Which is the best home breadmaker?

Toxic_Lemon

I laminated the recipe pages of my Panasonic BM. Download the PDF from the Panasonic website. Makes things very easy. Three laminates for 6 pages.

valk_scot

I've worn out two top brand breadmakers, I'm currently using a Tesco one. It's actually lasted longer than my Panasonic and it produces just as good a loaf imho. Given the price difference and how much wear and tear I inflict on my breadmakers I've decided that I'll just replace it with another Tesco one when this one dies. Though I do miss the jam function a bit.

squeaky

Merge done

bikelesschick

I've finally convinced DH that it'd be a good idea to have a breadmaker:j

I've heard/read lots of good things about the panasonic ones but my brother asked me if they have retractable paddles as apparently unless breadmakers have these, you end up with a hole in the middle of the loaf? It sounds logical to me but then neither of us ever owned a bm so I'd thought I'd ask here.

Is panasonic really a good make for bms? Or would you recommend another one?

Does it have retractable paddles? Is it easy to clean?

Thanks!

Popperwell

bikelesschick wrote: »

I've finally convinced DH that it'd be a good idea to have a breadmaker:j

I've heard/read lots of good things about the panasonic ones but my brother asked me if they have retractable paddles as apparently unless breadmakers have these, you end up with a hole in the middle of the loaf? It sounds logical to me but then neither of us ever owned a bm so I'd thought I'd ask here.

Is panasonic really a good make for bms? Or would you recommend another one?

Does it have retractable paddles? Is it easy to clean?

Thanks!

It's the one that everyone seem to praise but so many BM's have the paddles. I have just looked them on the net and they have paddles. I was going to buy one but there are so many recipes now that require little if any real work and bake so quickly I am unsure if I would bother now...but what's that saying about "Never say never!":rotfl:And many do say that they are great so go for it!

sonastin

When I was looking into buying a BM, I reached the following conclusiosns:
1) if you buy the wrong one, it'll end up gathering dust in the cupboard
2) most makes have their fans so there is no sure-fire way to say a particular model is bad but most get some complaints from owners so I could be one of the ones who doesn't get on with a particular make
3) the panasonics seemed far and away to have the fewest complaints and it was hard to find anyone with a practical complaint about it

So I opted for a panny on the basis that it was most likely to get used. I've only bought bread when I've been away from home since I got it and it has been well worth the investment. Not saying I wouldn't have felt the same about another brand but I didn't want to take that gamble.

It doesn't have retractable paddles. There is a bit of a scar in the middle of the loaf where the paddle was. It rarely causes any sort of issue. Usually just a 1-2cm split at the bottom of a couple of slices taken from the middle of the loaf - usually where I'd slice the toast in half anyway. Depending on which way the paddle stops and where the slices end up being made, there's sometimes a bigger indentation in one slice but unless you're going for immaculately square slices, so what. If that's what you want, processed-shop bought will be better than any breadmaker anyway.

OH can't slice bread without squishing the top anyway so the hole in the middle is the least of my worries!

Mojoworking

Everyone I know recommended a panasonic - I just want to use it now and again as we go through phases of eating bread a lot or not at all - and I was in lidl and it was £35 and a complete whim buy but it was fine - there were holes in the bottom - I'm not bothered but maybe I'm just really easy to please!!

Pont

Hijacking as I want one too!

I want one that 'does' the crust the right way IYSWIM, also pretty looking rolls, pizza dough, bagels etc. Bread makers seem to be all over the place with regards to price. I've seen them from £20(ish) to £300(ish). Anybody willing to go out on a limb to recommend a good all rounder (gotta look good on the counter top too!)?

partner

Definately get the Panasonic. I did lots of research before I bought mine last year as had a cheap Argos one before, it was ok but bread never great. Well my pani may have been pricy but I love it. I use it every day. Makes a 600g loaf for about 30p, all different breads, cakes and jam. Currently it's chugging away making a ciabatta loaf for soup and lunches tomorrow.

Tiglath

I got a Panasonic SD254 years ago when they were on offer via Amazon. I've only ever used it for bread and yes you get a finger shaped hole in the bottom but it's really not an issue. I've learned to reduce the water by 20ml compared to what's in the manual, and the medium basic rapid white loaf is really lovely, with a nice crust. Before that I had a cheapie (think it may have been a Hitachi) and it was rubbish.