In a bid to satisfy reader demand for bread maker reviews,  Simple Bread Recipe has been taking a look at one of the most popular Zojirushi bread machines, the BBCC-V20.

Amazon.com Review

Zojirushi Home Bakery looks like an ordinary bread machine, but its additional features are a welcome surprise. It not only makes French, sandwich, basic, wheat, homemade, and other bread types, but it also makes jams, cakes, and pizza dough. Using the technology found in most bread machines–dual kneading blades, automatic timer, crust control, and auto shutoff, the Home Bakery heats and mixes jam ingredients, leaving refrigeration as the final step. The cake setting operates similarly to the bread process, but the machine adjusts its temperature to retain the moisture of cakes, such as German chocolate or butter.

Aside from the plethora of uses, this machine offers many important technical features. Its quick baking option allows bread making in only two hours, the time usually spent waiting for the dough to rise. The timer also can delay baking for up to 13 hours. A beep signal lets you know when you should add fruits or nuts to the dough or jam, and another sounds when the loaf, cake, or jam is finished. Cleanup is simple, as the internal pan and kneading blades are coated with a nonstick material. Before starting, make sure to take advantage of the included recipe book and instructional video that thoroughly discuss each use of the machine, providing many helpful hints and care tips. –Madeleine Miller

Product Description

One of the most wonderful sensory experiences has to be the smell of baking bread. It nourishes the soul and warms the heart, just as the finished product nourishes and warms the body. This bread maker not only makes a splendid horizontal loaf, it’s easy to use and clean, meaning it won’t join the dud appliances gathering dust while they wait for the next yard sale.

Nearly everyone I know has a Panasonic bread machine standing in their kitchen. Much as I hate to run with the crowd, so do I. Using the simple bread recipe included in the manual, this wonderful home bread machine has cheerfully turned out a delicious loaf for me each day, with the timer facility allowing me to wake to the smell of fresh, crusty bread.

Amazon.com Review

Providing myriad options, this automatic bread maker embodies the marvels of 21st century electronic convenience and choice. Yes, it mixes, kneads, rises, and bakes bread in three loaf sizes up to 2-1/2 pounds. But its digital controls go much further, offering settings for white, whole wheat, multigrain, and French (crisp crust, open texture) breads, each made according to what’s best for that particular style. Other settings permit rapid baking and baking sandwich bread with a soft crust. For raisin (or other dried-fruit) bread, a beeper signals when to add the fruit so it’s not crushed during kneading. Crust color–dark or light–can be selected as well.

The machine automatically adds yeast at the proper time from a dispenser on the unit’s lid. It also bakes non-yeast, quick breads– like banana and gingerbread–and sweet cakes. And it mixes, kneads, and rises doughs for pizza, focaccia, croissants, and other pastries without baking them. A timer permits the machine to be programmed up to 13 hours in advance so fresh bread or cake is available for breakfast or dinner. For cleanup convenience, the baking pan is nonstick. Clad in metal and packing 550 watts of power, the machine measures 14 inches wide, 13.5 inches high, and 9 inches deep. Its instruction booklet is exceptionally easy to understand and includes recipes for 40 breads and doughs along with an insightful guide to baking basics and illustrated tips for making pastries. –Fred Brack

Product Description

Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Baker with Yeast Pro offers you the ability of having delicious bread, freshly prepared and baked right at home, with virtually no fuss or bother. Just place the ingredients in to the SD-YD250 and it does everything else. Non-stick heavy duty pan Temperature safety fuse 10 minute power interruption protection maintains operation for up to 10 minutes in case of possible power failure Color – WHITE