I have yet to fall victim to the sourdough craze that seems to sweep through my friend group and social media feeds every couple of years. I love bread, and the idea of shaping my own loaf, putting it to bed in a cute little proofing basket, and scoring beautiful patterns into its doughy top sounds so romantic. But as my thirsty houseplants can attest, I’m not the greatest at routine maintenance. I don’t trust myself to keep a starter alive or remember to knead dough in between proofs. So when my husband suggested purchasing a bread machine, I should have jumped on board quickly. I dragged my feet a bit, complaining about the cost and the lost counter space. But reader, I am here to confess that I was wrong. I have fallen head over heels in love with my bread machine, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker, which also happens to be a Serious Eats winner.
Its Features Make It Stand Out
I wanted a bread machine that could make a variety of loaves like multigrain and cinnamon raisin, but my husband and I also knew we’d be using it primarily for sandwich loaves. We also prioritized easy cleanup, in addition to loaf size. This model bakes a two-pound loaf, which seems like a lot for a small household until you discover that both your one-year-old and your yellow lab are bonkers for fresh bread. I bake about a loaf a week, mostly using the recipe book included with the machine, which offers over 50 recipes of various styles. There are even instructions for making other items like pizza dough, jam, and yes, dear reader, even sourdough starter. (I may yet succumb to its siren call.)
There are a few features that make the Zojirushi Virtuoso particularly awesome. One is the two-paddled pan, which ensures the ingredients are thoroughly mixed during the kneading process. I have yet to find a stray bit of unincorporated flour, or otherwise, after baking. The “Crust Control” setting lets you choose a light, medium, or dark crust on your loaf—what customization! And, finally, the larger, rectangular pan is ideal for a sandwich-shaped loaf, making it super easy for slicing and preparing sandwiches. Many other bread machine pans are taller, and while they may take up less real estate on your counter, that makes sandwiches a little awkward.
The Bread Is Delicious
The honey bread from the included recipe book has been a household favorite. It’s light and fluffy, and although it’s not the easiest to slice into sandwich bread, two thick pieces will make the most deliciously nostalgic PB&J you’ve ever had. The cost of this particular recipe breaks down to about $2.50, depending on where you source your ingredients. I purchased a 10-pound bag of bread flour from Costco, but all the other ingredients are just from the grocery store, and it’s as simple as water, bread flour, honey, salt, unsalted butter, and rapid-rise yeast. While this has been our default recipe, I also highly recommend the standard white bread, cinnamon raisin, and pizza dough recipes, which make regular appearances in my home.
It Makes It Easy to Bake Bread on a Whim
I recommend using a kitchen scale for measuring out ingredients, but the Zojirushi recipe book includes both weight and volume so you can choose your own adventure. Most of the recipes are as simple as adding ingredients to the pan in the order they are listed, tapping a couple of buttons, and hitting start. In five minutes (I timed it), I can pull together the ingredients and have a loaf going. Rapid recipes can be baked and ready to eat in under three hours, but most others take around three and a half.
Having a bread machine has also proven useful in situations like making day-of dinner plans, or when I need a housewarming or get-well-soon gift for a friend. Because the prep time is so short and the baking process is mostly hands-off, it’s easy to throw the ingredients together quickly and get something started. It also doesn’t add much residual heat to the kitchen, even though I’ve used it in the warmer months in a home without air conditioning (thanks, New England). The aroma of fresh bread, however, does add an incalculable amount of joy. And if you happen to turn that fresh bread into French toast the next morning, you run the risk of incandescent happiness.
A Couple of Helpful Tips When Using a Bread Machine
Although I have baked successful loaves without this step, most recipes suggest pausing the rising process to punch down the dough so that it does not grow too large for the machine. I have only had one loaf grow so tall that it nudged the lid of the machine while baking, but while it was not quite as perfect on top, it was still baked through and delicious.
Cleanup is as easy as gently washing the baking pan with warm soapy water. However, because dough tends to get baked into the detachable paddles on the bottom, I recommend soaking the pan in warm water to loosen the gunk first.
FAQs
Who is a bread machine for?
A bread machine is great for bread-baking beginners, people who want their homes to smell like fresh bread, or anyone who likes the idea of fresh bread but might prefer a slightly more hands-off approach than a handmade recipe.
How does a bread machine work?
A bread machine is essentially a miniature oven that houses a baking pan with rotating kneading paddles affixed to the bottom. The machine mixes and kneads the dough within the pan, proofs the dough at a low heat setting, and then increases the temperature to bake it. The heating element wraps around the inside of the machine as well as the lid to create an even bake and brown the top of the loaf.
Is it worth it to use a bread machine?
A bread machine like the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is a significant investment up front, but most loaves will cost less to make than purchasing store-bought bread. If you make bread consistently at home, over time this will help offset the cost of the machine.
How long does bread made in a bread machine last?
If you haven’t devoured the entire loaf the moment it comes out of the machine, the bread will remain fresh for several days if kept in a sealed container. Check out our review of the best bread boxes, as well as ideas for using up leftover bread if you’re worried about having excess.
Why We’re the Experts
- Jenna Lanoue is a contributing writer at Serious Eats, a lifelong hobby baker, and carb enthusiast who is always testing new recipes and forcing them on her friends and family.
- She has owned her Zojirushi bread maker for months now and has made at least one loaf per week with no plans of slowing down.
- We reviewed bread machines and found the Zojirushi Virtuoso was by and far the best one.
