The Very Best Bread Machines of 2025, as Tested by CNET
Get your bread recipe ready and make your own, fresh loaves at home.
Our Picks
What is the best bread maker overall?
Homemade bread has the advantage of being fresher and more flavorful, plus you know exactly what’s in it. However, the process can be challenging and time-consuming.The right bread machine takes a difficult process and makes it so much more simple by doing all the kneading and proofing for you. Some can even do the entire process for you.
Whether you want to get a bread machine to bake a fresh loaf for yourself every week, or as a unique gift for someone who has everything, we've found the best bread machines worth the counter space, especially our top pick from Cuisinart.
The Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker CBK-210 circulates heat to give you evenly baked bread, and the orientation of the machine makes it look prettier, too. Its alert system keeps you informed at every step, ensuring you don’t miss anything -- even if you’re not nearby to add mix-ins or remove the paddle. Unlike many machines that leave an indent from the paddle, this one doesn’t. It’s a well-designed option that thoughtfully accounts for even the smallest details.
If you're looking to get the best bread maker, we're here to help you with that. Since there are a ton of bread makers on the market, it can be difficult to pick the best one. That's why we've put the top models to the test to find out which ones are truly worth adding to your kitchen. We've tested many of the top-selling models, from high-tech options with bells and whistles to cheaper, automatic bread makers that nail the basics. So get one of these fine machines to get you going with homemade bread.
Best bread machines for 2025
- Audible step reminders
- Luxury performance at a fraction of the price
- Bulky
Convection ovens are often prized by bakers. Where conventional ovens just create ambient heat, convection ovens also have a fan that circulates hot air, leading to quicker, more even baking and exceptional crustiness in bread. Even in this form, the Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker is no exception. Like the Zojirushi (my favorite bread maker if money's no object) but priced at a third of the cost, the Cuisinart Convection's loaf pan is also horizontal, resulting in a more traditional loaf shape, but also requiring more counter space than the vertical models.
My favorite feature of this Cuisinart model is that audible alerts let you know not only when to add any mix-ins, but also when to remove the mixing paddle between the final rise and the baking stage. It's a small detail, but one limitation of most bread machines is the paddle-shaped hole in the bottom of every loaf, which Cuisinart has found a viable way around.
- Double paddles for kneading stage
- Creates a traditional loaf shape
- Setting variety
- Pricy
- Bulky
If you're serious about taking on home-baked bread in perpetuity, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso is the best model among bread machines. Its price tag and space requirement reflect your investment in it. This was my favorite bread machine to use, overall, but the hefty price tag keeps it out of the top spot.
There are two reasons why the Zojirushi is such an exceptional bread maker: First, double paddles within the loaf pan provide more mechanical muscle in the kneading stage, resulting in bread with a more integrated crust and a chewier nature than most bread machines can achieve. Second, its elongated, horizontal pan creates loaves that are more of a traditional bread loaf shape, with the familiar dome on top of each slice.
The Zojirushi Virtuoso also includes the greatest variety of settings. In addition to the typical bread settings, as well as the dough and jam cycles that all of these bread machines provide, the Virtuoso's various cycles adjust the timings and temperatures of the kneading and rising stages for the best outcome given whatever kind of bread you are making, including gluten-free, sugar-free, salt-free and vegan settings, as well as open settings which you can customize to your liking.
Despite its comparatively high-tech appearance, the digital display is completely intuitive and easy to program and also shows the stage in progress during the bread-making cycle. This bread maker begins with a "rest" cycle, as it brings all of the ingredients up to an ideal temperature for the yeast first. Arguably this may factor into its superior loaf, but it is a little anticlimactic compared to the other bread makers that begin mixing as soon as you hit start. (Admittedly, I had to go to the manual to make sure I hadn't done something incorrectly.)
- Inexpensive
- Compact size
- Standard setting can make bread in < 3 hours
- Loaves on the smaller size
Another great budget option, the Amazon Basics Bread Machine is the most compact model available, scarcely taking up more space than your average toaster, which makes it more likely to stay on your counter and, most importantly, stay in use. Despite its petite stature, the loaf I made achieved a great rise and a robust crust. This model has the quickest basic cycle (without choosing express mode), completing in just under 3 hours. Yogurt and gluten-free settings are included, and unlike the other less expensive models, the Amazon Basics Bread Machine does indicate the current stage during the baking cycle, allowing for the possibility of manual paddle removal.
- Multiple loaf size options
- Pre-heat cycle
- Collapsible paddle
- Pricey
Despite the hefty price, the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker has a lot going for it, including style. In addition to its horizontal loaf pan and built-in fruit and nut dispenser, this model is the most versatile where loaf size is concerned, offering four different size settings: a quick and compact 1-pound loaf, the standard 1.5- and 2-pound loaves, and a hefty 2.5-pound setting for the largest loaf available in a standard bread maker.
Like the Zojirushi, Breville also includes a pre-heat cycle at the beginning of the process, bringing the ingredients to a yeast-friendly temperature before beginning, resulting in an especially good rise.
Much like Cuisinart, Breville has found a way around the paddle-shaped hole problem, as it comes equipped with a unique collapsible paddle that automatically flattens itself along the bottom of the pan after the kneading and rising cycles have completed. (Because this is automatic, it has a leg up in this camp because it's still possible to have an unadulterated loaf while using the delay start setting when you're not available to monitor it.) In addition to the typical bread and dough settings, the Breville model also offers an express option for numerous cycles rather than a basic express cycle, and it has pasta dough settings and a gluten-free bread machine setting.
Among these bread machines, the Breville is the only one whose display relies on a dial, rather than simply push buttons, but I found it just as intuitive as every other one I tried.
- Express setting can make bread in less than an hour
- Cheapest
- "Set it and forget it" process
- Display limitations
The Oster ExpressBake has a lot to offer for a median price tag. Several of the models here include an express cycle, and Oster's cycle is one of the quickest, whipping up a basic loaf of bread in just an hour. (Loaves baked in the express mode tend to be denser, as the rising and proofing time is typically diminished.) The loaf I made on the basic cycle achieved a nice rise and a flaky crust. The Oster model is the only option on this list under $150 that includes the fruit and nut dispenser, which means you really can set it and forget it, even for more complicated recipes.
In addition to the bread, dough and jam settings, the Oster ExpressBake even includes settings for oatmeal and yogurt, in which the machine masquerades as an Instant Pot for low-and-slow cooking. Anyone can do overnight oats in the fridge, but warm overnight oats are decidedly delicious. In terms of size, it is the second-smallest model available. The only limitation of the Oster compared to most other machines on this list is that its display doesn't show you what stage the bread in progress is in, although that's a feature that satisfies curiosity more than it affects performance, and the countdown timer lets you know when your bread will be ready.
Other bread machines I tested
Cuisinart Stainless Steel Breadmaker: This $130 model was on our previous list, but the basic cycle was long and the crust was the lightest.
How we tested bread machines
The list of best bread machines I tested was assembled based on a combination of previous CNET bread machine picks and those that have also been well-vetted and appear on multiple review sites' best lists. I also considered best-selling and consistently highly rated models at major retailer sites such as Amazon, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Wayfair and Williams-Sonoma.
All of the bread makers turned out loaves of bread that were far more than just edible.
I tested each model over two days using each model's basic setting: a 2-pound loaf of white bread with a medium crust, using weighed ingredients that were all purchased at the same time. Every bread machine I tested included recipe suggestions, but to level the playing field, I used the same recipe for each: King Arthur Flour's Bread Machine Bread recipe, which uses easy-to-come-by ingredients, including milk, butter, all-purpose flour, sugar, salt and instant yeast. I evaluated the resulting loaf for its crust and crumb texture, as well as the machine itself for factors like noise volume and ease of use. (More good news: All these machines were intuitive and easy to set up without even a cursory glance at the instruction manual.)
How to choose a bread machine
While all the bread machines I tested can produce a decent loaf of basic bread, they come in various shapes and sizes with a range of additional features and price points. If size or price are limiting factors for you, the decision is going to become very easy, with just a couple of compact models that are less than $100 to consider. If not, it will probably be a matter of which additional features are most important, depending on the kinds of bread you anticipate making the most. As you start the process of choosing a bread machine, you'll find they vary significantly in shape, size and price. There are a few factors that contribute to these differences in bread machine options and you'll want to consider which features are most important for your baking needs.
You too can have daily fresh bread for about 25 cents a loaf.
Bread machine size
First, automatic bread makers come in different sizes. This not only refers to the physical space of the appliance for baking bread (which can be substantial) but also the size of the loaf it can bake. Common bread maker sizes include 1- and 2-pound loaf models -- if you're only baking a loaf of bread for yourself, a smaller bread maker might work just fine, while larger families might need larger loaves to keep everyone satisfied with comforting carbs.
The Hamilton Beach is compact, budget-friendly and turned out some of the best bread of the bunch.
Bread machine shape
You'll also want to think about the shape of the appliance's inner bread pan, as this will determine the shape of the loaf of bread. Many bread-making machines have square pans, which yield square loaves, but you can also find bread machine models that make horizontal loaves that are closer to what you'd buy in the store.
Types of bread it makes
Some are better equipped to produce a thicker, more consistent crust, some have built-in settings for gluten-free loaves, while others allow you to pre-set mix-ins such as fruit or nuts, which will add them at the appropriate moment along the way. Want to make different kinds of bread? Bread makers can only churn out specific types of bread depending on the bread flour and settings, so if you want to make wheat, whole grain, French bread, white bread, sourdough bread or other varieties, you'll need a machine that has the appropriate settings for your bread machine recipe. If you want gluten-free bread then you should go for a gluten-free bread machine. Some fancier bread machines even have nonbread settings, such as ones for cake.
The Zojirushi was my favorite bread maker to use but its hefty price keeps it out of the #1 spot.
Bread machine features and settings
Most bread machines produce a standard, 1.5- or 2-pound loaf, and they come preprogrammed with various settings, including those for white, wheat and quick bread, among other common bread types, as well as dough and jam settings. All have the option of choosing a light, medium or dark crust, and also include a delayed start feature, meaning you can assemble ingredients in the morning, and come home after work to the warm and cozy aroma of freshly baked bread. (Throw a soup or chili mixture into a slow cooker while you're at it, and your evening self will be very pleased with your morning self.) Alternatively, you can set it at night and wake up to freshly baked bread.
Another feature of the machine you'll want to look into is the paddle. While you will want to make sure it is easy to remove for cleaning, you may also want to consider one with a non-stick coating so there isn't as much to clean off to begin with. Some machines feature multiple paddles to help mix the dough better. If you care about the way your bread is shaped, you could look for a collapsible paddle to minimize the hole the paddle can sometimes leave in the bread.