Why I’m Completely Obsessed With My Bread Machine

I don’t say this lightly. Buying a bread machine was one of the best kitchen purchases I’ve ever made. I love this thing. I get genuinely excited talking about it, using it, and dreaming about what I’m going to make next.

Fresh bread. Homemade dough. Jam. Pizza crust. All with very little effort.

If you’ve ever been on the fence about a bread machine, consider this your friendly nudge.


🔍 How I Chose the Right Bread Machine

Before buying, I did a lot of research. I read Amazon reviews and dug into recommendations from trusted publications like Food & Wine, Popular Mechanics, and Good Housekeeping.

After narrowing things down, my top contenders were:

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Bread Maker ***My Pick***
• Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker
• Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker

A few others made the shortlist but didn’t crack my top three:

• Zojirushi Maestro Breadmaker
• KBS Large 17 in 1 Bread Machine
• Hamilton Beach Artisan Dough & Bread Maker
• Oster ExpressBake Breadmaker
• Amazon Basics Nonstick Bread Making Machine

Every one of these had at least a 4.3 star rating on Amazon at the time and was mentioned by at least one of the publications I trusted.

Note: All of the bread machine links above are Amazon Affiliate links.

🏆 Why I Chose the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus

In the end, the decision became very clear.

I went with the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus because it checked every box:

• Makes large 2 pound loaves
• Excellent Amazon rating 4.6 stars
• Named Best Overall by Food & Wine and Popular Mechanics
• Extremely versatile and not limited to just bread

I wanted a machine I wouldn’t outgrow and this one absolutely delivers.

🍕 What I Make With It (And What I’m Obsessed With)

I’ve had this bread machine for about six months now, and I’m already completely sold.

My family loves the 7 grain bread the most. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for toast.

I personally love making:

• French bread
• Italian bread
• Dinner rolls

But let me talk about the real star for a second.

Pizza crust.

Oh my gosh. The pizza crust.

I love homemade pizza, and this machine makes dough so easy that there’s basically no excuse not to make it. Toss in the ingredients, press a button, and suddenly I have perfect pizza dough ready to go.

I’ve also made strawberry jam, which feels wildly impressive for how simple it actually is.

Between the included recipe book and the extra recipes available on Zojirushi’s website, I still have a long list of things I want to try.

⚙️ Ease of Use and One Very Memorable Mistake

What continues to amaze me is just how easy this machine makes bread and dough.

Measure. Add ingredients. Push a button. Walk away.

That said, I’ve had exactly one mishap.

I once forgot to put the paddles back in after washing them.

The paddles are what knead and punch the dough, so… yeah. The result was interesting and a little scary looking. Lesson learned.

Every loaf since then has turned out beautifully.

🛒 Things to Consider Before Buying a Bread Machine

If you’re shopping for a bread machine, here are a few things I found helpful to think about:

• Maximum loaf size
• Counter space and storage
• Noise level during kneading
• Whether it can make dough, jam, or other non bread items
• Availability of replacement parts like paddles

For me, versatility mattered just as much as bread quality.

📝 Simple Wrap Up

I genuinely love my bread machine. It has earned a permanent spot in my kitchen and in my routine.

After six months of regular use, I can confidently say it was 100 percent worth it. If you enjoy baking, homemade food, or just the idea of fresh bread without the fuss, a bread machine might become your favorite appliance too.

Looking for honest product reviews?
I write about items I’ve personally purchased, used, and loved.
👉 Read more product reviews here.

Sensibly and simply yours,
Kat

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Location: Michigan, USA

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