Oster bread machine is one of those brands that don’t get a lot of hype, but still make quality and reasonably priced products. One example is the CKSTBRTW20 that can produce two-pound loaves of breads, with 12 baking settings and 3 crust settings to choose from.

One thing you’ll love about the said model is how fast it can bake a bread. It can do the job in less than an hour. Thus, if you’re the type of homemaker who wants bread quick, then the TW20 from Oster is a good pick.

Read more about the Oster bread machine here.

To further identify the best bread maker according to your needs, here are some bread making machines that you may want to include in your list:

More than 10 years ago, reports surfaced that a pan or any kitchen appliance coated with Teflon may release toxic gasses when it is overheated.  Teflon is a trademark of DuPont. But health agencies, up to this day, insist that more research is needed to determine the potential risks to humans of an overheated Teflon pan or bread maker.

But it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Hence, if you’re concerned about the potential health risks of Teflon-coated bread makers, there are alternatives that you can choose.

Perhaps the best bread making machine without Teflon is the Panasonic SD-RD250.  It’s a pretty big bread maker that can bake 1.5 and 2.5-pound loaves of bread. It features five baking options and three crust selection settings.

Like most Panasonic products, the RD250 is reasonably priced. Another good feature of this appliance is its automatic fruit and nut dispenser.

Zojirushi is a brand that produces bread makers that mix the dough. There’s the HAC10 which can produce 1 pound loaves of bread, and the CEC20 that can also produce 2.5 pounds of bread loaves. But there’s no denying that the ZojirushiBB-PAC20 is the best of the three when it comes to mixing the dough.

For one, it has dual kneading blades that allow it to knead the dough thoroughly.  Some critics point out that it’s a bit noisy when kneading dough, although that is something to be expected from most bread makers.

Do you live in an area that is 3,000 feet about sea level, like Denver? If so, then you might know how difficult it is to bake in high altitude areas.  Low pressure from high altitude can lead to lower boiling points while ingredients like liquid tend to evaporate faster.

While there’s no bread machine that is specifically built for high altitude baking, you can compensate by doing certain tricks. One is to increase the amount of water to the recipe you’re following. An increase of 2 to 4 tablespoons per cup should suffice.

In case the bread rises too high, you can lessen the amount of yeast by 1/8 for every teaspoon. Or you can lessen the amount of sugar by 1 to 2 teaspoons.

If you’re just starting out in your baking career, or you consider yourself a hobbyist who would like to improve your baking skills, there are certain things you want from a bread maker.

One, you naturally want it easy to operate. Two, it should be affordable.

The Oster CKSTBRTW20 has those two qualities and more.

This unit sells for less than $100, so you will likely not hesitate to buy it given its low price. Second, it is easy to use that the learning curve will likely be short for you. There’s an LCD display on this unit that lets you monitor the cycle, along with the large viewing window.

This unit has all the baking settings to help you get started. It has 12 cooking modes. There’s a six-minute function that can enable the machine to pick up where it left off in case of a power outage. But you’ll have to start again in case the power interruption lasts more than six minutes.

“You get what you pay for” applies in this unit as it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other bread makers. The design is a bit bland, too.

Still, you can count on this piece of equipment to make 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, and 2 pounds of loaves. It can bake bread, fast too, as its expressbake setting can do so in less than an hour.

The Sunbeam 5891 programmable bread maker would have to be the best unit for people who are on a budget. For less than $70, you can already be the proud owner of this cheap bread machine which surprisingly works well despite its low price.

Many customer testimonials can attest to how great of a catch this bread maker is. Setting up is a breeze, and the instructions are very easy to follow.   It can make 1 ½ pound and 2-pound loaves of bread. You can also choose from 12 bread settings and three crust controls. And you can make vertical loaves with this appliance.

The unit measures around 14 x 19 x 13.5 inches and has a one-year limited warranty.

If the orientation of the loaf is important to you and you prefer a horizontal loaf instead of a vertical one, then the Zojirushi PAC20 is the best choice. As mentioned earlier, the PAC20 is arguably the best from the Japanese brand. When it comes to making horizontal loaves, nothing can match up with this appliance.

While there are many bread makers that can produce horizontal loaves, the PAC 20 gets high marks for its heater on the lid. This is responsible for producing a perfectly crusted, horizontal loaf.

Again, the PAC 20 of Zojirushi is the best bread machine that has a specialized setting for gluten free food. The said setting spares owners from the hassle of figuring out which baking cycle to use for gluten free bread and other tasty treats. Plus, the recipe book contains gluten free recipes.

The Panasonic SD-YD250 is a hard worker you will love to have in the kitchen. You can choose from the dough selections- pizza, rolls, and raisins. It doesn’t produce as much noise as other units when it is kneading dough.

It can bake a medium and extra large loaf of bread in its nonstick baking pan. There are three crust controls, allowing you to choose from light, medium, or dark crust. You can also set the timer to end after 13 hours. The fastest that the YD250 can bake a cake is under two hours.

This machine can produce 1.5, 2, and 2.5-pound loaves, which makes it an excellent choice for larger families.

One thing you’ll like about this machine is the addition of the automatic yeast dispenser that further makes it convenient to use. Simply add the ingredients to the unit and it will take care of the kneading, rising, and baking.

Click edit button to change this text.

In choosing a bread machine with fruit and nut dispenser, you’d like to get one that can automatically mix these ingredients. The price, too, should be affordable enough.

The Panasonic RD250 has those two qualities and more. Its automatic fruit and nut dispenser makes it convenient and easy to integrate nuts, raisins, and seeds into the dough. You’ll also love the fact that it is a lot cheaper than other bread machines with fruit and nut dispenser.

There are only five modes in this bread machine. You can choose from a medium or extra large loaf size. Crust color may vary from light to dark. You can also set the delay timer for up to 13 hours.

The traditional brick and mortar store remains a good choice for buying a bread machine. By buying at a retail store, you can get a closer look at the bread making appliance that you are interested in. This would allow you to inspect the product and even get instructions from the sales guys how to properly operate the bread maker.

Most of the top brands like Zojirushi and Panasonic are available at major retail chains like Walmart. Thus, there shouldn’t be any problem at all in buying a bread machine.

However, buying online is not a bad choice, either. One, you don’t have to leave the comforts of home as the item will be shipped directly to your place. Second, you can get more savings if you look for coupons or discount codes. Third, there are tons of online reviews about bread makers that it is unlikely there isn’t one regarding the model you’re eyeing.

Amazon is perhaps the best place to buy a bread maker online.

Now that you have an idea on which bread machine to get depending on your needs, what are you waiting for? Get a bread machine today!