Keen to enjoy homemade bread but daunted by the idea of all that kneading, flouring, and activating yeast? Using one of our top-tested bread makers—like the KBS Pro ($150) or the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus ($400)—might be the solution you’re looking for. Homemade, unprocessed bread not only tastes fantastic, but it can also be quickly made in one of these machines with just a few easy steps.
With a good bread maker, you can whip up a well-sized 1-pound basic tin loaf in about four hours, which is perfect for slicing and fitting into one of our recommended toasters. These machines offer various settings for different kinds of bread beyond just your basic loaf. You can choose from French, gluten-free, whole wheat, and even sweet options like banana and date loaves—all as simple as “set it and forget it” until it’s done. Some models even let you make pizza and pasta dough or fruit jam, perfect if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous in the kitchen.
“Time and temperature are crucial in bread baking, and consistency is a challenge for bakers,” says Peter Edris, head baker at New York’s artisan Frenchette Bakery. He advises that if you want to create good bread, you need the right tools—investing in an accurate scale, a reliable thermometer, and keeping track of timing is essential. Without a team of bakery professionals at your side, we opted for the shortcut of testing a variety of the latest bread makers. Below, we’ve highlighted our favorite models, shared tips on what to consider before buying one, and included expert advice on how to make the most of your home baking experience.
