the factors, you’ll make an informed buying decision that you won’t regret later. Ensure you take home a convenient bread maker, a perfect performer, easy to use, easy to clean, affordable, and one that can make more than just bread.