Easy to use. Sometimes but not always, the bread can be a tad over done.

. Purchased the correct items, measured correct quantities. Was very disappointed when programme had finished

Exellent feature, can prepare ingridient in the evening, set th etimer and has fresh bread in the morning..

Received this bread-maker yesterday – my first ever one.It’s a little bigger than I anticipated, but not so that I was disappointed. It looks great and has so many different functions, menus and settings. Fortunately, the manual is very good and explains everything in clear, simple steps. Not only does the manual tell you all the machine can do, but it also gives a good selection of recipes of breads, doughs, cakes etc.So now I am making my first loaf of bread in this machine, and I am typing this as I go through from start to finish.I opted for Wholemeal 75% (400g very strong wholemeal flours, 100g strong white flour). I have added the various ingredients in, with the yeast going into a separate dispenser, shut the lid and turned it on (Menu 4, medium size). The first thing it does is “rests” for an hour. Rests? It’s not even done anything yet, and it’s resting? Strewth!Okay, one hour later and the machine has just kicked into kneading mode. Have to say, it’s a lot quieter than I thought it would be, and the machine doesn’t move about as it kneads. I can hear it from outside the kitchen but it’s like a gentle whoosh-whoosh noise. Might get a bit nosier as the dough stiffens. We’ll see. According to the manual it should knead for 15-25 minutes. I am guessing it will be more toward 15 mins as I opted for a medium sized loaf (the smallest option). Oh, it just made some very loud clicks; that was the yeast being added to the mixture from its dispenser.Okay, it’s now entered the “Rise” phase. I lifted the lid during the kneading phase and took a quick peek at what it was doing. It seems to have made a nice smooth dough ball. I am considering removing the kneading blade before the cooking cycle as I imagine that leaving it in will make a kneading blade shaped hole in the base of the bread. This rising phase takes, apparently, 2 hours 10 mins – 2 hours 50 mins! Wow, when I hand-made my bre3ad I only proved it for 90 minutes. Oh, hold on, it’s just gone back to the kneading stage. Maybe it detected that I ha

Received this bread-maker yesterday – my first ever one.It’s a little bigger than I anticipated, but not so that I was disappointed. It looks great and has so many different functions, menus and settings. Fortunately, the manual is very good and explains everything in clear, simple steps. Not only does the manual tell you all the machine can do, but it also gives a good selection of recipes of breads, doughs, cakes etc.So now I am making my first loaf of bread in this machine, and I am typing this as I go through from start to finish.I opted for Wholemeal 75% (400g very strong wholemeal flours, 100g strong white flour). I have added the various ingredients in, with the yeast going into a separate dispenser, shut the lid and turned it on (Menu 4, medium size). The first thing it does is “rests” for an hour. Rests? It’s not even done anything yet, and it’s resting? Strewth!Okay, one hour later and the machine has just kicked into kneading mode. Have to say, it’s a lot quieter than I thought it would be, and the machine doesn’t move about as it kneads. I can hear it from outside the kitchen but it’s like a gentle whoosh-whoosh noise. Might get a bit nosier as the dough stiffens. We’ll see. According to the manual it should knead for 15-25 minutes. I am guessing it will be more toward 15 mins as I opted for a medium sized loaf (the smallest option). Oh, it just made some very loud clicks; that was the yeast being added to the mixture from its dispenser.Okay, it’s now entered the “Rise” phase. I lifted the lid during the kneading phase and took a quick peek at what it was doing. It seems to have made a nice smooth dough ball. I am considering removing the kneading blade before the cooking cycle as I imagine that leaving it in will make a kneading blade shaped hole in the base of the bread. This rising phase takes, apparently, 2 hours 10 mins – 2 hours 50 mins! Wow, when I hand-made my bre3ad I only proved it for 90 minutes. Oh, hold on, it’s just gone back to the kneading stage. Maybe it detected that I ha

I bought this Panasonic Bread maker as a replacement for my Panasonic SD257 that had given excellent service for several years. The seed dispenser on my SD257 had stopped working properly, and it was a pain to keep adding seeds manually, so having read the latest Which Magazine best buys this Panasonic model seemed to be the logical affordable purchase.It's brilliant! Panasonic have moved the art of bread-making onto a new level with this model.Firstly the non-stick coating is far superior to my old model, just one semi-hefty thump and the baked loaf just drops out, and the paddle does not become stuck in the loaf, which was one of my very few gripes with my previous model SD257.Secondly the yeast is now added separately from it's own chamber in the machine. It's a bit noisy doing it but that's no problem for me as I bake my loaf at 11 am usually so that it is just cooled and ready at tea time.The manual gives a great number of recipes, my favourite being the 400g Wholemeal seeded program for which I use275g strong white flour and 125g Wholemeal (that's correct). The resulting loaf is light and absolutely delicious, it makes great sandwiches and superb toast. Nothing else to add, just a brilliant breadmaker!

Been using this bread maker for 3 months now. I normally make one or two breads a day, so I can now say that this bread maker is the best, worth the money. The recipes on the book included are brilliant, it's impossible to make a bad bread, ALL the recipes make perfect bread.Sometimes I have small amounts of different flours and I don't know how to use it. I tried to mix different flours, even 4 on the same bread, and follow one random recipe from the book, and it turns out very good.I also used the machine with prepared bread packs (you only need to add water) and if even the bread maker doesn't have a program for that, you only need to use a program which takes the same amount of time to make the bread than it says on the product package. And again.... turns out a perfect bread.Some reviews say that the sound when the bread is done it's very subtle, and it's true. But you can put an alarm or just check the bread maker regularly.Other reviews say that the noise from the yeast compartment it's very loud. It's true that the noise is louder than the sound used when the bread is done, but for me it's not a really really loud sound, and it's only a few seconds. Not a problem in my case. I'd own a bread maker before (the one from Lidl) and it was a nightmare when the machine was kneading the bread. The sound was from other planet and lasted hours. This machine is VERY silent when kneading, I can believe how silent it is. The only sound is when the yeast is applied, but is not super loud.Other reviews say that even if you choose the darkest bread crust mode, it's very pale, not really dark enough. It's true, but it's not a problem for me.Overall, I really really recommend this bread maker machine, it's almost impossible to make a bad bread with it, even if you don't follow the instructions.FIY, the machine it's BIG, but I love that it can handle XL size bread, because is massive :)

Outstanding crusty bread, from sourdough to wholemeal, all come out perfect. Shaped like a boule, it is a better shape for sandwiches and toaster. Have tried all modes and each produces a fine artisan loaf. Bonkers baguette style crust with the 'lean' setting - just flour, water and yeast.Highly recommended.. The recipe booklet supplied is short on recipes but they do work.

wide variety of bread recipes. Why does it sit there doing nothing for a half hour before it starts the programme?

I bought this because it was recommended from a lot of different sources. Came promptly as expected on prime and could wait to bake my first loaf. I baked a medium loaf of the basic white bread and it came out perfectly. Some people complain that the program is long compared to other bread makers, however, in general, the longer the cycle takes the better the flavour of the bread. It also has a rapid function which I haven't used yet. One of the best selling points is the separate yeast dispenser which means the yeast is only activated at the right time, very useful for the timer function.

I bought this Panasonic bread maker about 10 days ago and I love it. Here's a summation of what I wanted to know before purchase so it might help you:

1) What's the bread like? : I had a bread maker about 15 years ago and found the bread heavy so used it only for making pizza dough and finally binned the machine. Obviously I either had a rubbish machine or technology has moved on considerably. The bread from this machine is light, fluffy and delicious. The only downside is that due to its light and fluffy nature, you need to be much more careful when slicing and use a very sharp bread knife. Because of that, I only make the smallest loaves (same length as all the others but not as tall).

2) How long does it take to prep the ingredients? : I timed myself (bit sad but hey) and it took me 8 minutes to measure everything, get it in the pan and press "go" for a normal loaf without rushing.

3) Does the paddle stick in the loaf? : First time, yep. Then I realised that if you put the paddle in and give it a slight turn, it hooks into place. Hasn't come out unintentionally since.

4) Cost of a loaf? : About 40 - 50p

5) What's it like at just making dough?: This was actually the reason I wanted the machine. My summer hobby is experimenting with barbecue and smokers so I decide to try bread for my winter hobby but do have a tendency to "spread myself around the kitchen" so this was an effort to keep things a little more contained. So far I have made pizza dough (a good one to start with as its forgiving) and yesterday French bread dough. I made it into rolls and they came out beautifully. This is a great machine for allowing you to experiment with breads cooked in the oven but reducing the mess and hands-on time with the kneading etc.

6) Is the "quiet buzzer" an issue?: People do comment in a lot of reviews on this and it is very quiet. I just set a timer on my phone to make sure I'm around as the loaves are better if removed immediately.

7) What are the recipes like?: I think

I bought this Panasonic bread maker about 10 days ago and I love it. Here's a summation of what I wanted to know before purchase so it might help you:1) What's the bread like? : I had a bread maker about 15 years ago and found the bread heavy so used it only for making pizza dough and finally binned the machine. Obviously I either had a rubbish machine or technology has moved on considerably. The bread from this machine is light, fluffy and delicious. The only downside is that due to its light and fluffy nature, you need to be much more careful when slicing and use a very sharp bread knife. Because of that, I only make the smallest loaves (same length as all the others but not as tall).2) How long does it take to prep the ingredients? : I timed myself (bit sad but hey) and it took me 8 minutes to measure everything, get it in the pan and press "go" for a normal loaf without rushing.3) Does the paddle stick in the loaf? : First time, yep. Then I realised that if you put the paddle in and give it a slight turn, it hooks into place. Hasn't come out unintentionally since.4) Cost of a loaf? : About 40 - 50p5) What's it like at just making dough?: This was actually the reason I wanted the machine. My summer hobby is experimenting with barbecue and smokers so I decide to try bread for my winter hobby but do have a tendency to "spread myself around the kitchen" so this was an effort to keep things a little more contained. So far I have made pizza dough (a good one to start with as its forgiving) and yesterday French bread dough. I made it into rolls and they came out beautifully. This is a great machine for allowing you to experiment with breads cooked in the oven but reducing the mess and hands-on time with the kneading etc.6) Is the "quiet buzzer" an issue?: People do comment in a lot of reviews on this and it is very quiet. I just set a timer on my phone to make sure I'm around as the loaves are better if removed immediately.7) What are the recipes like?: I think the booklet is excellent. Weigh the ingredients accurat

I bought this Panasonic bread maker about 10 days ago and I love it. Here's a summation of what I wanted to know before purchase so it might help you:1) What's the bread like? : I had a bread maker about 15 years ago and found the bread heavy so used it only for making pizza dough and finally binned the machine. Obviously I either had a rubbish machine or technology has moved on considerably. The bread from this machine is light, fluffy and delicious. The only downside is that due to its light and fluffy nature, you need to be much more careful when slicing and use a very sharp bread knife. Because of that, I only make the smallest loaves (same length as all the others but not as tall).2) How long does it take to prep the ingredients? : I timed myself (bit sad but hey) and it took me 8 minutes to measure everything, get it in the pan and press "go" for a normal loaf without rushing.3) Does the paddle stick in the loaf? : First time, yep. Then I realised that if you put the paddle in and give it a slight turn, it hooks into place. Hasn't come out unintentionally since.4) Cost of a loaf? : About 40 - 50p5) What's it like at just making dough?: This was actually the reason I wanted the machine. My summer hobby is experimenting with barbecue and smokers so I decide to try bread for my winter hobby but do have a tendency to "spread myself around the kitchen" so this was an effort to keep things a little more contained. So far I have made pizza dough (a good one to start with as its forgiving) and yesterday French bread dough. I made it into rolls and they came out beautifully. This is a great machine for allowing you to experiment with breads cooked in the oven but reducing the mess and hands-on time with the kneading etc.6) Is the "quiet buzzer" an issue?: People do comment in a lot of reviews on this and it is very quiet. I just set a timer on my phone to make sure I'm around as the loaves are better if removed immediately.7) What are the recipes like?: I think the booklet is excellent. Weigh the ingredients accurat

Fabulous product. Bakes beautiful bread. (Forget the cakes...I tried a few of the recipes and it doesn't make sense to use this machine: it's far less fiddly to just use a regular oven). But for bread, it's a marvel. The controls are extremely intuitive and easy to use. The only suggestion that I'd make to the manufacturer, is to provide laminated recipe sheets as well as recipes in the handbook. I copied the most frequently used recipe pages and laminated them myself to make it more kitchen friendly. It's a pretty large device: bigger than I'd anticipated, but still OK for a medium-sized kitchen counter. The separate nut and yeast dispensers are great, and take all the hassle out of preparation (don't need to restart if you forget to put the yeast in first). The only slight negative that I've found is that the dough doesn't always get extruded from the one corner of the machine, which means that every loaf tends to have a very slight 'glossy' smooth section when baked, but this doesn't detract from the overall flavour or general appearance of the loaf.

Life to busy to knead bread and I can not master dry yeast myself (I'm a fresh yeast baker).This machine does it for me. Will repay itself as I don't need to do a 15 mile roundtrip for fresh bread.Only negative is if using timer, the dry yeast drop makes quite a racket so no good for an early morning loaf if you want to sleep through the night.I've done quite a few recipes since it arrived and they have all been good. I put the container on my scales and weigh the ingredients in it as I add them. I even weigh the water to get the correct amount.

Really, really great. Having had a SD253 for several years the weak spot has always been the pan, which loses its surface and becomes unusable (deformed loafs, two pans). The replacement cost for a pan makes this new purchase sensible.. This Panasonic sorts the problem with a brilliantly non-stick surface that seems to be tough and certainly does the job very well. The clunky noise when the yeast goes in is quite loud but other than that it is quieter than the old machine. However, results do the talking and the loaves have been fantastic, much better. Recommended!

Having debated long and hard about buying this breadmaker, having thrown a old model in the skip, and having read numerous reviews of this model and of other makers - I wish I had not wadted so much time. It is the best

I've always been apprehensive about buying a bread maker but finally gave in and bought this model based on its excellent reviews as a Christmas present for my partner. (Totally selfish reasons of course and secretly for me).

I honestly never thought these machines would be as good as people say, but I have to admit I couldn't have been any more wrong.

Putting the ingredients together takes less than a couple of minutes with the accessories provided.Simply place the measured ingredients into the machine, select the required setting (including crust darkness) and walk away. That's it!!

A few hours later your home will be filled with the most amazing aromas and you will have a fresh loaf ready to slice. Knowing exactly what ingredients are going into the bread you don't have to worry about preservatives and other nasties.

The booklet with this particular model is filled with so many different recipe options, I can truly recommend their basic white loaf recipe which comes out perfectly every time. You can choose between having a small, medium or large loaf for which the recipes also cater for. There is a fast loaf option which I haven't tried yet but allows the option to cut the waiting time down.

The yeast and nut dispenser are excellent added extras and automatically add the ingredients as required.

This model looks fantastic on my kitchen worktop, doesn't take up too much room & is actually very quiet.

Always buy a good strong bread flour & make sure the yeast you purchase is suitable for use with bread machines.

I am pretty certain you won't be disappointed with this model and it's definitely worth spending the extra to purchase it.

I won't ever go back to buying shop loaves!

I've always been apprehensive about buying a bread maker but finally gave in and bought this model based on its excellent reviews as a Christmas present for my partner. (Totally selfish reasons of course and secretly for me).I honestly never thought these machines would be as good as people say, but I have to admit I couldn't have been any more wrong.Putting the ingredients together takes less than a couple of minutes with the accessories provided.Simply place the measured ingredients into the machine, select the required setting (including crust darkness) and walk away. That's it!!A few hours later your home will be filled with the most amazing aromas and you will have a fresh loaf ready to slice. Knowing exactly what ingredients are going into the bread you don't have to worry about preservatives and other nasties.The booklet with this particular model is filled with so many different recipe options, I can truly recommend their basic white loaf recipe which comes out perfectly every time. You can choose between having a small, medium or large loaf for which the recipes also cater for. There is a fast loaf option which I haven't tried yet but allows the option to cut the waiting time down.The yeast and nut dispenser are excellent added extras and automatically add the ingredients as required.This model looks fantastic on my kitchen worktop, doesn't take up too much room & is actually very quiet.Always buy a good strong bread flour & make sure the yeast you purchase is suitable for use with bread machines.I am pretty certain you won't be disappointed with this model and it's definitely worth spending the extra to purchase it.I won't ever go back to buying shop loaves!

I've always been apprehensive about buying a bread maker but finally gave in and bought this model based on its excellent reviews as a Christmas present for my partner. (Totally selfish reasons of course and secretly for me).I honestly never thought these machines would be as good as people say, but I have to admit I couldn't have been any more wrong.Putting the ingredients together takes less than a couple of minutes with the accessories provided.Simply place the measured ingredients into the machine, select the required setting (including crust darkness) and walk away. That's it!!A few hours later your home will be filled with the most amazing aromas and you will have a fresh loaf ready to slice. Knowing exactly what ingredients are going into the bread you don't have to worry about preservatives and other nasties.The booklet with this particular model is filled with so many different recipe options, I can truly recommend their basic white loaf recipe which comes out perfectly every time. You can choose between having a small, medium or large loaf for which the recipes also cater for. There is a fast loaf option which I haven't tried yet but allows the option to cut the waiting time down.The yeast and nut dispenser are excellent added extras and automatically add the ingredients as required.This model looks fantastic on my kitchen worktop, doesn't take up too much room & is actually very quiet.Always buy a good strong bread flour & make sure the yeast you purchase is suitable for use with bread machines.I am pretty certain you won't be disappointed with this model and it's definitely worth spending the extra to purchase it.I won't ever go back to buying shop loaves!