Panasonic SD 255

Advantages: Variety of breads it can make, simple instructions, lovely taste, well made machine, idiot proof
Disadvantages: A little bulky, can't slice bread

...much space. I purchased a Panasonic SD255 bread maker form John Lewis for £99.00, it's one of two Panasonic models they had displayed but this one had more features & could make a larger selection of breads. In size it didn't look too big in the shop but once you get it home it's not as portable as you think & takes up more space than I anticipated. Its dimensions are approx 37cm high, 28cm wide & 33cm in depth. It will tuck under an average wall ...
...full timer facilities. Panasonic really couldn't have made the machine any simpler to use, provided you use the simple instructions & follow the ingredients listed you can bake a rapid loaf in less than 2 hours. The bread maker comes with a measuring spoon, water measure jug, two kneading blades (that mix the ingredients) & removable bread pan. Once you have added the ingredients to the bread pan & simply inserted it into the machine, you simply ... Read review

Advantages: delicious recipes, easy and flexible to use, pizza, rye, seed, cake and roll options
Disadvantages: blade getting stuck in bread, need to be at home when cycle finishes

I've had mine for about 6 months and love it. Although the price tag is hefty (£95-100 new from mainstream retailers, £80 ex-display or refurbished) it is honestly worth it if you love bread. Size: 37x34x26 - imagine a miniature microwave turned on end. Then you have to have space to open the lid, as it's "top loading". The pan sits inside; you can make M, L or XL sized loaves. The smallest size is similar to unsliced loaves in Sainsbury's. To feed ...
...Options: once the ingredients are in, you can 'rapid bake' a loaf in 3 hours, or standard bake in 5 hours (the crust will be crispier and nicer). Or you can program your bread to be ready later - up to 13 hours (ready when you get up!). You can also ask it to mix and rise the dough without baking it - great for cake, pizza and bread roll making. The pizza dough recipe makes enough for 2 medium pizzas, and seriously, you will never go back to supermarket ... Read review

Advantages: Plenty
Disadvantages: None

I bought the Panasonic SD 253 about 4 years ago and would not be without it - I haven't bought a loaf of bread in all that time and am grateful not to be eating a load of chemicals introduced by the bread producers who only want to get a long shelf life at our expense. It certainly is not the smallest of machines, but should fit under a conventional work top, the height is 37.0cm x 34.0cm wide x 26.0cm deep, I am lucky to have a small utility room ...
...This one also has a raisen/nut dispenser which is very easy to operate, giving you lots of scope for making these delicious breads. The machine will the usual white loaf as well as whole wheat, french, italian, a sandwich loaf (which gives you a medium size loaf with a soft crust and close texture) just right for making your sandwiches, it will even make the dough for your pizzas. There are also numerous baking options. A normal bake which can take ... Read review

I have had my breadmaker for six months now, purchased it from John Lewis. I had made numerous loaves of white bread without a problem but cannot get brown bread (wholemeal or granary) to rise. Its useless to be honest!!!! I wouldn't purchase another one.

Advantages: Fresh baked bread, no wastage
Disadvantages: Make sure you take it out as soon as finished baking

Quite hard to get hold of but now have got one am thrilled with it, very nice to come down in the morning to fresh bread. You must make sure you are around when it has finished baking as will sink due to the moisture but mixes the seeds etc evenly as well and the pizza dough is very popular with my kids, as they can make there own toppings and there own size and thus no wasteage. The quick bake loaf is very nice too and no real difference to the ... Read review