What is the best bread maker?

If you want the best bread maker overall, I’d pick the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (BB-PDC20). It consistently ranks among the top machines because it produces very even, bakery-style loaves, has dual kneading paddles, and uses heaters in both the bottom and lid for more even browning.

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker - $454.99 (Target)
• Panasonic Automatic Bread Maker with 20 Presets - $319.99 (Best Buy)
• Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker - $399.95 (Abt Electronics, Inc.)
• Cuisinart Custom Convection Bread Maker - $259.99 (Target)

Best bread makers by type

• 🏆 Best overall: Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (BB-PDC20) - Best for: frequent bakers, sandwich bread, whole wheat, gluten-free
• Pros: excellent loaf shape, consistent texture, strong kneading, even crust
• Cons: expensive and takes up counter space

TechGearLab Epicurious- ⭐ Best for most households: Panasonic SD-R2550 Automatic Bread Maker - Best for: beginners who want great results with minimal effort

• Pros: many automatic programs, reliable baking, good dough cycles
• Cons: less customizable than premium models

Tom's Guide Good Housekeeping- 🎛️ Best premium/custom option: Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker (BBM800XL) - Best for: people who like experimenting

• Pros: multiple loaf sizes, custom settings, automatic add-in dispenser
• Cons: high price

WIRED- 💰 Best value: Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110) - Best for: occasional homemade bread

• Pros: good performance for the price, smaller footprint
• Cons: not as refined as Zojirushi/Panasonic

Food Network## My quick recommendation

• If you bake 2+ times per week → buy the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus.
• If you want easy, reliable bread without fuss → buy the Panasonic.
• If you want maximum control and fancy breads → buy the Breville.
• If you’re unsure whether you’ll use it often → start with the Cuisinart.

If you tell me your budget and whether you want white bread, whole wheat, sourdough-style, gluten-free, or dough-only use, I can narrow it to one model.

The right bread maker depends heavily on your budget, counter space, and how picky you are about the shape of your loaf. According to rigorous testing by experts like America's Test Kitchen and Serious Eats , the gold standard is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , while the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the top budget-friendly choice.

Top Bread Makers Compared

Best Bread Machine Recommendations

• Performance : Features a lid heating element for perfectly even, golden-brown top crusts.

• Loaf Shape : Bakes a traditional, horizontal 2-pound rectangular loaf rather than an oddly tall block.

• Kneading : Employs dual mixing paddles that thoroughly develop gluten structure.

• Considerations : Heavy, expensive, and takes up significant counter real estate.

• Smart Design : Features a unique paddle that collapses before baking to minimize the standard giant hole in the bottom of the bread.

• Customization : Offers 13 automatic presets and 9 custom slots to save your own favorite recipes.

• Mix-ins : Includes an integrated automatic dispenser that drops fruit, nuts, or seeds into the dough at the exact right moment.

• Value : Highly praised by reviewers from America's Test Kitchen as a top "Best Buy" choice that delivers a light, fluffy crumb without breaking the bank.

• Footprint : Designed vertically to consume significantly less counter space than horizontal machines.

• Settings : Offers 12 preprogrammed menu options, including gluten-free and artisan dough cycles. [1][2]

• Simplicity : Great plug-and-play machine for beginners with a simple 3-step operation layout.

• Versatility : Packed with 21 settings (including keto and sourdough) and an automatic mix-in dispenser. [1][2]

To help narrow this down, let me know:

• What is your approximate budget?
• Do you have limited counter/cabinet space?
• Are you looking to bake gluten-free bread or use any specific types of flour?

The right bread maker depends heavily on your budget, counter space, and how picky you are about the shape of your loaf. According to rigorous testing by experts like America's Test Kitchen and Serious Eats , the gold standard is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , while the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the top budget-friendly choice.

Top Bread Makers Compared

Best Bread Machine Recommendations

• Performance : Features a lid heating element for perfectly even, golden-brown top crusts.

• Loaf Shape : Bakes a traditional, horizontal 2-pound rectangular loaf rather than an oddly tall block.

• Kneading : Employs dual mixing paddles that thoroughly develop gluten structure.

• Considerations : Heavy, expensive, and takes up significant counter real estate.

• Smart Design : Features a unique paddle that collapses before baking to minimize the standard giant hole in the bottom of the bread.

• Customization : Offers 13 automatic presets and 9 custom slots to save your own favorite recipes.

• Mix-ins : Includes an integrated automatic dispenser that drops fruit, nuts, or seeds into the dough at the exact right moment.

• Value : Highly praised by reviewers from America's Test Kitchen as a top "Best Buy" choice that delivers a light, fluffy crumb without breaking the bank.

• Footprint : Designed vertically to consume significantly less counter space than horizontal machines.

• Settings : Offers 12 preprogrammed menu options, including gluten-free and artisan dough cycles. [1][2]

• Simplicity : Great plug-and-play machine for beginners with a simple 3-step operation layout.

• Versatility : Packed with 21 settings (including keto and sourdough) and an automatic mix-in dispenser. [1][2]

To help narrow this down, let me know:

• What is your approximate budget?
• Do you have limited counter/cabinet space?
• Are you looking to bake gluten-free bread or use any specific types of flour?

If you want the best bread maker overall, I’d buy the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20).

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker - $454.99 (Target)

🏆 Best overall: Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus

It stands out because it makes a proper horizontal 2-lb loaf, rather than the tall, awkward loaves common with bread machines. Its dual kneading blades and dual heaters produce particularly even mixing and baking. Independent testing has found it consistently excellent for white, whole-wheat, and gluten-free bread.

Why I'd choose it:

• Excellent bread texture and crust
• Traditional sandwich-loaf shape
• 15 programs, including gluten-free and whole wheat
• Dual kneading paddles
• Very consistent results
• Strong long-term reputation

Downsides: It's big, heavy, relatively expensive, and only makes a 2-lb loaf. Current retail pricing is roughly $450–$500, depending on the seller.

Other excellent choices

• Breville The Custom Loaf Bread Maker - $399.95 (Best Buy)

• Panasonic Automatic Bread Maker - $319.99 (Shop Panasonic USA)

• Cuisinart Custom Convection Bread Maker - $259.99 (Target)

• Hamilton Beach 2 lb Bread Maker - $93.74 (The Home Depot)

• Best premium alternative: Breville Custom Loaf — excellent if you want more customization, a fruit/nut dispenser, and loaves up to 2.5 lb. Food Network's 2026 testing praised its bread quality and versatility.

• Best for variety/whole grains: Panasonic SD-R2550 — 20 programs, large capacity, and very good results; Tom's Guide currently ranks it its best overall.

• Best value: Cuisinart — considerably cheaper while still giving you a solid 2-lb machine.

• Best inexpensive starter: Hamilton Beach — a good choice if you don't want to spend $300–$500.

My bottom line: If you're serious about making bread regularly and can afford it, get the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus. If you tell me your budget (e.g. under $100, $200, $300) and whether you mainly want sandwich bread, sourdough, whole wheat, or gluten-free, I can narrow it down to the single best model for you.

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is widely considered the absolute best premium bread machine, while the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the best value option for most households.

Top Bread Machine Recommendations

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• Best Overall : Delivers unparalleled consistency with a traditional, rectangular horizontal loaf pan that looks like standard store-bought bread.
• Standout Features : Features dual kneading blades to fully incorporate flour without scratching, and a secondary heater in the lid to ensure a perfectly even, golden-brown top crust. [1][2]

Add to list

• Best Value : A budget-friendly, space-saving option that still bakes up to a 2-pound vertical loaf.
• Standout Features : Offers 12 preprogrammed settings and an intuitive LED display, making it perfect for beginners who want high-quality results without a massive footprint. [1][2]

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• Best for Smart Baking : Excellent mid-tier machine featuring dual temperature sensors that automatically adjust rising and resting times based on room temperature.
• Standout Features : Includes a dedicated automatic dispenser to perfectly drop fruits, nuts, or seeds mid-cycle and an artisan-style blade designed for firm doughs.

Quick Feature Comparison

Key Factors to Consider

• Loaf Shape : Inexpensive machines usually bake tall, vertical cubes. If you want traditional horizontal loaves for uniform sandwiches, invest in a dual-blade machine like the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus.[1][2]
• Custom Settings : Look for programmable "homemade" banks if you want to tweak custom knead, rise, or bake times for personal sourdough or specialty recipes. [1][2]
• Mix-ins : If you love raisin, seed, or nut bread, picking a machine with an automatic dispenser saves you from having to wait around for an audio beep to add them manually. [1][2]

To help narrow down the list, are you looking to bake any specialty breads like gluten-free, keto, or sourdough? Let me know your budget or how much counter space you have available!

If you want the best bread maker overall, I’d go with the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus. It consistently comes out near the top of current testing, particularly for evenly baked, traditionally shaped sandwich loaves.

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus - $454.99 (Target)

My top picks

• 🥇 Best overall: Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus — ~$455. Excellent kneading, even browning, horizontal 2-lb loaves, and very good whole-wheat/gluten-free performance. The downside is that it's large, heavy, and expensive.

• 🥈 Best premium alternative: Breville Custom Loaf — ~$400. Great if you want more customization, a larger 2½-lb capacity, and an automatic fruit/nut dispenser.

• 💰 Best value: Cuisinart CBK-110 — ~$140. Compact, straightforward, 2-lb capacity, and 12 programs including gluten-free. Food Network currently rates it its best overall bread machine.

• 💵 Best budget: Hamilton Beach — around $100–$120. A good choice if you mainly want basic white, wheat, and dough cycles without spending much.

• Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus - $454.99 (Target)

• Breville Custom Loaf - $399.95 (Abt Electronics, Inc.)

• Cuisinart CBK-110 - $140.97 (Walmart - Cuisinart)

• Hamilton Beach 2 lb Bread Maker - $114.95 (The Home Depot)

My recommendation: If you're going to use it regularly and have the counter space, buy the Zojirushi. The higher price is justified by the consistency and quality of the bread. King Arthur Baking's hands-on testing also singled it out for its mixing, proofing, and even baking.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. <$150, <$250, or “money no object”) and what bread you want to make, I can narrow it down to one model.

Best bread maker overall: Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus

• Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus - $454.95 (Walmart - Electronic Express)

If you want the best bread quality and consistency, I'd buy the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20BA. Multiple recent 2026 tests/reviews put it at or near the top, particularly for its rectangular 2-lb loaf, dual kneading paddles, and even heating.

My picks

• 🥇 Best overall — Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus: Best if you care most about consistently excellent sandwich bread and whole-wheat loaves. It's expensive, but this is the one I'd choose for frequent baking.

• 💰 Best value — Cuisinart 2-Pound: Around $137 currently and recently named Food Network's best overall. It's considerably cheaper while still producing very good bread.

• Cuisinart Stainless Steel Bread Maker - $137.13 (Lowe's)

• ⭐ Best premium/most flexible — Breville Custom Loaf: About $400, with a 2.5-lb capacity, automatic add-in dispenser, customizable programs, and a collapsible paddle. Food Network rated it its best splurge.

• Breville the Custom Loaf Bread Maker - $399.95 (Best Buy)

Bottom line: If ~$450 doesn't bother you, get the Zojirushi. If you want to spend closer to $150, get the Cuisinart.

If you tell me your budget and what bread you make most (white, sourdough, whole wheat, gluten-free, etc.), I can narrow it down to the single best model for you.

When looking for the best bread maker, the right choice depends on your budget, counter space, and how particular you are about the crust and shape of your loaf . Reviewers and home bakers generally split the top choices into a gold standard pick and the best value/compact options:

Add to listThe Overall Best (Splurge): [Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://store.zojirushi.com/products/bbpdc?variant=36290785378464&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopJY9ckrse6KdO55KNF_ObJhvEinMQMcgOWz0x_-UGRYSBA8QkI42g)

• Why it’s the best: Widely considered the absolute best machine on the market (and a favorite of King Arthur Baking and The New York Times - Wirecutter ). It features dual kneading paddles and a built-in heater on the lid, which ensures the top of the loaf browns evenly instead of staying pale. It bakes a traditional, professional-looking rectangular 2-lb loaf.
• The catch: It is expensive (around $450) and takes up a significant amount of counter and storage space. [1][2]

Add to listThe Best Compact/Mid-Range: [Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.cuisinart.com/compact-automatic-bread-maker/CBK-110NAS.html?srsltid=AfmBOooMRzmHI_R7tqrSUPr7cAAzArELKDabKTONib9N0wM_Nkc3s70w3Sw)

• Why it’s a top pick: If you don't want a massive appliance hogging your kitchen, this model is much smaller, reliable, budget-friendly (around $170), and still handles up to a 2-lb loaf with 12 programming options.
• The catch: It uses a single vertical paddle, meaning the loaf shape is taller and has a characteristic paddle hole at the bottom.[1]

Add to listThe Best Feature-Rich Mid-Range: Hamilton Beach Premium Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item.

• Why it’s a great value: Around $175–$185, this machine stands out because it includes an automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser (so you don't have to listen for a beep to add mix-ins) and boasts 21 versatile settings, including gluten-free, artisan doughs, and even jam or yogurt.[1]

To help narrow down which one is right for you, tell me:

• What is your budget range?
• How much counter or storage space do you have to spare?
• Are you baking for special dietary needs (like gluten-free or keto)?

The absolute best bread machine for overall performance is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , while the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. stands out as the best value option.

Top Bread Machine Comparison

Best Bread Machines

• Dual Paddles : Two blades efficiently knead the dough from both sides, preventing pockets of dry flour in the corners.

• Lid Heating Element : Unlike most machines that only heat from the bottom, an extra heater in the lid guarantees an even, beautiful golden-brown crust.

• Traditional Shape : Bakes a standard rectangular 2-pound loaf that looks like it came from a traditional bread pan.

• Dietary Settings : Preprogrammed with specialized courses for gluten-free, salt-free, vegan, and multigrain loaves. [1][2][3]

• Space-Saving Footprint : The vertical design fits neatly on crowded countertops without compromising on a 2-pound capacity.

• Beginner Friendly : Simple interface with 12 preprogrammed settings, making it highly intuitive for first-time bakers.

• High Value : Delivers consistent texture and even browning that matches far more expensive units.

• Note : Because it is a vertical machine, the larger loaves grow quite tall, which can make slices awkward to fit into standard toasters. [1][2]

• Collapsible Paddle : The unique single paddle folds down automatically before the baking cycle starts, minimizing the large hole typically left in the bottom of the loaf.

• Automatic Dispenser : Includes a built-in fruit and nut dispenser that drops mix-ins at the exact right moment during kneading.

• Smart Customization : Features 9 custom memory settings to adjust specific knead, rise, and bake times according to your own recipes. [1][2][3]

• Budget Automatic Dispenser : Offers a built-in fruit and nut dispenser at a fraction of the cost of premium brands.

• Extensive Programs : Features 21 built-in settings, including options for French bread, sourdough, keto, and pizza dough.

• Fast Baking : Includes an ultra-fast cycle capable of turning out a finished 2-pound loaf in just under 3 hours. [1][2]

To help narrow down the choices, tell me: Are there any specific dietary needs (like gluten-free) you require? How much counter space do you have to work with? Do you prefer a traditional rectangular loaf or are you okay with a taller, vertical slice? [1][2][3]

If you want the best bread maker overall, I’d buy the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20.

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20BA - $454.95 (Walmart - Electronic Express)

Why it’s my top pick

• Excellent bread quality: It produces a traditional horizontal 2-lb loaf rather than the tall, awkward loaves common with bread machines.
• Very even baking: Dual kneading blades plus heaters in the bottom and lid help produce consistent texture and browning.
• 15 settings: Includes whole wheat, multigrain, gluten-free, vegan, rapid cycles, dough and more.
• Easy to use: Add ingredients, select the program, and let it handle kneading, rising and baking.
• Excellent long-term reputation: Multiple current 2026 reviews still rank the Virtuoso Plus among the best bread machines available.

The downside: It's expensive—roughly $400–$450 right now—and it only makes a 2-lb loaf.

Two alternatives I'd consider

• Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker - $399.95 (Best Buy)

• Cuisinart Custom Convection Bread Maker CBK-210NAS - $259.99 (Target)

• Panasonic Automatic Bread Maker with 20 Presets - $319.99 (Shop Panasonic USA)

• Breville Custom Loaf — best if you want maximum customization. It makes 1–2½-lb loaves, has 13 automatic settings and 9 customizable programs, plus an automatic fruit/nut dispenser.

• Cuisinart — my choice if you want good performance without spending $400+. Food Network currently names its 2-Pound Bread Maker its best overall budget-friendly pick.

• Panasonic SD-R2550 — worth considering if you want lots of preset programs; Tom's Guide currently rates its Panasonic automatic bread maker best overall in its 2026 testing.

Bottom line: If your priority is "I want the best possible bread with the least fuss," get the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus. If you'd rather spend around $150–$250, I'd steer you toward the Cuisinart.

If you tell me your budget and what kind of bread you make (white, whole wheat, sourdough, gluten-free, etc.), I can narrow it down to the best one for you.