Bread machines made in the USA: What’s the catch?

If you get a little kick out of supporting our local economy and fellow countrymen, one of the easiest ways you can do this is by opting to buy locally sourced goods. Whether that is the food you eat, or the appliances you use, buying locally sourced goods has endless economical and environmental advantages.

Bread makers have become a very popular kitchen appliance in recent years as more and more people are making an effort to eat healthier and avoid processed foods. While there is a wide variety of brands and bread machine models available on the market, very few of them are manufactured in the USA.

To cut production costs, the vast majority of bread machines are now made overseas. While this may save manufacturers money in the short run, it can be pretty frustrating for us bakers who are looking for an American made bread maker.

If you are looking for bread machines made in the USA, you might have already seen a few machines listed on some other websites and resources. However, from what I have recently learned, many of those machines mentioned aren’t actually made in the US. 

So, what’s the truth about American bread machines, then?

Here’s what you need to know.

American Made Bread Machines? Are they a myth?

I am sure I don’t need to tell you that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find electrical good that is still made in the USA. It’s actually pretty shocking how American-made small appliances have become such a rarity in the 21st century. 

On top of that, most brands don’t exactly make it easy for you to find out where their products are actually made, often not listing a country of origin in the product descriptions, which makes it even more difficult to discover where our new appliances are and devices are being made prior to buying them.

Some of my favorite American bread makers brands like Hamilton Beach and Cuisinart began manufacturing their products in China decades ago, and have been doing so ever since.

After a good bit of research, I found a glimpse of hope in my search for an American made bread maker with the Oster bread machines. Oster is part of the Sunbeam-Oster group, and whilst they have historically made claims that some Oster products are made in the USA, I discovered that they also have manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Venezuela and Peru. Other articles on this subject mentioned that Oster is indeed made in the US as well as a few other bread makers like Curtis Stone and West Bend.

I finally thought I had found the answer, especially after reading that Oster had spent $59 million on advertising in the early 90s, with the main focus of the campaign being on the ‘Made In America’ labels on the Sunbeam and Oster products. However, I later discovered that most Sunbeam and Osterproducts are made in China, including their bread machine. This was somewhat disappointing as this means that there are currently no bread makers that are made in America.

So what does this mean for us home bakers who are franticly looking for bread machines not made in china?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you’re looking for an American made bread machine, you probably won’t find one. The closest thing you will get to an American bread maker are machines that are owned by American companies.

While most brands have moved their manufacturing to China and other countries offering lower manufacturing costs, you shouldn’t be too disheartened. US branded products made overseas are still of high quality. Names like Oster, Cuisinart and West Bend have maintained a high reputation despite many of their products being manufactured abroad.

Bread Machines Made in the USA (kind of)

As I just mentioned, you will be seriously hard-pressed to find a bread machine not made in china in 2022. So if you want the concelation prize, being an American branded bread machine, then here are a few of my personal favorites.

Oster Expressbake

The Oster Expressbake Bread Machine is a powerful, 650 watt, machine that can make a loaf of up to two pounds. It has 12 different bread settings and three crust settings, so you can make just about any type of bread you can imagine. It also has an Expressbake setting that bakes bread in under an hour, which is one of the quickest express settings I have seen on a bread machine.

The Oster Expressbake Bread Machine also has a 13-hour programmable baking timer, so you can have fresh bread anytime you want. The large LCD display and intuitive button controls make it easy to operate, even if you’ve never used a bread machine before. It also has a 40-inch cord length, so you can place it anywhere in your kitchen.

Additional features include a large viewing window, a removable lid for easy cleaning, and a non-stick baking pan. A convenient measuring cup and spoon are also included. Although there is no fruit and nut dispenser, the machine will signal when it’s ready for you to add them manually.

Oster Expressbake with Gluten-Free Setting

If you are looking for a bread machine that has a gluten-free setting, the Oster Expressbake with Gluten-Free Setting is the perfect machine for you. This machine shares all the same features as the regular Oster Expressbake Bread Machine with the addition of that extra cycle for your gluten-free goodies. The machine also comes with a recipe book filled with delicious and healthy recipes for gluten-free bread, so you can start baking right away.

The Oster Expressbake with Gluten-Free Setting is also compact and easy to use, making it the perfect bread machine for any kitchen.

Just like the Oster Express, this machine also can make bread in under an hour with the Expressbake setting. It also has a similar LCD display, and intuitive button controls. The removable lid and non-stick baking pan make it easy to clean, and the 1-hour keep-warm function will keep your loaf of bread fresh until you are ready to dive into it.

Oster Bread Maker ExpressBake with Fruit and Nut Dispenser

The Oster Bread Maker ExpressBake with Fruit and Nut Dispenser is the perfect bread machine for anyone who loves fresh-baked bread with nuts and fruit. This machine has all of the same great features as the regular Oster ExpressBake Bread Machine.

This dispenser can hold up to 0.65 ounces of nuts and fruit, so you can add your favorite ingredients right into the bread dough. The dispenser is also removable for easy cleaning.

The Oster Bread Maker ExpressBake with Fruit and Nut Dispenser has a large viewing window, so you can watch your bread baking in action. It also has a 13-hour programmable delayed timer, so you can have fresh bread anytime you want. The large LCD display and intuitive button controls make it easy to operate, even if you’ve never used a bread machine before.

Just like the Oster ExpressBake Bread Machine, this machine also can make bread in under an hour with the Expressbake setting. It also has a 12-setting menu, so you can make any type of bread you want. The removable lid and non-stick baking pan make it easy to clean, and the machine comes with a measuring cup and spoon for your convenience.

Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker

The Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker is perfect for anyone who loves the taste of fresh bread. This machine is one of the only bread makers to have a convection fan that circulates hot air evenly, so your bread will be evenly baked every time. This is far superior to any regular bread maker out there that only has one heater at the bottom.

The crust control function lets you choose from three different crust settings: light, medium or dark and you have 16 preprogrammed menu options to choose from. This is perfect for anyone who wants to make a variety of breads.

The CBK-200 also has an audible tone that alerts you when it’s time to add your fruit and nuts. The machine also has a large viewing window, key coded system, and a non-stick bread pan for easy cleaning.

The only downside to this machine is that it doesn’t have a quick bake function. But other than that, the Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker is the perfect machine for anyone who loves fresh bread.

West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker

West Bend is another American appliances company that has been around for over a century. They specialize in small appliances, and one of their most popular product is the bread maker.

The West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker is a great machine for anyone who loves fresh bread and is ideal for larger families. The 12 settings include basic loaf, wheat bread, gluten-free as well as a custom setting. It also has a large capacity of up to 3 pounds and three crust settings: light, medium, or dark. The machine also comes with a 13-hour delay timer, so you can have fresh bread anytime you want.

The machine has a quick bake function that bakes bread in under two hours. It also has a large viewing window, so you can watch your bread baking in action.

What is great about the West-Bend bread maker is the horizontal bread pan and dual paddles. The dual paddle action kneads the dough efficiently and the horizontal pan makes a much larger loaf compared to a vertical one.

Hamilton Beach Premium

Hamilton Beach is a popular American brand that has been around since 1910. They are known for their quality and innovative products, and the bread maker is no exception.

The Hamilton Beach Premium bread maker is a great machine for anyone who loves fresh bread. The 14 settings include basic loaf, wheat bread, gluten-free as well as 3 quick bake settings. It also has a large capacity of up to two pounds and three crust settings: light, medium, or dark.

Other features include a fruit and nut dispenser, a delayed timer, a large viewing window, and a non-stick bread pan for easy cleaning.

The Hamilton Beach Premium bread maker is the perfect machine for anyone who loves a wide range of fresh bread. It’s simple to use and comes with all the features you need to make delicious, fresh bread.

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As you may be starting to realize, it’s a pretty tall order finding bread machines made in the USA. The second best thing then is machines that are owned by American brands, like the models mentioned above. These are some of the best American bread makers, so if you are looking for the closest thing to American-made, these are your best bet.

Remember, just because these machines are made in China certainly doesn’t mean that they are of poor quality. The Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker or Hamilton Beach Premium bread maker is consistently some of the most well-reviewed machines currently available. If you want a machine with a quick bake function that is also budget-friendly, then the West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker or the Oster Expressbake bread maker would be a great choice.

No matter which machine you choose, you are sure to enjoy fresh, homemade bread. Thanks for reading!