Nothing beats the aroma of fresh bread baking in the oven. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to make fresh bread on a daily basis. A basic loaf of bread might take many hours to make due to kneading, rising time, and baking.
The good news is that bread machines have significantly improved in recent years; several bread machines on the market now produce loaves that are practically indistinguishable from hand-kneaded and shaped bread.
Aside from better technology, budget-conscious bakers will be relieved to discover that there are a few bread machines available today that work quite well while being relatively cheaply priced.
I’d like to introduce you to some of my favorites. Each of them works well and costs a fraction of the price of a standard bread maker. I’ll begin with my fourth option and work my way up to my top pick for the finest overall budget bread machine.
Contents
- #4 Homgeek Home Bakery Bread Machine
- #3 Hamilton Beach Programmable Bread Machine, 2-Pound Bread Maker with Gluten-Free Setting
- #2 Sunbeam 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker 5891
- #1 Oster 2-Pound Expressbake Bread Machine with 13-Hour Delay Timer (Top Pick)
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
- Will it be cheaper to make your own bread with a bread machine?
- What is the best bread maker for beginners?
- What is the difference between a bread maker and a bread machine?
- Is it worth getting a bread maker?
- What is one drawback of using a bread machine?
- Is it better to use bread flour in a bread machine?
- Is it cheaper to use a bread maker or an oven?
- How long does homemade bread last?
- Is homemade bread healthier than store-bought?
- What happens if you use regular flour in a bread machine?
#4 Homgeek Home Bakery Bread Machine
This is one of the newest devices on the bread maker market, and it often goes unnoticed, failing to get the attention it deserves. Although Homgeek is not as well-known as many of the other businesses on my list, they have built an outstanding bread maker at a very low price, and it comes with a 2-year guarantee.
This bread machine has a customizable timer, which is one of its best features. You may schedule it up to 15 hours ahead of time. This means you may go to bed at night and wake up to a warm loaf ready for breakfast, or you can schedule it before leaving for work in the morning and return home to freshly cooked bread!
While this programmability is typical in more costly bread machines, it is uncommon at this price range, and when it does occur, it generally provides less than the generous 15 hours.
Another advantage of this bread maker is its versatility. It contains simple programs for many types of breads, as well as cakes, jams, yogurt, and other delicacies.
#3 Hamilton Beach Programmable Bread Machine, 2-Pound Bread Maker with Gluten-Free Setting
This is a terrific low-cost bread maker that does a good job on a range of breads, but I wanted to spotlight it because of its greater performance with gluten-free bread recipes. This is an excellent, low-cost bread maker for folks who are gluten-intolerant.
As you may know, gluten-free bread can be rather expensive at the grocery store, and sadly, many bread machines were not designed with gluten-free baking in mind. When using a bread machine, gluten-free loaves sometimes turn out hard and unevenly cooked.
This computer, on the other hand, absolutely excels in this arena. Gluten-free breads bake up soft and moist, with even cooking throughout the loaf.
This has a gluten-free option, but with a little investigation, you’ll discover that various gluten-free dishes may also be prepared using some of the other settings.
With the abundance of gluten-free recipes available online, you may play around with this machine to see which settings work best with each dish.
I’d suggest beginning with a simple dish and the gluten-free option to see how it goes, then branching out with various recipes and settings.
#2 Sunbeam 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker 5891
This is the runner-up for the best cheap bread maker in my opinion. It’s an excellent machine that works well with a broad range of breads and is reasonably priced.
Despite being a fraction of the price, it boasts many of the same functions as more costly bread makers. It may be preset up to 13 hours ahead of time, has 12 distinct settings, and features an easy-to-read LCD display.
Those unfamiliar to the world of bread machines will appreciate how user-friendly and simple this device is. The handbook is quite easy and clear, and with a little experimenting, you should be able to figure out what works best for you.
While this is a fantastic bread maker that will gratify many home bakers, the bread pan does not always last as long as we would like.
Unfortunately, the pan’s nonstick coating seems to peel with time, and locating a new pan might be difficult. It’s a fantastic bread machine in so many ways, but I believe it’s vital to mention this flaw since it impacts the machine’s lifetime.
#1 Oster 2-Pound Expressbake Bread Machine with 13-Hour Delay Timer (Top Pick)
We’ve arrived to my top suggestion for the finest overall budget bread maker. Oster’s product absolutely shines in a number of ways. It is simple to operate, programmed, bakes large 2-pound loaves, and is fast and simple to clean.
Another key element is that it stands up to repeated use, with many of us finding that it works well for years. When shopping for a low-cost bread maker, durability like this is very crucial.
A low-cost gadget that must be changed every six months ends up being fairly costly in the long term. This type combines a low price with proven durability.
This machine’s well-known Expressbake mode is a very appealing feature. This cycle allows you to pour your ingredients in the pan, choose the Expressbake option, and have a fresh warm loaf of bread ready in under an hour.
Of course, not all recipes lend themselves to being baked in this manner, but there are a number of breads that will come out wonderfully. This is especially useful when you forget to start your bread in the morning or make a last-minute choice on what to cook for supper.
Other great features of this model include a programmable timer that can be set up to 13 hours in advance, 12 settings for different types of breads and crust texture preferences, and an alert feature that beeps when it’s time to add ingredients like raisins, nuts, and seeds.
This machine makes a lovely loaf with a great, uniform shape and a golden crust.
As with any bread machine, you must follow the directions for the sequence in which the ingredients are put to the pan. If you follow the instructions, though, you should find that those annoying bread failswhen you wind up with a giant hole in the center of your bread, or the whole loaf turns out hard and inedibleare few and few between.
Similarly, this machine excels at a broad variety of recipes, producing light and fluffy loaves of white bread as effortlessly as it does heartier, whole grain breads that so many of us prefer.
Final Thoughts
Bread machines are fantastic time savers that may also save you money in the long run. If you purchase your basic components in bulk (flour, yeast, sugar, and so on), you can often create your own wonderful bread for less than half the price of a comparable loaf at the grocery store.
These savings really pile up over time, so it is critical to invest in a budget bread machine that will not only perform well, but will also last. Hopefully, these suggestions have made it a little simpler.
FAQs
Will it be cheaper to make your own bread with a bread machine?
Making bread from a machine is somewhat less expensive than purchasing it, as long as you consume enough bread to offset the cost of the gadget. I consider this as a wise buy for households who go through bread rapidly, such as big families or residences with several roommates.
What is the best bread maker for beginners?
Digital Bread Maker by Hamilton Beach
If you’re new to creating bread at home, Hamilton Beach’s selection is the finest bread maker. From simple white and gluten-free bread to French loaves and cinnamon buns, this gadget can produce it all. It’s also less costly than many of the other solutions on our list.
What is the difference between a bread maker and a bread machine?
According to some, the distinction between a bread machine and a bread maker is because a bread maker typically has just one function: bake bread. A bread machine, on the other hand, often includes extra capabilities, such as creating pizza dough or jam. In reality, these words are interchangeable.
Is it worth getting a bread maker?
If you need to create a lot of loaves or want the added convenience, you should invest in a bread machine. Perhaps you are bored of preparing bread by hand, have a hectic schedule, or suffer from a physical impairment. It might be a money problem, or you may be new to bread making.
What is one drawback of using a bread machine?
Cons of Using a Bread Machine
The initial cost of a bread machine. Because retail breads sometimes include chemical preservatives, homemade bread generally gets stale sooner. Inability to manufacture huge bread loaves. Many bread makers have a maximum bread loaf capacity of 2 pounds.
Is it better to use bread flour in a bread machine?
Use bread flour for the finest results. “Bread machine bread flour” and bread flour are the same thing; both contain more gluten than all-purpose flour.
Is it cheaper to use a bread maker or an oven?
When compared to baking in a conventional oven, using a bread machine saves both energy (and hence carbon emissions) and money.
How long does homemade bread last?
It should be kept sealed at room temperature or cooler to avoid mold. Room-temperature bread normally lasts 3-4 days if prepared and up to 7 days if purchased. Refrigerating both commercial and handmade bread may extend its shelf life by 3-5 days.
Is homemade bread healthier than store-bought?
However, most handmade breads are considered to be healthier than store-bought breads, which are sometimes rich in sugar and preservatives. One advantage of preparing your own bread is that you have complete control over the ingredients. Use whole wheat flour instead of white flour, for example, or add nutritious toppings like nuts and seeds.
What happens if you use regular flour in a bread machine?
Yes! Gluten level in all-purpose flour ranges from 9% to 12%, whereas gluten content in bread flour ranges from 10% to 13%. You may use all-purpose flour in the bread machine even if it lacks gluten. The worst that can happen is that your bread will not rise as much as it would if you used bread flour.