Top tips to follow when shopping for breadmakers

There’s nothing that makes a house feel like home quite as well as the smell of freshly-made bread, is there? Rather than struggling with ovens, kilns and mixing bowls, why not skip the hard stuff and shop the fantastic range of breadmakers available on the market today? Breadmakers have got taken all the hard work out of making your very own bread and, instead, left you with the simple joys of the experience; namely the sweet scent and the delicious eatables. If you’re feeling a little uncertain about how to shop the world of breadmakers, it’s time to check out our easy to follow guide:

How expensive are breadmakers?

Like most kitchen gadgets, breadmakers vary greatly in price; you can expect to pay anything between £20 and £20, it just depends on which model you choose. But, unlike many kitchen gadgets, size isn’t a determining factor on price when it comes to breadmakers; the money you pay is based on the programmable options available, not to mention added bonuses such as timers. It’s worth considering exactly what you want from your machine before you begin shopping for breadmakers – it’s all too easy to have your head swayed by all the different breadmakers on offer if you don’t go in with a plan!

What size loaves do breadmakers create?

Different breadmakers offer different size loaves; it really depends on personal preference which is best for you. The majority of budget breadmakers only offer loaves in one size, whereas the more expensive breadmakers offer you a variety of different options when it comes to determining the size of your homemade loaf of bread. As bread from breadmakers tends to go stale rather quickly, you’ll want to bear in mind that loaves have to be eaten up within one or two days; it’s probably best to stick to breadmakers which create smaller loaf sizes unless you have a very large family.

How much control do breadmakers offer you?

Most breadmakers will offer you the option to decide on how light or dark you want your crust, whether you want to knead the dough without baking or vice versa. However, for those of you looking for a little bit more control over their baking, you’ll want to shop for breadmakers with a greater number of programs and controls available. These breadmakers may offer you different sizes, the ability to create different types of bread (French baguette, anyone?) or even veer off the bread spectrum and into the world of cakes, jam, pizza dough and pasta. The decision is yours!