CONTENTS
Lets face it, making bread by hand is really rewarding, although it can be a pretty rigorous and time consuming process. If you want to have good quality bread every morning but don’t want to have to deal with the mess or stress of making bread by hand, then it’s definitely time to invest in a bread maker.
All bread makers vary in pan size and settings. But they all tend to work in a similar way; add your ingredients, select your settings, press the start button and let the bread maker mix, knead, rest, rise and bake your loaf to perfection in only a couple of hours. Sounds fairly easy, right?
Bread makers are definitely worth the investment but they can be quite pricey and can cost as much as £350! So its understandable why a lot of people might be reluctant to get one. Finding the best budget bread maker can be so overwhelming as there are too many to choose from.
But fear not as we have compiled a list for you with the best budget-friendly bread makers that won’t break your bank account!
Russell Hobbs has some of the best kitchen appliances out there, and this compact, affordable bread maker is no different. Don’t be fooled by its petite size, this machine can make 1 pound loaves, 1.6 pound and also 2.2 pound loaves. It also offers an incredible 12 programme options, from gluten free bread, to cakes to even jam! It has the ability to bake your bread in as little at 55 minute with the fast bake option. But remember that you might compromise the taste and texture of your loaf when using a faster setting.
The handy 13 hour delayed start allows you to set your bread machine to bake your bread whenever you want. Start the timer before you go to bed and wake up to the aroma of freshly baked bread. Yum. And with the automatic “keep warm” function, your bread will stay nice and warm for one hour after baking just in case you can?t take it out straight away.
Accidentally unplugged your bread maker or you’ve had a power cut? You’ll never have to worry about your bread being interrupted as the 7 minute power cut-off memory function will continue to bake your bread from where it left off.
Baking tip: No more scrubbing the dried up dough in your bread machine as both the bread pan and the paddle are dishwasher friendly!
Aside from this Lakeland bread maker being super budget friendly, it’s also extremely compact. It’s small enough just to leave out in your kitchen bench without it taking much space at all. With 11 settings, from a classic loaf to gluten free bread to just a dough setting, you are bound to find a setting that suits you.
If you find yourself throwing away half a loaf because it has not been eaten, this machine is ideal as it only yields 1 pound loaves. Big enough to enjoy with a small family but small enough that nothing goes to waste. You can also make a loaf of bread in just over 1.5 hours with the ultra fast setting.
Another great feature on this machine is that, just like the Russell Hobbs one, it will keep your loaf warm for an hour after it has finished baking. This will ensure that your bread will remain nice and warm without becoming soggy from all the condensation.
This is a great machine if you are new to the world of baking bread. It’s easy to use, compact and more importantly, affordable!
Baking tip: Although it is a very small machine, bear in mind that it can be quite noisy.
This Morphy Richards bread maker brings you homemade, fresh bread with ease. You can choose from 12 programmes, as well as offering 3 loaf sizes; 1 pound, 1.5 pounds and 2 pounds.
It’s called Fastbake for a reason. There are 3 quick settings to choose from if you want your bread to be made much faster. These quick baking settings can cut the time by almost half of the normal setting. Who said making bread was time consuming?!
Unfortunately, there is no gluten-free option with this bread maker, but it does have plenty of other programmes to choose from. You can choose from making a cake, jam and bread rolls. The possibilities are endless with this very affordable bread maker. It also boasts a 13 hour delayed start so you can programme it to have your loaf ready whenever you want.
It might not have an automatic dispenser to dispense all your extra ingredients, such as fruits, nuts and herbs, but your machine will let you know with a loud beep when it’s ready for you to add them.
Baking tip: The paddle likes to stick to the pan, but nothing a bit of soaking in hot water can’t fix.
This Kenwood bread maker boasts a very modern look. With a sleek stainless steel exterior, an LCD panel, interior light, and touch controls rather than buttons, it’s already looking great on your kitchen bench.
With 15 settings for bread, doughs, cakes and jams, you have all the settings you’ll ever need from a bread machine. There is also a rapid bake option, where you can get a fresh loaf of bread in just under one hour. You also get the option of an additional 5 personal settings so you can set your own timings for each stage of the bread making process.
Unlike the rest of the budget friendly bread makers we reviewed, this one has an automatic dispenser that will dispense additional ingredients without you having to monitor the machine or keep an ear out for the beep.
This bread maker also comes with a 15 hour delayed start, which is more than the usual 13 hour. You can set your timer 15 hours ahead and easily get on with the rest of your day until the bread is ready. It will also keep your loaf nice and warm for an hour after it stops so no need to worry that your bread will go all soggy. It also boasts a convention fan that helps crisp up your loaf, as well as power failure memory.
Kenwood offers great quality kitchen appliances, and at £125, this bread maker is no different. You get an affordable machine with high end performance. It’s not as noisy as other machines and no matter which loaf size you choose, small, medium or large, you will get a good quality, fluffy and soft loaf every time.
Baking tip: You can remove the nut dispenser to give it a clean if it ever gets dirty.
Verdict
These are hands down some of the best budget bread makers out there. The first 3 are all under £100 so there is no excuse not to buy one. And although they might not offer all the fancy settings and modern exterior that a high end machine would, at the end of the day they still produce a good quality loaf of bread. They are all compact, easy to use, budget friendly and beginner friendly.
If you are looking for a good quality machine that looks and performs like a high end model, then the Kenwood is the one for you. At £125 it’s not too much over budget and is guaranteed to make the tastiest of breads while offering so much more than just making bread.
Happy bread making!
