I Tested 9 Bread Makers and Baked 36 Loaves: The Best Machines for Homemade Bread

Testing bread makers sounds simple—until you’ve baked 36 loaves and your freezer is overflowing. Our reviewer spent weeks pushing nine popular machines to their limits, baking loaf after loaf to find which ones deliver consistently golden crusts and tender crumbs. The result? A comprehensive guide that separates the dough-kneading champions from the disappointing duds. Why it matters: with the cost of good bakery bread rising and more people baking at home, a reliable bread maker can save money and time—but only if you pick the right one. The testing revealed surprising differences in crust color, texture, and ease of use, with some machines producing bakery-quality results and others yielding collapsed or gummy loaves. If you’ve ever considered making your own bread, this guide will help you choose the best machine for your kitchen and budget—without baking three dozen test loaves yourself.