Which bread machine is best?

[flowwithit]

I would like to start making my own bread for family of 4 but I've heard some machines are better than others. Can you recommend some please.

It depends what kinds of bread you like!

I have a basic Morphy Richards one which isn't made any more, but it has been sturdy and reliable so I'd get Morphy Richards again if I needed a new one ever. My friend has one with a fruit&nut dispenser which is great - with my one you have to listen out for a beep that tells you it's the right time, open the lid and pour in the extras, but with hers it empies the extras from a separate pot at the right time. It's also possible to get ones where the stirring paddle retracts so that you don't have to retrieve it from the middle of your loaf - but where's the fun in that!

DP did loads of internet research before we bought ours and came to the conclusion that the only one worth buying is panasonic. i think ours is a 156, the one that drops the nuts in itelf is a 157, but they've both been superceded since, i think.

we've had ours for over four years and it's still going strong, producing delicious bread (cue it breaking tomorrow...). i would definitely buy the same one again when the (sad, expensive) time comes.

There's been a thread on here about breadmakers before and moreorless everyone felt that Panasonic breadmakers were the best available. I've had mine for about 3 months now (the one that allows seeds/nuts etc to be added automatically) and use it all the time. Every type of bread I've made has turned out really well, so much so that I've hardly bought a loaf since I've had it. The only downsides for me were that I had to re-organise my kitchen a bit to make space so that I could leave it out on a worktop and store all the different types of flour in one of my cupboards, and that I had to buy a decent bread knife.

Panasonic with nut dropper thingy here too. We bought it two months ago and love it. It's a Which? Best Buy.

Panasonic here too.

Panasonic here too

Had ours for years and have recently started using it regularly again after about 3 years and it still works brilliantly

Panasonic. Fab!

Panasonic all the way for me to

Great thanks all it seems Panasonic is the one to get. Can't wait!

I have my panasonic for nearly 8 years now. It's still going strong. I have the one with a nut dispenser.

Def a Panasonic, we've had our SD-255 for about 6 years now and it's great

I have managed to get a morphy Richards fast bake for free from someone who only used a couple of times so will try it tomorrow.

It says in instructions traditional dry yeast but I could only find fast dry yeast? I have bought that anyway and will try it and see if it works.

I originally had a Morphy Richards machine because I couldn't afford the Panasonic. It worked absolutely fine in the five years I had it, but the tins had to be replaced twice - one got dropped and buckled, the other bent out of shape with use - and it conked out completely in the end. I've now had the Panasonic for about six years with no problems and haven't had to replace anything.

PANASONIC! They make fantastic bread! I use it daily, we never buy shop bread anymore! Makes great pizza dough too...