Bread Makers

If you want to eat - and smell! - fresh bread but can't be bothered with all the effort that requires, then a bread maker is for you. You can bake your own fresh bread whenever you want and sometimes in just under an hour. Bread makers allow you to add the ingredients, push a button and let the machine do the rest.

Bread makers can offer a quick and easy way to make not only your own bread, but often a range of other products too, ranging from pizza bases to croissants, meat rolls, jam and preserves.

Furthermore, as the ingredients are gathered by you, bread makers are particularly useful for those who have an intolerance or allergy to some of the ingredients found in shop-brought bread.

There are a few points you should consider before making your purchase:

Loaf Size
Bread makers usually have 3 loaf sizes - 1, 1.5 and 2lbs. Some of the more expensive models will give options for all three sizes, whilst the less expensive models will only have one size option. For individuals or couples, a 1lb model should be adequate (fresh bread made without preservatives will go stale quickly). However, a family should use a larger model.

Pre-Programmed Cycles
Some bread makers can offer up to twenty different programmes depending on the model, allowing you to make many different types of bread products. 'Fast cook' cycles are particularly useful and allow you to bake bread in an hour or so.

Delayed Start Time
Most bread makers can be programmed at least 12 hours in advance - select one with a user friendly timer. This facility can be useful if you want to wake up to a freshly-baked loaf - and who wouldn't?.

Dough Cycle
Some models have dough facilities, which will stop when the dough has been kneaded, this is useful if you want to then cook the bread in a conventional oven (it's quicker and less messy than preparing the dough by hand!)

Cleaning
As with all appliances look for models that are well built and easy to clean: be sure to choose easily removable and/or dishwasher safe parts - it'll only motivate you to use it more regularly. Otherwise it will be stuck in a cupboard somewhere gathering dust!

Extra Features
Some models offer a keep warm facility - this will keep the bread warm once it has cooked.
An add in ingredients signal is useful if you are using your own recipe. The machine will give an alert when its time to add ingredients.
Viewing window - useful allow you to monitor how the cooking process is progressing without having to interrupt the actual cooking.
Manual Stop/Cycle Extension - this facility will let you to stop the cooking process to add other ingredients if needed, or to extend the cooking time.
Some models have a separate browning feature allowing you to control the crustiness of the finished loaf.