This page looks at bread machine benefits and drawbacks. Bread machines can be used to make a huge variety of homemade breads such as white bread, oatmeal bread, rye bread, etc. They can also be used to make delicious dessert breads such as banana breads. Unlike many store packaged breads that contain unexpected chemicals or preservatives, a bread machine allows you to create healthier breads because you know exactly what you are putting into your homemade bread. Since bread machines are so simple to use (even for novice cooks), you will love the ease of your bread machine… and your family will love the taste of your homemade breads!
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Popular Bread Machine Brands
- Cuisinart
- Hamilton Beach
- KBS
- Panasonic
- SKG
- Sunbeam
- Zojirushi – Well known for its high-end bread machines.
- Other Bread Machines
Bread Machine Benefits
- You know exactly what you are putting into your bread.
- Bread machines allow you to easily make homemade bread. Just add the ingredients and press a button. Not kneading, shifting sticky dough into bread pans, no heating up an oven, etc.
- Homemade bread can be less expensive than many store brands.
- You can create a huge variety of different breads at home (i.e. white bread, oatmeal bread, rye bread, banana bread, rosemary bread, etc.).
- Ability to eat your own bread when it is new, fresh and deliciously warm (versus a cold semi-stale packaged brand).
- Bread machines are perfect for people who do not have the time or energy to knead bread by hand.
- Make bread at home. No need to go out for bread and risk your life in a snow storm, rainy dark night, zombie apocalypse, etc.
- No need to make a giant trip for fresh bread if you have a bread machine. This is a huge benefit if you live in the countryside and the nearest supermarket is 30+ minutes away.
Bread Machine Drawbacks
- Harder to make complicated breads (i.e. glazed breads).
- Harder to create different shaped breads (i.e. long baguettes).
- Upfront cost of a bread machine.
- Homemade bread usually goes stale faster than store packaged brands (because store breads often contain chemical preservatives).
- Inability to make very large bread sizes. Many bread machines are limited to making a maximum bread loaf of 2 pounds.
- Mixing paddle “hole” on the bottom of most bread machine loaves.
- Bread machines vary and this can lead to recipe “confusion”. For example, users can be confused by different bread machines using similar setting names (i.e. quick versus quick bread) that are used for completely different baking activities.
- Basic bread machines can lack the settings found in more advanced bread machines.
Reference Sources
- Wikipedia, Bread Machine, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_machine
