Making homemade bread can be a soul-satisfying hobby and one that can save you time and money at the store. But, if you're a newbie to the process, bread machines can seem intimidating, especially since some have novel-length instruction manuals. The best bread machine for beginners will do most of the work for you, with presets that make baking a variety of loaf types foolproof enough to outsmart rookie mistakes.
If you see yourself getting a lot of use out of your bread machine (instead of just testing the waters), it's worth spending a little more on a have-it-for-life model with extra bells and whistles that net you even more kitchen mileage. Some units have "Quick-Bake" or "Express" cycles, that bake bread in just and hour or two, or the ability to customize the bread texture to your density preference (think: regular, firm, or soft). Some models will let you make creations beyond just tasty loaves, like fresh pasta dough, jams, or even meatloaf.
Casual bakers who don't plan to use theirs that often might benefit from a budget bread machine with a decent number of programming options. (Even the cheapest bread makers on this list are no slouch where it counts, offering a minimum of 12 presets.) And once you know how to consistently churn out a good basic loaf of bread with your machine, then you can start experimenting with your technique. Over time, you’ll develop your skill set and know-how until you’re making your own bread blindfolded.
To get you started on your bread journey, check out the list below. From a small bread machine that's not going to monopolize your counter space to an industrial-strength horizontal model that bakes even vegan bread with ease, these four bread machines are highly reviewed on Amazon and totally beginner friendly — whether you intend to remain one or not.
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