These are the best bread makers to take your sourdough to the next level
Is there anything better in life than bread? Seriously. From a warm crumpet lathered in butter and marmite on a rainy Sunday in bed, to the millennial’s go-to brunch option of avocado and poached eggs on toast, bread is the equivalent of a really good, comforting hug. But at a time where hugs have been replaced by elbow bumps for the foreseeable future, bread has never tasted more wholesome.
Consuming bread has always been high on the British agenda. We are a nation that invented the scone (a highly underrated type of bread if you ask us) and toast is our equivalent of the French eating croissants everyday for breakfast. Basically, it’s our diet staple.
Aside from eating it, we oddly enjoy watching other people make and eat bread too. Case in point: bread week on The Great British Bake Off . Sure, biscuit week and pastry week are great, but it’s bread week that has racing to the TV to watch it in real time - and taking pitta, bagels and baguettes with us for snacks.
However, it was during lockdown that our love affair with dough reached sticky new heights. In an unexpected turn of events, we became a nation of star bakers. Initially banana bread ascended to Instagram fame with a myriad of chocolatey (yes), nutty (no) variations taking to the grid, but it wasn’t long before homemade sourdough became the bake du jour of long lockdown days.
The arrival of our new culinary skills has simultaneously marked the end of our long term relationship with Gail’s incredible (and incredibly expensive) artisan sourdough. With a few extra pennies in the bank each week, why not invest in your new bread baking hobby? From Morphy Richards Fastbakethat'll ready your dough in under an hour, to Sage's custom loaf machine with 60 settings, treat yourself to a bread maker that will take your loaf to the next level.
But what to buy? There are SO MANY options out there and as a recent graduate from the lockdown school of bread making, it can be a minefield knowing what to invest in, particularly because these techy gadgets don’t often come cheap.
Here, GLAMOUR’s edit of the best bread makers of 2020 that promise the best sourdough of your life.
Russell Hobbs 23620 Compact Fast Breadmaker, £64.99, Amazon
For the impatient bakers who want to make their dough as fast as they eat it, Russell Hobbs fast bake bread maker will tick all your boxes. With 12 functions including gluten-free, wholewheat and cake, this compact bread maker enables you to enjoy the fruits of your labour in 55 minutes. Just remember to save us a slice.
Morphy Richards Fastbake 48280 Bread Maker, £65, AO
If you’ve got a last minute visit from friends or an impromptu picnic to attend, this whizzy bread maker will rustle up a drool worthy loaf in under an hour. Just like the Homebake 502001 below, this Morphy Richards machine offers all the same functions but in half the time.
Panasonic SD-2511WXC Fully Automated Breadmaker with Nut Dispenser, £159.99, Amazon
There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread and with Panasonic’s nut dispenser, you can get more creative than ever before. From pecan scones, to raisin and cinnamon soda bread, whip up a delicious dough of your choice with Panasonic’s automated bread maker.
Lakeland Compact 1lb Daily Loaf Bread Maker, £69.99, Amazon
Wake up to the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread everyday with this compact kit from Lakeland. At a competitive £69.99, and smaller than your average machine, this reliable and user friendly bread maker won’t ruin the aesthetics of your Pinterest-worthy kitchen. Phew.
Morphy Richards Homebake 502001 Bread Maker, £95, AO
Coming in under £100 with simple, easy-to-use functions, this purse friendly option from Morphy Richards is perfect for beginner bread makers. It has 14 programmes, including gluten free, and 5 crust settings. Plus, it has a maximum loaf size of 907g meaning you’ve got breakfast, lunch and dinner sorted for a week. You’re welcome.
Sage The Custom Loaf Bread Maker, £249.95, John Lewis
Master bread makers, this ones for you. With over 60 settings including 4 crust settings and a timer so you can select when you want the bread to be ready, Sage’s custom loaf bread maker is one of the most advanced gadgets on the market. Our favourite part? You can add fruit, nuts and jam to the machine to create a doughy masterpiece like no other.
Panasonic SD-ZX2522KXC Breadmaker, £239.99, Argos
You’re probably wondering whether it’s worth spending over £200 on a bread maker. How good can it be, right? Well, pretty damn fantastic it turns out. Aside from looking incredibly slick with flat glass touch controls, Panasonic’s machine boasts 37 programmes including french bread, gluten free, rye bread, pizza base, pasta and brioche. In other words, it’s a miracle worker.
