Consumer Reports test on Breadmakers
Mr Bill
CR did a test of Automatic Breadmaker in it's November 1997 issue.
Here are some highlights:
Recommendations:
Unless you're a bread-baking con-
noisseur, buy one of the high-rated
but less expensive machines. The Gold-
star HB202CE and the Toastmaster
Breadbox 1188, each $100, are easy to
use and very quiet. At the same price,
the Regal Kitchen Pro K6743 and the
Breadnzan Ultra 7R700 are also easy to
use and have a very fast basic cycle
that produced good bread.
If you want the best bread and lots
of special cycles and features, you
must spend more. The two top-rated
models, the Panasonic Bread Bakery
SD-YD205, $190, and the Breadman
TR800, $150, made very good loaves.
The Panasonic is somewhat awkward
to program. But it's very quiet-and
it's a real bread-baking enthusiast's
machine, offering lots of bread cycles,
as well as many dough cycles for fin-
ishing in the oven.
The versatile Breadman TR800 of-
fers many useful features and pro-
grammed cycles for those who like to
experiment with more than just yeast
breads. However, its motor is very
noisy. And it has only a 90-day war-
ranty on pan and paddle; other brands
have a one-year warranty on both.
Third in the Ratings is the Zojirushi
Home Bakery Super BBCC-Q20, $150.
It has fewer cycles, but does every-
thing well and is very easy to use. CR
Rated in order of overall score, which is based
on CR judgments of bread quality and on conven-
ience (including quiet operation during kneading),
which CR judged based on the number of useful
features.
1. Panasonic Bread Bakery
SD-YD205 $190
Cycles: Basic and whole-wheat (each with
regular rapid, 'sandwich,' and raisin bread and
dough ;ettings); multigrain bread and dough.
Better breed, even on rapid cycle. Rectangular
loaf. Lots of useful features: 'on' light, 10-min.
power-outage protection, measuring cup and
spoon, yeast dispenser. But Less convenient
than others-no window, timer sets in only 1
direction, 'ready' signal too quiet, lid not remov-
able. Recommendation: A very good, versatile
bread-lover's machine-but pricey.
2. Breadman TR800 $150
Extra cycles. French, sweet whole-wheat
regular and rapid breads; 'quick" breads;
pizza and bagel dough; jam; 'bake only.'
Better bread. Rectangular loaf. Lots of cycles.
Useful features: independent crust setting, cycle-
progress timer light, 1-hr. power-outage protec-
tion, warning when ambient temperature is too
low to bake bread, instructional video. But:
Raucous motor, 'ready" signal too quiet 90-day
warranty on pan, paddle. Complaints about cus-
tomer service (see story). Recommendation:
A very good but noisy machine.
3. Zojirushi Home Bakery
Super BBCC-Q20 $150
Extra cycles: Mixed and whole-grain breads.
Very fast rapid cycle. Useful features: indepen-
dent crust settings, "on' light, 20-sec. power-
outage protection, instructional video, measur-
ing cup and spoon. Clear display. Loud 'ready'
signal. But New pan is $67. Recommendation: A
very good machine with no big drawbacks.
4. Goldstar HB202CE $100
Extra cycles. French and specialty broads; cake.
Programs easily. Very convenient to use. Very
quiet. Fast rapid cycle. Independent crust settings,
measuring cup. But LED display is barely visible
in bright light.. Recommendation: A very good
machine at a very nice price.
5. Toastmaster Breadbox 1188 $100
Extra cycles: French and sweet breads; jam.
Similar to (4) in looks,programming layout,
accessories, and results. Has a 3-yr. war-
ranty. But Keypad, in French and English,
is cluttered. Recommendation:
A very good machine at a very nice price.
6. Regal Kitchen Pro K6743 $100
Extra cycles: French, sweet and 'quick' breads.
Basic cycle is fast no rapid cycle. Programs
easily. Slightly smaller 'footprint" than other
machines. Useful features: cycle-progress dis-
play, 10-min. power-outage protection, warning
when ambient temperature is too low to bake
bread, instructional video. But Lid not remov-
able, 'ready' signal too quiet. Similar model:
K6747 Kitchen Pro, $120. Recommendation: A
very good machine, and veryfast.
7. Breadman Ultra TR700 $100
Extra cycles: French broad; fruit and nut bread;
cake; jam.
Basic cycle is fast no rapid cycle. Programs eas-
ily and has a clearer, more intuitive keyboard lay-
out than others. Useful features: warning when
ambient temperature is too low to bake bread,
instructional video. But Very noisy. Complaints
about customer service (see story). Similar model:
TR70ODL, $140. Recommendation: A very good,
fast machine-but noisy.
8. Pillsbury Automatic
Bread/Dough Maker 1021 $120
Extra cycles: French, sweet and 'quick' breads.
Useful features: independent crust settings, cycle-
progress display, warns when ambient temperature
is too low to bake bread, 10-min. power,
outage protection. No rapid cycle. But Controls
not clearly color coded, 'ready" signal too quiet,
lacks keep-warm feature and 'add ingredients"
signal. Recommendation: Good.
9. West Bend Baker's Choice
Plus 41090 $200
Extra cycles: Whole-wheat rapid bread;
French, sweet and 'quick' breads.
Opens from front, shorter but much wider than
others. Rectangular loaf. Clear LCD display.
Useful features: independent crust settings,
cycle-progress display, 'on' light 10-min.
power-outage protection, warning when ambi-
ent temperature is too low to bake bread, inte-
rior light, loud 'ready' signal, extended-rise
settings. New pan only $25. But Bread tended
to be pale and sometimes lopsided. Controls not
clearly color coded. Harder to clean. Noisy.
Recommendation: Only good-at a hefty price.
10. Black & Decker All in One
Deluxe B1630 $110
Extra cycles: Sweet and whole-grain breads;
pasta.
Generic recipe made bread of lower quality.
Timer hard to set. Has independent crust set-
tings on most cycles, 'on' light timer light, 20-
sec. power-outage protection, instructional video,
loud 'ready' signal, fast rapid cycle. Slightly
smaller footprint than others. Has 2-yr. warranty.
Similar model: 81620,$100. Recommendation:
Good, but finicky with recipes other than its own.
11. West Bend Automatic
Bread/Dough Maker 41044 $100
Extra cycles-. French and sweet breads; whole-
wheat rapid bread.
Claims to make a 2-lb. loaf, but makes a 1 1/2-lb.
loaf. Noisy. Keypad layout not clear. Pan hard to
insert, remove. Harder to clean. Has independent
crust settings, cycle-progress display, warning when
ambient temperature is too low to bake bread,'on'
light. New pan only $25. Recommendation: Only good.
There are better choices.
12. Welbilt The Bread Machine
ABM4100T $95
Extra cycles: Sweet regular and sweet rapid
breads; sweet dough. (No whole-wheat)
Keyboard layout is less intuitive than others.
Harder to clean than other machines. Lid not
removable. No warranty. Has independent crust
settings, cycle-progress displays, loud 'ready"
signal, quiet motor. Similar model: ABM4400,
$95. Recommendation: Only good. There are
better choices.
Mr Bill
bmatraw at prodigy dot net