Best Bread Makers to Bake Bread at Home in the UK

The Panasonic SD-2501WXC is easily the most complete appliance on this list. Before anything else, this machine comes fitted with 25 pre-set programmes. These programmes include 25 Bake, Bake Rapid, Sandwich Bake, Bake Raisin, Dough, Dough Raisin, Italian Bake, Pizza Dough, Pizza Bake, and more, without forgetting Gluten-Free Bake, and even Jam and Compote modes, so you won't be limited to baked products alone. The instructions include 6 compote and 8 jam, so you'll be able to experiment here. There's also the Speciality mode that lets you use different grains and flours, not unlike spelt flour that you cannot make into bread without using machines like this one. The Rye Bread setting, coupled with the robust mixing blade, will also be able to create various tasty loaves with rye and spelt flours mixed together.

With these many settings alone (and we're not even talking about the construction and all that yet), the machine's biggest flaw becomes somewhat obvious even when you haven't been presented with one yet - its size. Measuring 25.6 x 38.2 x 38.9 centimetres, the unit is massive, so you'll have to sacrifice ample countertop space or store the machine somewhere else and move from that place to the kitchen countertops when baking bread. The appliance weighs 7 kilograms, not necessarily lightweight but light enough to carry alone.

Stainless steel appliances always add class and elegance to kitchen settings and the Kenwood BM450 sports this aesthetic with style and confidence. The chrome-plated body is the driving force behind the machine's smooth, polished appearance, whilst the black top makes the model look more visually expressive and less bland than most bread makers. The Kenwood logo is a tad bulky for our taste, somewhat ruining the model's minimalistic/understated aesthetic but with an emphasis on the "somewhat" part since the machine looks quite brilliant even with this slight foible.

What's neat about this appliance is that the aesthetics and form here meet function, making the streamlined appearance quite convenient at the same time. The touch-sensitive controls add to the streamlined look but also make the model's functions easy to access and manage. They're relatively large, so you won't be misclicking them but, thanks to the "touch" part, the buttons do not make the interface look bloated.

Before addressing what you can do with these buttons though, let's wrap up the construction. Next to the controls, you'll find the viewing window that, along with the internal oven light, lets you observe the baking progress. The machine does not require oversight though since the fan-assisted baking system is excellent at maintaining an even baking temperature. There's also the ingredients dispenser with its 125-gramme capacity that will be automatically opening and adding ingredients at the right moment.

The programmable bread machine from Murphy Richards is all about providing the user with a multitude of choices. Though they aren't necessarily unique, a dozen of pre-set programmes will allow you to bake not just a number of different types of bread but also the most delicious cakes and jams. Of course, if you wouldn't describe yourself as a person with a sweeter tooth, the model has plenty to offer you too. From a basic white or a French to a wholewheat or simple dough, the machine can bake it all.

In terms of the loaf size, the bread maker will allow you to choose from 1 lb, 1.5 lb, 2 lb loaves (or 450, 680, and 900 grams if you feel so inclined). The last couple of options work with the Fastbake function. Using the latter, you will be able to make yourself a freshly baked loaf in no more than 50 minutes. If you have a celiac disease or you simply do not fancy gluten in your food, the model will allow you to сhoose from a number of gluten-free options, using the recipes that are included in the instruction manual. And if you like to switch things up every once in a while, there're 3 crust settings that you can use to change the crust from light to dark.

Though the Tower T11001 Digital Bread Maker certainly does not lack in the functions department, the first thing that we would like to talk about is the model's construction, meaning both its composition and appearance. Though the latter aspect is entirely subjective, if you ask us, we'd say that the stainless steel housing makes the model look particularly sleek. 

Other than that, there's also the appliance's 27.5 x 31 x 28.5 centimetres of overall dimensions that don't just improve the visual aspect but also allow anybody to find enough space for the bread maker, regardless of how much free countertop space they have.

Naturally, the stainless steel housing is there not just for the looks but to improve the model's sturdiness and durability. Now, while we're still on the subject of construction, we would like to point out the viewing window that will allow you to monitor the bread-making process and the non-stick pan that makes sure you won't have to waste a lot of time cleaning the pan. 

In addition to the small bread maker, you will also receive a kneading blade that will allow you to knead ingredients and mix dough. The usual crust settings are there as well, allowing you to choose between light, medium, and dark finishes to your crusty bread.

The Sage BBM800BSS looks brilliant, let's start with that. Normally, these appliances try to couple black with white/chrome, which usually makes them modern and even relatively stylish but not especially unique. As you can probably tell, the unit we're reviewing here is different, incorporating this peculiar all-silver housing that will definitely be able to add character to most kitchens. Keeping the lines clean and its accents smooth and polished, the appliance maintains this mature streamlined profile, poised to attract attention even next to the most expensive stainless steel appliances.

The large LCD screen with its light-blue backlighting adds to the product's sleek and polished aesthetic, also making the settings intuitive and accessible. The so-called "turn-and-confirm" dials will let you easily manage the screen's smart interface and sift through the numerous settings and features.

These settings include 13 pre-set programmes, from Basic, Whole wheat, Rapid, Gluten-free, Crusty loaf, Sweet, Yeast-free to Dough, Pizza, Pasta, Bake only, Jam, and Knead. In addition to pre-set programmes, the appliance will let you utilise 9 custom settings. Using these settings, you'll be able to create and store various recipes, keeping them readily accessible whenever necessary.