Panasonic SD253

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...I first came across the Panasonic bread maker at a friend’s house. I loved the taste of the bread she gave me for lunch and was determined to start saving for a bread maker of my very own. Before I finally decided to buy a Panasonic I did some research on the internet and was impressed both my the glowing reviews of the Panasonic sd-253 and by the fact it received the best rating of any bread maker by Which. I price checked and found John Lewis ...
...I would have liked Panasonic to have placed the controls and display window at the front of the machine. They are placed awkwardly at the side and I have to stand on tiptoe to read the display. I would also have liked the machine to have a viewing window so I could watch my bread through its stages. Having said that I see that Panasonic has just updated this model and the new version does have a viewing window and the controls are now at the front ... Read review

Advantages: Fresh bread when you want it, excellent user guide and recipes
Disadvantages: Small-ish loaves, funny hole in base of loaf from mixer blade, gets eaten too quick because it smells too nice!

The Panasonic SD-253 automatic breadmaker has been gracing the (relatively small) work surface in my kitchen for a little over 12 months now, and I think it speaks volumes that it hasn’t just been quietly put into a cupboard to gather dust like so many other kitchen “essentials” often are. *Looks and Use* The machine is large, white, and takes up a fair amount of work surface in my kitchen. But it also means that we get fresh ...
...from a local baker or a supermarket. It can be ready within a couple of hours, and if I were more organised I’d keep a stock (pre-sliced) in the freezer. The problem is that the smell is so enticing when you remove it from the pan, it tends to disappear rather too quickly for that! I know people who have had good results making bread in this using cheap plain flour from Lidl or similar, making the overall cost even lower, however this isn’t ... Read review

Advantages: You know what's in it, great for dinner parties
Disadvantages: Quite a big machine, bread tastes sweeter

...close to it, buy the Panasonic or you're wasting your money." I looked at the 'Panasonic' on the top shelf in the corner as she pointed unwaveringly. I'm not sure what struck me most about it, but I think it was the little white label underneath it that stated £99.99. I remember saying with a slight tremmor in my voice "but its a hundred quid, I only wanted one for..." She cut me dead. "Thats the one you want. If you're buying a breadmaker, buy the ...
...was still somewhat shaken and disturbed by the experience, in a slight daze, and also, of course, not wishing to cause offence to the lady, I dutifully picked up a Panasonic, and retired to the checkout, small tears seeping from the seems of my wallet, as my credit card wept. It was a good birthday. One thing I would say is you really need 3 sheets of wrapping paper for a Panasonic, the box is that big ! I managed to get away with 2 sheets by leaving ... Read review

Advantages: Fresh, healthy, good for allergy sufferers including Coeliacs, automatic nut dispenser, timer, rapid bake setting
Disadvantages: Makes bread just too good. Cost of ingredients. Size of machine

Panasonic SD253 is reliable and well made. I got mine having received recomendations from two colleagues, both of whom were using it to bake bread for family members with various allergies. ***Worried about allergies and health?*** You can have total control over what you put in your bread, so can reduce the sugar, reduce salt, don't have to use butter, can use gluten free flour for coeliacs, don't have to use dairy if you are lactose intolerant, ...
...really useful nut and raisin dispenser, so it automatically drops in nuts/seeds/raisins etc without you having to remember to put them in mid program as you have to with many other bread makers. ***Wake up to fresh bread*** It has an automatic timer, so you can bung all the ingredients in before you go to bed and it will start during the night so that you wake up to the smell and taste of fresh baked bread. ***Fresh bread in a hurry*** There ... Read review

Advantages: Easy to clean, wide range of bread and cake recipes, small footprint
Disadvantages: slightly noisy

...recipes to volumes. The Panasonic has three loaf-size options for many recipes M, L and XL (varying in height only, and approximately corresponding to the range of sizes found in a supermarket) and many baking options including whole wheat (5 hours), rye (3.5 hours) basic white and brown loaves (4 hours), sandwich (crustless, 5 hours), French (6 hours) and Italian (4.5 hours) gluten-free (2 hours) and also a dough only setting so you can cook rolls ...
...pizza mode. There are quick loaf modes too, which can be finished in under 2 hour buts require slightly different recipes and are perhaps less consistent in quality. The results are good. Not perhaps the best bread I have ever eaten, but certainly the freshest. It really doesn't cut easily straight from the machine unless you give it a chance to cool down a little, which can be frustrating. The basic white or brown loaves are the easiest, but you ... Read review