If you are a bread lover then you know that making bread by hand can be a tedious and time-consuming task. With a little help from your trusty bread maker, however, you can easily whip up a fresh and delicious loaf of bread in just a few hands-free hours.
It’s no secret that bread makers have become a very popular kitchen appliance over the years. There’s a good reason for this– they are incredibly convenient and make bread making a breeze. Plus, you can create all sorts of different types of bread with a bread maker, from white to whole wheat to sourdough with just a click of a button and with limited effort on your part. You don’t have to just limit yourself to doughy creations either, there are plenty of other tasty treats you can whip up in these clever little machines thanks to the addition of some clever features and settings.
One feature you might have noticed on a handful of bread machines is a yeast dispenser. As I am sure you already know, yeast is vital in the bread-making process. After all, it is a crucial component in creating those air pockets in the dough, which gives bread its fluffy and light texture. Yeast can be easily added to the bread dough along with the rest of the ingredients, however, it’s usually advised to keep the yeast and any wet ingredients and salt separate until the kneading process has started. This ensures that the yeast stays dry and does not come into contact with any salt or water, as it can kill it, which is why yeast dispensers can be found on some bread bakers.
A bread maker with a yeast dispenser is a great way to ensure that your dough always has the right amount of yeast at the right time. So, what are your options when it comes to bread makers with a yeast dispenser?
Let’s take a look.
Do bread machines with yeast dispensers exist?
Bread machines with fruit and nut dispensers are widespread. Bread makers with a yeast dispenser, however, are a different beast altogether. These types of machines are significantly harder to find, as you might have already discovered.
After a few hours of good old-fashioned research, I have only been able to find a handful of bread makers with a yeast dispenser. One of which is made by a German company called Möbelmaster, although this machine seems to get some pretty mixer reviews, and the rest are made by the Japanese company Panasonic.
Let’s have a quick look at some of the best bread machines with a yeast dispenser.
Panasonic SD-BMT2000
The Panasonic SD-BMT2000 bread machine is one of the few bread makers with a yeast dispenser. This machine has a top-loading locking lid, but unlike many bread makers, it does not have a viewing window. Instead, it has an automatic yeast dispenser at the top. The dispenser can be filled with yeast before the baking process begins, which will then automatically be dispensed into the baking pan.
Other features include an LCD screen with soft-touch buttons and a nonstick baking pan. The SD-BMT2000 certainly doesn’t have the most settings I have ever seen but it can make bread, cake, jam, pasta, pizza dough, and it has 40 different recipes in the manual.
The bread pan has the capacity to make a medium 1.5lb loaf or a large 2lb loaf with 3 crust colors. It also has a delay timer, so you can have your bread freshly baked whenever you want.
If you are desperate for some bread, it can make a quick loaf in just 80 minutes, which is pretty impressive. Another feature I like is the built-in temperature sensors both internal and external. The bread maker detects changes in the room temperature and will pick a suitable program to bake.
As great as this machine is, there is one big issue with this machine – It is a Japanese import. The buttons and the manual are all in Japanese so it can be hard to navigate if you are not a Japanese speaker. Because it is imported, it is also quite pricey and doesn’t come with a warranty.
Panasonic SD-MDX4-K
Like the SD-BMT2000, it also has an automatic yeast dispenser, a top-loading locking lid, no viewing window, and an LCD screen with soft-touch buttons.
Again, it doesn’t have a massive selection of settings, although it has enough for you to be able to make a variety of different types of bread and 43 recipes in the manual. The bread pan has the capacity to only make one medium size loaf and has temperature sensors that detect the temperature for optimal baking.
The SD-MDX4-K is also a Japanese import and comes at a hefty price, as well as the difficulties of navigating a foreign language. That said, even just a quick glance at the customer reviews and you will see that plenty of bakers are impressed with the quality of the bread these machines produce. Light fluffy and downright delicious seem to be the common theme running through many of the reviews. Sure, the language barrier might be a bit of a pain, but nothing Google translate can’t solve!
Panasonic did have another two bread makers that came with yeast dispensers, the Panasonic SD-YD250 and the Panasonic SD-YR2500. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find either product to purchase anywhere, as they are slightly older models, and it doesn’t seem like they will become available again any time soon.
Do I need a yeast dispenser?
It seems like Panasonic is one of the only companies that create bread machines with a yeast dispenser. If you are in the market for a bread maker with a yeast dispenser, then you will most likely need to try and get your hands on a Panasonic. Even then, not all of their machines include this feature, so ensure to thoroughly examine each machine before you spend your hard-earned cash on it.
That said, there are plenty of other great machines on the market without a yeast dispenser, I will link a few of my favorite ones for you below. So if you’re not too fussed about this particular feature, then you’ve got plenty of other options to choose from.
One reason why there aren’t many other machines with yeast dispensers on the market is that a dispenser for yeast is not exactly necessary. Yeast can easily be added to the bread pan along with the other ingredients without any fuss or bother. There’s no need for a special dispenser when you can just add the yeast in by hand.
Although adding yeast manually is a very simple process and does not require any special tools, how you add the yeast to the pan depends on the type of yeast you are using.
If you’re using active dry yeast, then you will need to dissolve it in warm water before adding it to the pan. If you’re using instant yeast, then there is no need for dissolving and you can just add it directly to the pan.
Active dry yeast
- Mix some lukewarm water, sugar and yeast in a bowl.
- Let it sit for around 15 minutes or until you can see it start to froth like a beer head. This means that the yeast is activated.
- Add the yeasty water into your bread pan and on top of the water add the flour, salt and oil (if using).
- Twist the bread pan into the machine, turn it on and press the start button.
- The paddle will start mixing the yeast with the rest of the ingredients.
Instant yeast or rapid yeast
- Add lukewarm water to the pan.
- Add the flour, salt, sugar and oil (if using) on top of the water. I like to add the salt, sugar and oil in each corner of the bread pan.
- Make a well in the middle of the flour with your finger.
- Pour the yeast carefully in the well, making sure that it doesn’t touch any of the other ingredients.
- Clip your pan into place, turn it on and let the machine do its thing.
If you are wondering whether your yeast is still active, here are a few tips on testing your yeast.
As you can see, it’s really not that difficult to add yeast to your bread pan without a dispenser. It is not a necessary feature and does not make the bread-making process any easier than it already is.
If you want a bread machine with a fruit and nut dispenser, here are some of the best in the market. For a more extensive review of each product, take a look here!
