A Tip To Buy A Bread Maker- Or How To Get A Good Bread Machine

If you are thinking of getting one, you might want some tips on how to buy a bread maker. Knowing these things  can save you money in the long run.

It really wasn’t all that long ago that you needed to be careful of which machine you bought. Some brands were to be avoided at all costs. Others were much better built and provided good value in a small appliance. However, the current crop of products do a remarkably good job. Even the least expensive models perform well, they just may not have all the added features of more expensive ones.

The first question that you need to ask yourself is how much do you think that you will use an automatic  bread maker. If you have never owned one or even tried one before, then you may want to opt for a less expensive model.

There are a couple of advantages to this thought. First is that you won’t be out as much money if you find that you don’t use it and it collects dust on your counter. Second, less expensive units have many of the features that more expensive ones do and will do a fine job making basic breads. Third, you will gain experience and be better able to determine if a better machine is right for you.

The second tip to buy a bread maker is to not let all the extra features dazzle you. I know it can seem confusing. All too often we tend to buy products based on what we think we will use them for and with automatic bread machines it is no different.

You look at the number of pre-programmed options and envision all of the tasty treats that could be made with your bread maker. The trouble is that most of us won’t ever make those items. My advice is to stick a machine that limits your options, especially if you are a beginner and want to get your feet wet without plunging in. A good model to try out is the Breadman TR520.

One thing that most people don’t realize if they have never used a bread maker before is that not all of them produce a loaf that comes out in what you would consider a normal bread shape. Most because of their design make loaves that are more square in shape and not your typical horizontal one. This won’t change the way that the bread tastes, but from a visual aspect the loaf will seem odd. Plus, will the slices fit into your toaster?

By Otto Phokus from Flickr.com

A way around this is to look for a machine that will create a horizontal or typical shaped loaf. Or with most machines there is a dough cycle that allows you to mix the ingredients and then to put them into a regular baking pan which you can place in your oven to bake the bread.

My suggestion would be to investigate models that will make horizontal loaves. Especially when just starting out.

If you intend on making whole grain breads, a consideration would be whether the machine can handle them. Not all bread makers will. Check to see if there is a whole grain cycle. If there is you shouldn’t have a problem.

Another tip is to check out the warranty on the machine. Any product that does not have at least a one year warranty probably isn’t worth the effort. It is unfortunate, but not every product that comes off the assembly line is going to work right the first time. It is nice to know that you can get a replacement when it does break due to manufacturer defect.

While you are at it, you may even want to see what kind of support there is for the bread maker you are looking to buy. Do they have a website that lists service centers? What about an 800 number to talk to a real person? At the very least a snail mail address.

One final tip to buy a bread maker would be like anything else that you plan on buying, do you best to read reviews on as many site as you can. That is where you will really get a feel for how well the product works and what issues there may be with it.

Filed under: Bread Maker Buying Tips

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