Best bread machine?

Alantheaged

We have bought the Panasonic SD-ZB2502 around 5 months ago. We did that because we had a Morphy Richards which we rarely used as it was a bit hit and miss (the misses were so disappointing) and then it finally gave up  (after about ten years but, as I said, rarely used), we also had heard that the Panasonics were supposed to be good and I spotted the 2502 on offer and got it.

Well, you put in the ingredients, press the right button, go away for 3 - 4 hrs, come back and take out a near perfect loaf! And that is even from scratch without using a bread mix. Compared with the Morphy Richards - well - there is no comparison.

The 2502 is top of the range incl seed dispenser etc and can make all sorts of things like Brioche and -- er -- Jam!! However, so far we've limited to white/brown/large medium/small to get the hang of it properly. It has a little trick that if you don't take the bread out immediately its finished, a heater comes on to stop any condensation from the baking process ruining the bread. However, if you leave the loaf in deliberately it makes the crust crustier so we are experimenting with that at moment. We are now heading to the stage were we won't be buying factory bread anymore.

Gintotmelinda

Have a look at the Morphy Richards Fastbake. It makes several differnt loaf sizes. I like mne and make a mediium size loaf fot the two of us.

Be_Happy

Thanks.  Morphy Richards Fastbake looks a good machine, but size of loaf is not the problem, it is size of breadmaker.  The Panasonic could give me a small loaf, but I would never have needed the size to make a larger loaf.  I have limited worktop and cupboard space.

Whitefiver

If you really haven't room for a machine, have you tried "no-knead" recipes? Not your traditional loaf shape, but tasty none the less. Takes very little of your actual time, but is not a quick process. Definitely needs a cast-iron casserole with a lid too. There are many "recipes" on the web but:-

Tesco's version here.

(with apologies for taking this off topic!)

ajd3

Be_Happy said:

Would love to buy one of the small breadmakers and wonder if anyone has experience of the small Lakeland one? 

I got the Lakeland small space bread maker in March 2018 and use it weekly. It can do 2 sizes of loaf - 750g & 1kg. I can’t see it on the website so this model must have been discontinued. The compact bread maker they have seems very similar though may only do one size. I’d had my previous bread maker for 20 years, I can’t remember the make but the paddle fits my replacement so I have a spare. 

thriftwizard

Another vote for Panasonic - I'm on my second one in 25 years! It doesn't get as much use as it did when all 5 offspring still lived at home, but it is still in regular use, particularly for pizza & focaccia dough. I've replaced the paddle, which went missing at one point, so you can get spares quite easily online. I also tried out a Morphy Richards Fastbake which a friend was disposing of when she cleared her mother's house; it was going to go to my niece. It did turn out a nice loaf, but unfortunately the belt broke & couldn't be replaced as the screws had rusted solid.

grumpycamel

I've had a Morphy Richards and a Breville  bread maker in the past but my current Panasonic is by far the best and most consistent bread maker I have owned. I've used it twice a week for the last 4 years and its still going. But the newer Panasonic models are tempting me to change but I cant justify it quite yet. Yes, they are not the cheapest but compared to what my previous experience with other makes, I would always choose Panasonic.

Be_Happy

ajd3 said:

Be_Happy said:

Would love to buy one of the small breadmakers and wonder if anyone has experience of the small Lakeland one? 

I got the Lakeland small space bread maker in March 2018 and use it weekly. It can do 2 sizes of loaf - 750g & 1kg. I can’t see it on the website so this model must have been discontinued. The compact bread maker they have seems very similar though may only do one size. I’d had my previous bread maker for 20 years, I can’t remember the make but the paddle fits my replacement so I have a spare. 

Thanks I'll give the Lakeland one further consideration.  May need to wait until I can get near a Lakeland shop to have a good look.  Nearest shop is 1 hour bus ride away which I'm not too keen on taking yet.