Panasonic SD-B2510 Automatic Breadmaker review: is this the best Panasonic bread maker?

Price on writing: £125 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread filling the house, but making loaves from scratch every week isn’t always realistic for busy families. That’s where a bread maker comes into its own, offering homemade bread with far less time, effort and mess than traditional baking.

To find the best bread maker for family kitchens, we tested a range of models - from budget-friendly options to premium machines packed with features - and gathered feedback from Mumsnet users who’ve used them regularly at home.

One of those testers was Jules, a mum of two and keen home cook who’s been using the Panasonic SD-B2510 every other day for more than six months. From multigrain loaves to French bread and pizza dough, the machine quickly became part of her family’s routine.

It’s easy to see why Panasonic dominates the bread maker market. The SD-B2510 combines a sleek, sturdy design with 21 genuinely useful programmes, delivering consistently impressive results with minimal effort. Even beginners will find it approachable thanks to the clear instructions, recipe booklet and intuitive controls - simply add your ingredients, select a programme and press start.

The machine also offers plenty of versatility, with settings for different loaf sizes, crust colours and gluten-free baking, alongside specialist dough and jam programmes. Most importantly, the finished loaves are consistently well-risen, evenly baked and full of flavour.

While it’s undeniably more expensive than some entry-level bread makers, the build quality and long-term reliability help justify the higher price tag. After previously owning cheaper machines that lasted only a year or two, Jules found the Panasonic noticeably sturdier and better made.

Overall, the Panasonic SD-B2510 is an excellent all-round bread maker that combines ease of use, reliable performance and high-quality results. For households that bake regularly, it’s an investment that quickly earns its place on the kitchen worktop.

Plus, for more kitchen gadgets to make family life and mealtimes easier, we've also rounded up the best air fryer and best slow cooker according to Mumsnet users.

How we tested

We first asked Mumsnet users the bread maker models they have tried, tested and loved, recruiting our Insight panel to give their opinions and feedback on everything from ease of use and cleaning, versatility, design, and how tasty the results from each bread maker were.

Once we had collated these results, we consulted with our Mumsnet tester, Jules, to get her in-depth insights into how she found the SD-B2510 after six months of regular use. Through using real-life, independent Mumsnet users for feedback, we ensure we get honest, unbiased opinions from people just like you.

For more kitchen products suggested by Mumsnetters, don't miss our guides to the best recipe boxes and top sandwich toasters.

Panasonic SD-B2510 summary: what is it?

The SD-B2510 is a highly-rated machine from bread maker connoisseurs Panasonic. It boasts an impressive 21 programmes, including four gluten-free options, so you can choose the loaf to suit your taste and dietary requirements. It also features settings for dough, jam and chutney, too.

At £125, it doesn't come cheap, but it's less expensive than some other Panasonic models, and features high-tech features like dual sensors, which adjust the timing according to the temperature for ideal results. You can also choose three loaf sizes and crust browning levels for extra versatility.

Related: Discover the best cookbooks, according to Mumsnet users

How easy is the Panasonic SD-B2510 to use?

To find out if this bread maker is really worth the dough <ahem>, we enlisted the help of Mumsnetter Jules to give us an in-depth review of this bread maker, because if anyone can reliably report on how effective a kitchen gadget is long-term, it's someone who has been using it regularly for many months.

Jules reported that, on first impressions, it looked "solid" and "well made", and found that the instructions were straightforward so she could get started quickly. She also rated the set up as very easy.

However, the size of the machine may not suit everyone: "It is quite large, but ours pushes into a corner on the kitchen worktop. It's quite tall but easily fits under the kitchen cupboards. It's used every other day so it's worth the space." Our tester also found the design looked "sleek and modern", which is good news if you're intending to leave your machine out, rather than tucked away in your cupboards next to your food processor and selection of Tupperware.

One thing to note, however, is that it doesn't have a viewing window to see how your bread is doing, but you may consider this to be a nice-to-have feature, rather than an essential.

After several months of rigorous use, Jules found it was "extremely easy to use" thanks to the clear settings menu and minimal prep work: "The control panel is on the top of the machine. The recipes all have a number, and then you use the arrows to get to the right setting. There's a list on the side of the panel, and all the recipes in the instruction book have a menu number. Then, depending on recipe, you select size and crust, and timer (this one is great for putting the machine on at night and waking up to the smell of fresh warm bread), and then press the start button.

"I put the bread pan on my digital scales and add in all the ingredients according to the recipe, then put the pan in the machine, set the menu and press start - it takes a couple of minutes. It's only flour and butter which get weighed, everything else is in volume, a teaspoon or tablespoon measure, and a marked cup is included for those."

The bread maker runs fairly quietly, too, and while it is audible, it's not too noisy or disruptive.

Related: The best pressure cooker for speedy family meals

Is the bread consistently good?

Now onto the best part: those all-important results. When you're investing in a new kitchen gadget, be it anything from a multi-cooker to a deep fat fryer, you want to be sure you're splashing out on something that produces the results you want, and it's no different with a bread maker.

Jules was very impressed with the loaves the SD-B2510 produced, finding the bread rises evenly and was the texture and colour expected from the selected setting.

"I love the French bread, this is a white, slightly chewy bread. The recipe has changed [from the previous Panasonic recipe] - I add a teaspoon of butter as per the old recipe. Apart from that, we use the basic wholewheat programme with a variety of different mixed grain flours. They always turn out delicious." The pizza dough it produces is also a highlight.

After baking, the clean up is fairly easy, although the pan isn't dishwasher safe, so you will need to wash it by hand.

Related: The best Instant Pot multi-cookers, as recommended by Mumsnet users

Final verdict: is this the bread maker for you?

The Panasonic SD-B2510 is a reliable, easy-to-use bread maker that consistently produces excellent homemade loaves with minimal effort. Its wide programme range, intuitive controls and strong build quality make it particularly well suited to regular family use, while the consistently good baking results help justify the premium price.

Although it takes up a fair amount of worktop space and lacks a fruit and nut dispenser, its versatility, durability and dependable performance make it one of the best all-round bread makers for busy households.

Related: Best air fryers for family kitchens