Are Breadmakers Worth It?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s fair to say that many of us appreciate convenience in the kitchen. Thankfully, this is now easier to find than ever before with modern appliances, like combination microwaves, air fryers, and coffee machines, which are used daily in kitchens all over the world. However, with so many options available to us now, it can be difficult to know which appliances are worth owning. A great example of this is breadmakers, which are becoming increasingly popular in modern kitchens.
If you’re contemplating buying a breadmaker or have recently received one as a gift, this is the post for you. We’ll look at the practicalities, cost-effectiveness, and other benefits of owning a breadmaker, so you can make an informed decision.
What Is a Breadmaker?
A breadmaker is a handy kitchen appliance that allows you to make bread easily at home. It combines ingredients, kneads the dough, and then bakes the bread all within the same appliance.
These devices come in a range of sizes and allow users to choose from several preset programs, so it’s worth using a breadmaker comparison table to check which model meets your requirements.
Do Breadmakers Make Good Bread?
The quality of bread produced by a breadmaker will vary depending on the model and the recipe you use. However, it’s fair to say that millions of people around the world enjoy the taste and texture of homemade bread from these convenient kitchen appliances, which indicates a high level of quality. For example, it’s worth considering this detailed and positive Panasonic SD-B2510 breadmaker review from The Travel Hack, who uses it daily.
Are Breadmakers Cheap to Run?
Breadmakers are certainly cost-effective kitchen appliances. Of course, there is the initial investment to consider, but the cost of ingredients for making bread at home can be much lower than buying pre-made bread of a similar quality from a supermarket.
How Much Electricity Does a Breadmaker Use?
The electrical consumption of a breadmaker will depend on the device’s wattage and the duration of use, but they are largely considered to be energy-efficient appliances. As of January 2024, all our Panasonic breadmaker models consume around 500-550 watts of power – which puts us at the lowest end of the scale according to multiple resources suggesting breadmakers range around 500-1500 watts.
Do Breadmakers Save Money?
Whether a breadmaker will save you money depends on how often you use it. Again, you need to consider the initial cost of the appliance, but the cost of homemade bread in your breadmaker tends to be lower than buying a pre-made loaf or using your oven and an electric mixer. Therefore, if you use your breadmaker often, you can save money in the long term.
The Main Benefits of Owning a Breadmaker
We’ve established that breadmakers are fantastic appliances to own if you enjoy homemade bread. However, there are several other benefits of owning a breadmaker to consider:
Convenience
One of the best things about breadmakers is that they are so easy to use. This makes them a convenient addition to any kitchen because you simply need to add your chosen ingredients and can then select a preset program, which will then bake your bread to perfection.
However, if you do find yourself struggling, you can always refer to this guide on how to make your breadmaker bread less dense and heavy , which will help you to improve your creations.
Ingredient Control
When you use a breadmaker, you’re in complete control of what ingredients you include. Not only is this a great way to get creative and have fun with the bread you make, but it also allows those with dietary restrictions to leave out problematic ingredients. For example, breadmakers can easily help you to make delicious gluten-free bread.
Freshness and Taste
Breadmakers provide you with a fantastic opportunity to regularly enjoy the culinary delight of freshly baked bread - both in taste and smell. When you buy pre-made bread from a supermarket, you can sometimes find it is somewhat stale, even before it reaches its best-before date. This isn’t something you’ll need to worry about when using a breadmaker at home because every loaf can be baked on demand.
Versatility
Something that many people are unaware of is the fact that breadmakers are incredibly versatile. Of course, much of the marketing surrounding these appliances relates to baking bread, but you can also use them to produce cakes, pizza dough, and even jams. This makes the initial cost of the appliance even more impressive.
Less Mess
You might think that breadmakers are only targeted at people who buy pre-made bread from a supermarket. However, they’re also a great option for people who currently bake homemade bread by hand because the breadmaker takes over the messy jobs, such as working the dough. Therefore, there is a lot less cleaning up required when using a breadmaker.
Fun
Finding ways to have fun with your friends and family is always a good thing, and that’s exactly what a breadmaker offers. Whether you’re looking to bake cakes with your children, experiment with interesting bread recipes, or create some fresh pizza dough for visiting friends, breadmakers can do it all with ease.
