Sebastian Jentsch
is a technology journalist, passionate do-it-yourselfer and amateur cook. He writes about mobile technology for Notebookjournal and Notebookcheck, among others, and regularly tests kitchen, household and garden appliances.
The fact that the bread maker can only bake, as the name suggests, is not entirely true, because the dough can also be kneaded with it. Depending on the type of dough, there is a suitable program for this, which saves time and nerves. The machines are therefore suitable for anyone who likes to bake their own bread on a regular basis. But there are also some pitfalls with certain machines, which we point out in the test.
With 18 devices (15 of which are currently available), we tested which machines were convincing.
Content
Versatile: Moulinex OW 6101
All-rounder: Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E
Good value for money: Rommelsbacher BA 550
With sourdough hook: Panasonic SD-ZB2512
What else is there?
Worth knowing about bread and bread makers
This is how we tested
Comparison table
Comparison table
Diverse
All-rounder
Good value for money
With sourdough hook
model
Moulinex Mac.Pane
Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E
Rommelsbacher BA 550
Panasonic SD-ZB2512
Per
First class breads
Very good workmanship
For rye whole grain (205 degrees)
Quiet due to starting motor & durable
Accessories for yoghurt, quark
Delay 13 hours
Individual program
Very good results when baking
Sourdough: crust and regular shape
Separate nut and yeast dispensers
33 programs cover almost every wish
Cons
The use of baguettes was not convincing
Sourdough didn't work
Non-illuminated LCD
Gluten-free program only for 1,000 grams
No viewing window
No on/off switch (0.4 watts)
Difficult to clean
Quietly humming power supply
Measuring cup difficult to read
Only 1,000 gram bread possible
High price
Best price
€155.99
€133.25
€79.94
€174.89
View technical specifications
Bread weight
700/1000/1500 grams
500 - 750 - 1000 grams
700 or 900 grams
500 - 1000 grams
Programs
1620 incl. 3xgluten-free, yoghurt, quark
13 incl. gluten-free
33Equipment
Viewing window, non-stick coating, 2 heating elements, baguette insert
Timer 15 hours, non-stick coating, LCD display, multilingual recipe book, yogurt cup with lid, quark sieve, measuring cup, measuring spoon
Keep warm function 1 hour, timer 13 hours, memory function, non-stick coating, LCD display, viewing window, recipe book
Non-stick coating, viewing window, LCD display, nut dispenser, yeast dispenser, sourdough dough hook
Performance
1600 watts
610-720 watts
550 watts
550 watts
Dimensions
48.8 x 30.6 x 38 cm
31x29x29 cm
22.5 x 29 x 29.5 cm
38.89 x 25.6 x 38.2 cm
weight
9kg
4kg
4.2kg
<7.6kgmodel
MAC.PANE OW 6101
OW240E
BA550
SD-ZB2512KXE
Versatile: Moulinex OW 6101
One machine that was completely convincing in the test is the Moulinex OW 6101. Breads with a baking mix turn out perfectly. Even with a thicker crust if you want that. In addition to the good performance, we are also impressed by the workmanship.
Diverse
Moulinex Mac.Pane
Special bread requests can also be fulfilled here - and taste very good.
€155.99
Bought by 66 readers
It also offers a keep-warm function and a power failure function. 16 programs should satisfy everyone, in addition to just baking bread, you can also cook jam, pasta or pizza dough, yeast dough or bread without salt.
Optics and processing quality
It is not a visual highlight, but with its white color it fits into any kitchen.
The gap dimensions fit, there are no sharp edges and the hinges are stable and robust. You can also remove the lid for cleaning.
Since the keys have no gaps, the control panel can be easily cleaned. The mechanical keys don't bother us either, because the cover makes them soft and pleasant to press.
You get an even heat development here with two heating elements, which is particularly useful for baguettes. But the circulating air is missing.
How is it served?
The buttons are clear and easy to understand thanks to the pictures. A display shows which program you have selected and also markings for the degree of browning and the bread size.
If you prefer another language, you can simply use the stickers that come with the device.
A timer also makes operation easier. Here you can set when the bread should be ready, e.g. B. be in ten hours, then the machine calculates the time that the program needs and this results in a start time, z. B. after seven hours. The Moulinex has a timer for up to 15 hours, which is two more than the average of the machines tested.
The Moulinex bread maker also has a memory function, which is particularly useful if the power fails or you accidentally pull the plug. The device then remembers the program and the previous progress for up to seven minutes and continues at exactly the point where it left off. We think that's very well thought out.
If ingredients are to be added in the final phase of kneading, the device gives an acoustic signal. Open the lid, add the ingredients and you can continue baking.
The device has a total of 16 programs for bread, jam or dough. In addition to the standard variants that all machines can do - wholemeal and white bread - there is also salt-free bread or bread that is rich in omega-3. The machine can also be gluten-free, and it can also make pasta dough. Depending on the recipe, there are special resting phases, kneading phases, a special baking time and, of course, temperature.
The Moulinex is particularly suitable if you eat a lot of bread frequently, because it can handle up to 1500 grams of bread at once, other devices offer a little less.
Like all food processors, a bread maker is never very quiet, the noise level was in the middle and didn't really bother us. The squeaking of the machine also stopped after the third bake.
Equipment and energy consumption
The bread maker comes with a baking mold and two kneading hooks, there is also a baguette insert, a measuring cup and also a silicone brush and a scraper. An extensive recipe book is also included.
As nice as the recipe book is, we searched in vain for German and English, so it failed for us.
How much energy does the device consume in standby mode? There is no real power switch on any test device, the Moulinex machine consumes 0.4 watts when idle, which is okay.
What we didn't like so much
First we were excited: a bread maker that can also bake baguettes! But this is exactly where the Moulinex disappoints us.
Baguettes.
The dough is too wet.
So he has to get out of shape first.
The dough must be shaped by hand.
The baking time was too short here.
Missing crust.
With increased baking time.
The time investment is enormous without experience.
To make baguettes, the first step is to make the dough. It is then shaped by hand and placed in the molds provided before baking can begin.
The disadvantage of this method is that you only notice when you start shaping whether the amounts of the individual ingredients are correct. In the test, we quickly had a dough that was too wet, which then had to be kneaded again by hand and then rise again.
We really see no advantage here compared to the oven, because you can bake significantly more baguettes in the same amount of time or faster.
The bread maker does not offer convection air, so our baguettes had a crust that was too thick, only the browning was nice. The machine also failed with sourdough.
Why do we still like the Moulinex OW 6101? Few machines can make sourdough, and we only managed to make the dough with two different programs. This does not lead to a point deduction, especially since the standard functions are convincing and the machine offers a whole range of other functions. For us, therefore, a device with good workmanship and performance, as long as you do not attach great importance to baguettes from the machine.
All-rounder: Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E
All-rounder
Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E
Universal genius: The machine has three gluten-free programs, makes quark and yoghurt as well as heavy rye bread.
€133.25
The Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E is a real all-rounder: With this bread maker you can not only make bread and jam, but also yoghurt and quark. There are also three programs for gluten-free and rye bread.
To make yoghurt, a cup including a lid is placed in the baking pan, into which yoghurt cultures and milk are then filled. With quark, an additional drip tray is added for straining. Skimmed or unheated cow's milk does not have to be filled in here, lactic acid bacteria or rennet are also added to the skimmed milk. The device sets the optimal temperature for the bacteria.
Even heavy rye breads with whole grain succeed thanks to the relatively high power of up to 720 watts. These breads need a high initial temperature of at least 200 degrees to create a good crust. Up to 205 degrees were measured in the interior in the test.
The Moulinex Flower Delight OW240E is a real all-rounder.
Reading is difficult because the display is not illuminated.
The motor is quieter and more pleasant than other models.
The bread gets a good crust and browning.
White bread with raisins made from 500 grams of flour.
The accessories for the preparation of quark and yoghurt.
The stickers can be used to label the programs in your own language.
There is no program for sourdough, the other programs do not offer a sufficient proofing time of 8 to 13 hours. The "Baking + Delay" program cannot be used for sourdough fermentation either, since the timer cannot be set. Since the dough hooks are only suitable for dry dough, you have to mix the wet sourdough yourself anyway. In addition, many breads made from sourdough need a high initial temperature of 230 degrees, but this cannot be achieved with any model.
The multilingual recipe book has a gluten-free chapter, but not too many recipes. The instructions for use are also very brief, but at least there are tips to prevent unsatisfactory results. At the end of the book there is a confusing cycle table that does not differentiate between proofing and kneading and instead summarizes this under the term "dough preparation". It is not clear how long the fermentation times are in the gluten-free program, for example.
The delay of up to 15 hours can be very useful, for example if the bread needs to be ready at nine o'clock sharp on a Sunday morning. The chassis is solid and has a wipeable control panel. A sheet of stickers is included so that you can label the programs in your own language.
Unfortunately, the Moulinex Flower Delight also has no power switch. It only consumes 0.4 watts in standby, but the display turns off completely so that you don't notice the standby. The view is also difficult because the LC display is not illuminated. The 1,000 gram fixation in the gluten-free programs and the lack of a viewing window are also disadvantageous.
Good value for money: Rommelsbacher BA 550
Good value for money
Rommelsbacher BA 550
For little money, the compact model has a nut dispenser, a gluten-free program and a delayed start for warm bread for breakfast.
$93.99
€79.94
€84.85
€90.94
€94.89
Warm bread suitable for breakfast can be obtained with the Rommelsbacher BA 550: Thanks to the start delay, a maximum delay of 13 hours can be set. This applies to the time of completion. So if you want to have breakfast in 10 hours, you set a delay of 10 hours. If it takes a little longer, the bread maker goes into keep-warm mode for an hour.
The BA 550 is particularly compact: it is 21 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters deep. A total of 13 programs including gluten-free and an individual program are available. The latter is a bit tedious to set up, but practical if you want to set baking and proofing times for specific baked goods. However, the Rommelsbacher is not suitable for real sourdough, since the adjustable fermentation time is a maximum of three hours.
The Rommelsbacher BA 550.
A lot of flour gets caught in the cracks and cannot be wiped off.
The whole grain mixed bread remained pale.
The white bread with 500 grams of yeast flour was already too much.
The nut dispenser.
The stirring hook turns jerkily.
The bayonet power transmission to the dough hook.
The accessories also include a recipe book.
There is also a gluten-free program here with a slightly longer preheating time and three browning levels. However, the power is low at 550 watts, so the mixed wheat bread remained a bit pale in the test. A crust and browning cannot be seen on wholemeal rye bread either. This model can only make bread between 700 and 900 grams. However, light bread in particular sometimes rises a lot, with white bread with 500 grams of flour, the dough already pressed against the lid.
The model has a nut dispenser that can be used to add dry ingredients such as herbs or nuts to the bread. I like the instructions: There are tips against unsatisfactory results and a detailed cycle table for all programs, in which the baking and proofing times can be read.
The Rommelsbacher BA 550 also does not have a power switch, the device requires 0.65 watts in standby. The display turns off the lighting, but not itself. Another disadvantage is that the power supply hums subtly and cleaning is difficult due to numerous transitions, edges and open keys. In addition, the supplied measuring cup is difficult to read.
With sourdough hook: Panasonic SD-ZB2512
With sourdough hook
Panasonic SD-ZB2512
A crazy number of programs and possibilities thanks to the special sourdough hook, nut and yeast dispenser and more.
€179.99
€194.00
€174.89
€175.99
€175.99
Bought by 30 readers
Panasonic has come up with something for sourdough with the SD-ZB2512. A hook for sourdough is included, along with a recipe. Interesting for all sourdough fans, but this machine also offers many great additional functions.
There are e.g. B. a raisin or nut dispenser, hereby dry ingredients are thrown from the device into the dough at exactly the right time during kneading.
The Panasonic also offers a yeast spreader, which, like the nut dispenser, distributes yeast in the dough. This works with dry yeast, but also with yeast that has been soaked in water.
A guide provides information on how to make sourdough, from the pre-dough to the finished bread. The manufacturer has included two measuring cups for the pre-dough. A special hook for sourdough can also be found in the accessories. This works well, but the flour at the top edge still has to be stirred into the dough by hand, but that was the case with all devices.
The machine planned 13 hours for the fermentation time of the sourdough, only then does the baking start. This is also necessary for the loaf to rise. The crust of our finished sourdough bread was fine, as was the shape – it had only caved in about an inch – but the bread was a bit too pale for us.
The Panasonic offers even more programs, a total of 33. These include 18 pure bread baking programs. That's a lot and can quickly become overwhelming. The menu is still clear, even if you really have to press the button 30 times for program number 30.
The program table provides information about what the programs do and for how long. The degree of browning and the size of the bread can also be controlled via the programs. In the test, all breads were baked with the greatest degree of browning.
The handbook provides information on types of flour, the ingredients and also on whole foods. The Panasonic is therefore ideal for anyone who wants to bake with wholemeal flour.
There is a quick program for simple yeast breads, otherwise a time delay of 30 minutes has been built in, in which the temperature of the ingredients is adjusted. So it makes no difference whether the ingredients come from the fridge. However, this is not suitable for anyone who needs to go fast.
This machine also offers a solution for power failures. If the power failure is only brief, the device simply picks up where it left off.
We are also impressed by the materials, plastic and aluminum make a robust and high-quality impression. The lid's hinge also seems solid.
A diamond-fluorine non-stick coating ensures that the bread is easily removed from the mold after baking, so there is no need to grease it. The kneading hook has some play and can be loosened more easily when baking is over. Normally you should remove it anyway after kneading, that saves trouble and so you don't get holey bread.
Panasonic SD-ZB2512.
Control panel and buttons.
Coated baking pan.
Double lid.
Nut dispenser.
Nut dispenser and yeast distributor from below.
Sourdough beaker and sourdough kneader (fork shape).
Detailed instructions.
We are particularly impressed by the sourdough function, which other devices are not so good at. It is easy to use and the workmanship is high quality. It is therefore the best choice for anyone who likes to eat sourdough bread or is looking for a large selection of programmes.
What else is there?
Touch keys, illuminated display, good workmanship - ease of use is the focus of the Morphy Richards. The display tells you how much time is left and how the process is going. With its size, it shouldn't fit in every kitchen, but only 900 grams fit in the machine. Thanks to interior lighting, you can always keep an eye on them. There are even 19 programs here, and there is also room for your own recipes with "Homemade 1+2" - two of your own recipes can be programmed in this way. There is also a practical nut dispenser and five degrees of browning should satisfy almost everyone. During operation, this bread maker is a bit louder and the accessories are not that lavish either, but the ease of use is particularly pleasing
The Panasonic SD-ZP2000WXE Croustina offers a smaller variety of programs, no sourdough program and no nut dispenser. Despite the name "Croustina", the test did not produce a usable crust, the loaf had a cavity and was also not fully baked, despite the maximum degree of browning. With a baking mix for normal yeast bread, on the other hand, the result was very good. Plus points are the smooth coating of the baking pan, the detailed manual and the low standby power consumption of 0.36 watts. In the area of the hinges, the workmanship isn't quite as good as on the Panasonic SD-ZB2512.
The Tefal Pain Dore PF2101 is knitted in a similar way to the Moulinex Flower Delight: Thanks to the relatively high performance, the machine achieves just over 200 degrees, so that wholemeal rye bread is beautifully browned and crusted. A 15-hour delay is also available. This model also does not offer a program for sourdough, but you can definitely bake such bread in terms of temperature. Disadvantages are the brief instructions for use and the missing viewing window.
The simple Medion Micromaxx MD 14752 is a rock-solid vending machine with a neat construction and a wipeable control panel. An exemplary crust is obtained with the standard yeast mixtures. The programs cover the basics, and there is also a program for pasta dough. Only breads weighing 1,000 grams can be baked here.
The smallest bread maker in the test field is the WMF Kult X: Despite its small size, it shines with baking chamber lighting, a stainless steel look and very good workmanship. Beyond that, however, the model has very little to offer: When kneading, a loud whirring is annoying, the bread baking mixture is not ideal and the loaves of bread are quite small at 750 grams.
Worth knowing about bread and bread makers
Baking bread also works in the oven, but the dough first has to be kneaded in the food processor. This is easier with a machine in which all the processes can take place.
The machines can also only generate very low or medium temperatures and are therefore ideal for the rising phase of the dough.
The degree of browning, how big the bread should be and the type of dough or bread must be set, otherwise there are ready-made programs for most worries that will do the rest on their own.
If you don't want to bake the bread immediately, simply prepare everything and then set the timer, which works with a target time by which the bread should be ready.
You can even use the mold for weighing, just place it on a scale and add the ingredients, saving time cleaning up. And you can also save money with ready-made baking mixes, these are available for just one euro and you get 750 grams of bread with them, much cheaper than at the bakery.
Nothing can stick when baking, thanks to Teflon or ceramic as a coating in the mold. The bread comes off so easily. At most, the holes in the bread could disturb. These arise because the machines also have integrated kneading hooks and they have to be attached somewhere.
Most vending machines offer much more than just bread, some can also make jam and make paste or pizza dough.
The dough hook does not have a coating that is as practical as the mold, which makes it easier for the dough to stick here. This can be remedied by some butter or oil that has been rubbed into the hooks beforehand.
Baking can take a few hours, this is because the dough has a long resting and rising phase, but this also makes for delicious breads. You don't have to worry about that with a vending machine, it does everything by itself.
You can't set the temperature here yourself and you can't see it either, that's because the machine regulates it itself. You only specify the degree of browning, everything else runs automatically.
The machines are particularly suitable for ready mixes. If you put the ingredients together yourself, you have to be very precise with the quantities, otherwise the dough will quickly have the wrong consistency and, unlike kneading by hand, you won't always notice it.
The timer is only suitable for breads that are not prepared with perishable foods such as milk, wholemeal flour can become lumpy during the waiting time and is not suitable here either.
Therefore, it is important to set some criteria before making a purchase. What is the maximum size of the bread that you want to bake? Because not every machine can bake large loaves of bread, a maximum of 1800 grams was possible with our test devices.
Double kneaders and, of course, a large baking pan are particularly suitable for large amounts of dough.
Many programs offer plenty of choice for those who don't want just any bread. It is therefore important that the display is easy to read and that the menu is easy to use.
And from the update 03/2019. Depending on the size of the kitchen, you should also consider whether a smaller appliance is sufficient, because baking machines for larger amounts of bread also take up a lot of space.
The machines are also heavy, they can weigh up to ten kilograms, so you should think about where the machine is going to be and then leave it there.
750 next to 1500 grams.
Warning, hot!
Tip: Coat the dough hook and shaft with oil or butter.
The dough hook is removed with the small stick.
Always the same shape and holes in the bottom.
The browning is adjustable.
Due to the coating, the baking molds are not suitable for the dishwasher and must be cleaned manually. A steel sponge is also unsuitable, as are too harsh detergents. After cleaning, the mold should be rubbed with a little oil – sunflower or rapeseed oil.
You can buy individual components such as kneading hooks, there is no maintenance here. A repair can also be expensive, the price of the device is usually not high enough for this, it is better to buy a replacement here.
This is how we tested
We looked at machines that can bake between 900 and 1800 grams of bread, with one exception that only manages 750 grams. The prices were between a little over fifty and 230 euros.
Update 03/2019 (with devices from Panasonic, Clatronic, Unold and Gastroback.
All bread makers in the test.
From 750 to 1800 grams bread size.
Some with lots of accessories.
They all had to bake a yeast and a sourdough bread.
Different baking molds.
The accessories.
In order to have the same conditions on all devices, we baked with mixes for wholemeal bread and tried our hand at sourdough. In addition, of course, the processing quality was assessed and tested to see how well the machines can be cleaned after use.
We also took a close look at the functions and operation. Some machines offer practical interior lighting, many devices have a memory function. We also checked whether there is a timer and a keep-warm function and, above all, how easy it is to read and how large the display is.
The menu navigation should be simple and the device should not be too loud during operation. The energy consumption should remain as low as possible, especially in standby mode.
The vending machines all had to bake whole grain breads. For this we used 250 grams of flour and 175 milliliters of water with one dough hook, and 500 grams of flour and 350 milliliters of water with two hooks.
Everyone did well or very well with the yeast baking mix.
We got a dry, light, moderately airy bread.
Update 03/2019 Mixed bread test: Bread slices in comparison.
Baking mix: We chose wholemeal bread.
The goal is small breads made from 250 grams of flour and 175 grams of water.
Always the liquid first.
The filling can also be done in the oven.
Most machines have given good results here.
Moulinex: whole grain yeast.
The holes are always there.
Thick crust, not sunken.
Morphy Richards: Whole Grain Yeast.
Klarstein: whole grain yeast.
TZS First austria - yeast wholemeal bread (wheat).
TZS: whole grain yeast.
Unold: Whole grain yeast.
Unold: Whole grain yeast.
WMF: whole grain yeast.
Severin: whole grain yeast.
Severin: whole grain yeast.
Medion: whole grain yeast.
Medion: whole grain yeast.
Update 03/2019 Mixed bread test: Breads in comparison.
Mixed bread test: Panasonic SD-ZB2512.
Mixed bread test: Gastroback 42823.
Mixed bread test: Unold 550 W.
Test mixed bread: Panasonic Croustina.
Mixed bread test: Clatronic BBA 3505.
Sourdough, on the other hand, was a challenge for everyone. Only a few devices offer their own program for this, because the dough has to rest for a long time and then be baked at a sufficiently high temperature.
Almost all of them fail the sourdough test.
No machine has a sourdough program with rest periods of six to eight hours.
All breads from the sourdough test.
The same applies to sourdough: First the liquid.
Moulinex sourdough bread.
Update 03/2019 test sourdough.
All breads in comparison.
You can see the more or less sunken top side and the color that is usually too pale.
Where there was no program, we kneaded and baked separately, and there were rest and rising phases. But that didn't work well.
Moulinex.
WMF.
Unold.
TZS First Austria.
Severin.
Morphy Richard.
Medium.
Clear stone.
Test sourdough: Unold 550 W.
Test sourdough: Clatronic BBA 3505.
Test sourdough: Panasonic Croustina.
Test sourdough: Panasonic SD-ZB2512.
Test sourdough: Gastroback 42823.
If the appliance is not designed for sourdough breads, they will quickly become too wet or not through.
Test sourdough: Flour sticks to the edge of the pot.
Moulinex: kneading process.
WMF: kneading process.
Unold: kneading process.
TZS: kneading process.
Severin: kneading process.
Morphy Richard: kneading process.
Medion: kneading process.
Klarstein: kneading process.
