7 Best Bread Makers 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed
Choosing which bread maker to buy is a tough task since there are many affordable models offering great functions. From different crust sizes to yeast-free or gluten-free options to those that make pizza dough, sourdough, and even jam. Trusted brands like Panasonic, Morphy Richards and Russel Hobbs lead the way in design, while other lesser-known companies offer excellent budget alternatives.
Along with a handy buying guide, we've reviewed the top 7 bread makers you can buy in the UK. We've scoured John Lewis, Argos and Amazon for the best value machines, which will allow you to easily bake scrumptious loaves at home every day! Moreover, we have partnered with chef Ryan Yen for reviewing and fact-checking the article to deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Bread Makers
Russell Hobbs
A Straightforward Bread Maker that Bakes in Less Than an Hour
Morphy Richards
Great for Smaller Kitchens and Capable of Baking Bagels, Croissants and More
Morphy Richards
For the Nervous Bakers, Watch Your Bread Rise With a Large Viewing Window
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels, he also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
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Fact-Checked & Approved by Chef Ryan Yen
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels.
He also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
How to Choose a Bread Maker in the UK
- Check That the Bread Maker Fits Your Kitchen Area
- Note the Loaf Size Capabilities
- Consider the Number of Bread and Dough Modes/Programmes
- Whether It Has ‘Keep Warm’ or Delayed Start Function
- Look Out for Screens, Windows and Built-in Ingredient Dispensers
If You Don't Have a Large Kitchen Area Go for Bread Makers Around 25cm in Width
If you have a large kitchen and aren't pressed for space, you could choose a bread maker with a height of 40 cm or more and a width of 30 cm or above. For those with less surface or cupboard space to spare, look out for a model closer to 30 cm in height and 24 - 26 cm in width.
Tall, thin bread machines also work well if you have a smaller-sized kitchen, so keep an eye out for machines with a height that exceeds its width so that it can be tucked in among other gadgets either on the worktop or hidden away.
For Larger Families Choose Makers With a 1kg to 1.5kg Ingredient Capacity
The other measurement that you need to be aware of is the size of the loaves your bread machine is able to produce. For a solo baker or smaller family, a loaf weighing 450g should suffice.
Or, if you have more mouths to feed, look out for makers with a capacity for 1 kg or 1.5 kg of ingredients; that way, you'll be able to make heftier loaves to feed your brood. Most machines that make large loaves make smaller ones, too, so even if you go for a larger one, you'll have the option of both.
10+ Bread and Dough Functions Are Great for Enthusiasts, but Keep It Simple if You're a Beginner
Are you brand new to bread making? Even though a machine makes things far more straightforward, you may still be better off choosing a model with fewer functions to avoid confusion. Those with 9 or 10 bread and dough functions would be grand – but just the pure joy of fresh, homemade bread should suffice!
If, on the other hand, you know your stuff, or simply crave variety and excitement, try a bread maker with as many as 14 bread and dough functions so you can enjoy lots of different types of doughs and crusts throughout the week.
Not many people know that bread makers can also be used to make all kinds of other treats like pizza and pasta doughs, cakes and fruit loaves, and even compote and jam! Check out which extra modes your bread machine has before you pick so you can make your favourites or get experimenting.
'Keep Warm' and Delay Timers Allow You to Tailor Your Baking Around Your Schedule
Maintain Heat After Baking for up to an Hour Using the ‘Keep Warm’ Function
Look out for bread makers which offer the 'keep warm' function. Some models in our ranking specify that they can keep bread warm for up to an hour after baking. Others do not specify, but the minimum keep warm time is usually around 30 minutes. This function means you can still melt butter on freshly baked bread, even if you're busy while it's baking!
If You Want Freshly Baked Bread in the Morning then Opt for Bread Makers With a Delayed Start to Let You Bake Overnight
If you want to leap up at sunrise, greeted by the life-affirming fragrance of freshly-baked bread, you're going to need a machine with a special timer. Many bread makers have a 13-hour preset, meaning you can delay the beginning of the baking process 'til bedtime.
Some bread machines only have an 'overnight timer' or 'delayed start' function, which means they can be set as far as 13 hours in advance. This is perhaps only a mild inconvenience, as you'll need to set your machine up before bed if you want to bake overnight.
Extra Features Like Screens, Windows and Dispensers Improve the Overall Baking Experience
Think about what else would increase the enjoyment of your newfound gadget! Would it be things that make the technology easier to use? Or perhaps additional extras which save time or make the finished product tastier and more interesting?
- Screens: If you like to see exactly what you're doing as you type in the instructions for your latest bake, try a bread machine with an LED or LCD screen. LED is usually clearer and brighter (it uses light-emitting diodes, rather than the fluorescent light used in LCD screens). Nevertheless, both make tracking the instructions easy.
- Viewing window: To have a little look at your rising dough during its transformation into a beautiful bread butterfly, choose a bread machine with a viewing window. A larger sized viewing window makes it far easier to spot if your bread has risen nicely, but a smaller window is better than none at all.
- Built-In Dispensers: If you're leaving bread to bake overnight or won't have time to add extras such as fruits, nuts and seeds later on mid-bake, choose a bread machine with a special section to place your add-ins, which will open at the correct point in the baking process. Additionally, there are a few machines with an automatic dispenser that adds yeast at the right moment during the mixing cycle.
7 Best Bread Makers in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Russell Hobbs Compact Fast Breadmaker｜23620 | | A Straightforward Bread Maker that Bakes in Less Than an Hour | |
2 | Morphy Richards Homebake Bread Maker｜502001 | | Great for Smaller Kitchens and Capable of Baking Bagels, Croissants and More | |
3 | Morphy Richards Fastbake Bread Maker | | For the Nervous Bakers, Watch Your Bread Rise With a Large Viewing Window | |
4 | Eonbon 17-in-1 Bread Maker | | A Completely Customisable Baking Experience With Quiet Operation | |
5 | Panasonic Automatic Breadmaker ｜SD-YR2550SXC | | Panasonic's Offering Is a Great Space Saver | |
6 | Panasonic Automatic Breadmaker｜SD-B2510 | | Bake a Variety of Specialty Breads in a Fraction of the Space | |
7 | Lakeland Compact Daily Loaf Bread Maker | | Simple Bread Maker for the Occasional Slice |
A Straightforward Bread Maker that Bakes in Less Than an Hour
One of the most popular bread makers available is this smart, functional and user-friendly machine from trusted kitchen electronics brand Russell Hobbs - and it's easy to see why!
First off, this affordable machine allows you to bake your best bread yet in as little as 55 minutes, as well as making other fun recipes, including quick bread, gluten-free, sweetbreads, and jam. Choose from 3 crust thicknesses and enjoy the ease of dishwasher-safe pan and blades to top it off!
Great for Smaller Kitchens and Capable of Baking Bagels, Croissants and More
The latest design from Morphy Richards is this attractive, space-efficient bread machine that produces gorgeously crusty loaves at the touch of a couple of easy-to-use buttons – it also has a few crust settings so you can really control the results.
For buns and baps Paul Hollywood would shake your hand for, we'd highly recommend giving try this bread maker a try! It can also create perfect gluten-free loaves, plus dough for bagels, croissants, hot cross buns, and much more.
For the Nervous Bakers, Watch Your Bread Rise With a Large Viewing Window
There are several reasons why this Morphy Richards Fastbake bread maker is a bestseller. For a start, it doesn't take up much space but bakes dreamy, tasty bread in just 50 minutes, and it also has one of the largest viewing windows out there.
Branching out? This machine also bakes pizza and cakes, and you can even whip up specialities like brioche and rye bread. It can't keep your bread warm, but there is a 13-hour preset delay, and the 3 bread sizes are handy depending on who's at breakfast!
A Completely Customisable Baking Experience With Quiet Operation
The key advantages of the bread maker from Eonbon are the anti-heat carrying handle and its intuitive digital glass touch panel control that allows easy control of its functions. It's also completely customisable and packed with all the latest smart tech, meaning even beginners won't go wrong!
This customisation means you can plan and personalise your bake, adding nuts, fruit or anything else you fancy, and there are also 3-colour crust settings. The high speed powerful motor operates with low noise, and we think the stainless steel housing would look sharp in any kitchen.
Panasonic's Offering Is a Great Space Saver
This compact, and rather good-looking bread maker fits seamlessly on a kitchen worktop, as its space saving design takes up minimal space. Function-wise, it has two built-in sensors to determine both internal and external temperatures to optimise each programme, and includes gluten-free options.
Though it's a bit pricier than most in our list, from pasta and cake to jam and pizza, you can really cook up a storm with this one handy machine. There's even a 13-hour preset function that allows you to bake overnight; the yeast dispenser is a bonus too!
Bake a Variety of Specialty Breads in a Fraction of the Space
For a bread machine that provides a fantastic range of goodies from pizza dough to cake batters and jams, try this efficient gadget from reliable Panasonic. Deep and slim, it'll fit neatly beside the toaster in most kitchens or in the cupboard to save space.
This bread maker boasts quite a few cool functions compared to its competitors, including 115 mins fast bake time, gluten-free program and temperature controls. It does come with a useful measuring cup and an excellent LCD display too.
Simple Bread Maker for the Occasional Slice
This bread maker produces tall, slender loaves and a plethora of other doughs and recipes! It makes around 5 or 6 slices; good for single households who only occasionally munch on baked goods, but not necessarily very long-lasting if you have multiple mouths to feed.
With physical buttons to push (rather than a fiddly touch-screen), this machine is super user-friendly and would make an excellent gift for older users or those with slightly limited mobility. Though, modern bakers may prefer something with more advanced tech.
Tips on How to Get the Best Dough Every Time
The quality of bread you get out of your bread maker depends on how well the dough is made. To get the perfect dough, it's important to use the right yeast for the recipe. Fast-acting instant yeast also known as 'easy-dry' is perfect for a bread maker.
Also, you should give it enough time to rise. Adding too much yeast causes the dough to rise too quickly and then sink, so you want to be careful about that. If you can, it helps to check your bread maker occasionally to see if it has the right consistency and to adjust the moisture level by adding some flour if it's too wet, or liquid if too dry.
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
Top 5 Bread Makers
No. 1: Russell Hobbs｜Compact Fast Breadmaker｜23620
No. 2: Morphy Richards｜Homebake Bread Maker｜502001
No. 3: Morphy Richards｜Fastbake Bread Maker
No. 4: Eonbon｜17-in-1 Bread Maker
No. 5: Panasonic｜Automatic Breadmaker ｜SD-YR2550SXC
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.