Add ingredients, press a button and wake up to fresh bread. The bread machines worth buying for every household size and budget.
| Award | Product | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BreadmakerA classic loaf shape and even browning | See on Amazon for Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (opens Amazon) |
| Best for small households | Zojirushi Home Bakery Maestro Breadmaker1-pound loaves | See on Amazon for Zojirushi Home Bakery Maestro Breadmaker (opens Amazon) |
| Best value | Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread MakerA reliable first machine | See on Amazon for Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker (opens Amazon) |
| Best budget | Hamilton Beach Digital Bread Maker, 2 lbBasic bread and dough | See on Amazon for Hamilton Beach Digital Bread Maker, 2 lb (opens Amazon) |
A bread machine mixes, kneads, rises and bakes a loaf on its own. You add ingredients, choose a setting and come back to warm bread, or wake up to it with the delay timer.
They're also great for making dough for pizza, rolls and cinnamon buns that you shape and bake yourself. These are the machines worth buying.
Best for: A classic loaf shape and even browning
The bread machine owners rave about for years. Two kneading blades and a heater in the lid bake a traditional rectangular 2-pound loaf with even browning on top.
Best for: 1-pound loaves
A smaller Zojirushi that bakes a 1-pound loaf, a good size for one or two people so bread doesn't go stale before you finish it.
Best for: A reliable first machine
A well-priced, compact machine that makes up to a 2-pound loaf and handles the basics well. A smart first bread machine.
Best for: Basic bread and dough
The budget pick. It bakes 1.5 or 2 pound loaves, makes dough for pizza and rolls, and is very easy to use.
Our picks are based on research, not sponsorships. We compare manufacturer specifications, read long-term owner feedback, and weigh what experienced bakers and baking teachers consistently recommend. We favor gear that's simple to use, built to last and worth the space in your kitchen. No brand pays to be included, and we update this guide as products change.
Most machines make 1.5 to 2 pound loaves. Smaller households may prefer a 1-pound machine so bread stays fresh.
Cheaper machines bake tall, vertical loaves. Two-paddle machines bake a regular horizontal loaf that slices like store-bought bread.
Basic, whole wheat, dough and delay timer are the settings most people use. Gluten-free and jam settings are nice extras.
Bread machines are sensitive to small changes in flour and water. Weighing ingredients gives far more consistent loaves.
It's real homemade bread, just made hands-off. For a crusty artisan loaf, use the dough setting and bake in your oven.
Some have a sourdough or starter setting, but results vary. Most sourdough bakers use the oven. Machines shine for sandwich bread and dough.
Usually too much yeast, water or sugar, or measuring by cups. Weigh ingredients and follow the machine's recipe book closely.
Remove the paddle after the last knead if your machine allows it, or use a small plastic hook to pull it out after baking.
Answer three quick questions and we'll match you with the right setup for the bread you want to bake.