The Rise of Bread Machines

There are still nine shopping days left until National Bread Machine Baking Month comes to a close. If you missed the first 22 days of the celebration, don’t be ashamed. The holidays winding down and the new year gearing up were worthy distractions.

But, yes, the Bread Machine Industry Assn. has been promoting its inaugural bread machine month to bring attention to the growing popularity of the product. It’s debatable whether bread machines deserve a month of honor, but there is little argument that they are high on many shopping lists these days.

According to the bread machine industry, one out of every five households in America has a bread machine, and polls conducted by Good Housekeeping and Better Homes & Gardens magazines bear that out.

If you are new to the bread machine market, it would be a good idea to get acquainted with the options available before entering a store. Going in unprepared leaves you more vulnerable to the lure of higher-end machines with butter- or dessert-making technology. These abilities are wonderful--just make sure you are going to use them before putting out the extra money.

A scan of bread machines at local stores will give you an idea of the leading brands: Black & Decker, Regal Ware, Breadman (by Salton Maxim Housewares), Toastmaster, Magic Chef, Sunbeam, Oster, Welbilt and Zojirushi.

These and other manufacturers offer a variety of bread machines, ranging in price from about $65 to more than $200.

Several primary characteristics separate one model from another.

The number and variety of bread and dough styles (or cycles) a machine offers is one of the more critical factors. Most are capable of making white, wheat, French and sweet bread, but many offer additional options. Some are capable of making desserts, butters, pie fillings, preserves, cakes, pudding and pizza.

Bread machines generally come in 1- to 2 1/2-pound versions. The weight is not the weight of the bread, but rather translates to pan capacity--1 pound equals about eight slices, 2 pounds about 16 slices. The machines may also offer a fast bake ability that can whip out a loaf in one to three hours and a delay program that will allow bread to be programmed up to 18 hours in advance.

Other variations include: crust color control (most offer light, medium and dark), a window for viewing the bread, a beeper that signals when to add fruit or nuts, pan shape (cylinder, rectangle, square), power protection, machine size and shape, and warranty.

Bread machines can be found at mass discount chain stores, department stores, appliance stores and other retail shops. We checked Wal-Mart and Best Buy in Oxnard and Macy’s at the Buenaventura Mall to get an idea of what is available. (At all three stores, next to the bread machines, we also found bread mix and bread-making cookbooks.)

Wal-Mart’s selection included three products for $69.84, including a Magic Chef model with eight cycles (including cake and sourdough settings) and a 13-hour delay programmer; a Regal Kitchen Pro with eight cycles and a 13-hour delay; and a Sunbeam machine with a 12-hour delay, a viewing window and a variety of cycles.

A Toastmaster Bread Box model, with seven cycles and a 13-hour delay, was priced at $58.84.

At Best Buy, the Toastmaster Bread Box was priced at $79.99. Best Buy also had an Oster brand with eight cycles, a rapid bake capability of three hours, a 13-hour delay, a signal for adding fruits and nuts, and a jelly and jam setting for $89.99.

A Toastmaster Corner Bakery model (a bread and dessert maker) with 16 cycles (including dill, jalapeno and onion-rye bread), a two-hour instant bake, a 13-hour delay, a bread warmer, a butter cycle, a signal for adding ingredients and the ability to make cakes, puddings and pie fillings, was priced at $99.99.

Macy’s last week had a sale on a variety of bread machines regularly selling for $120 to $200, all marked down to $69.99.

The selection included a West Bend brand with five settings and a one-hour quick bake option; a Regal Kitchen Pro; a Breadman Plus, with 18-hour delay, a long list of cycle combinations (including cakes, jams jellies, pizza and pasta), a fruit and nut signal, and a power backup; and a Welbilt brand (officially on sale as of Jan. 30, but it can be held for the sale price if purchased in advance) with a 12-hour delay, a fruit and nut beeper, and the ability to make bagels, croissants and preserves.

At the high end of the product line, Macy’s was selling a Zojirushi Home Bakery model for $250. It makes rolls, croissants, jams and cakes; offers a family menu planning option; and has an automatic shut-off when the lid is open.