Help a Canadian find a new breadmaker

October 12, 2009 9:36 AM

What's the best breadmaker available in Canada?

My breadmaker of three years recently broke down and needs replacement. The bread it made was usually very dry and overly crusty and I'd like something a bit better. I've done some research and found that many of the better models aren't available in Canada.

posted by Proginoskes to home & garden (6 comments total)

I have an older version of this Black and Decker breadmaker. No dryness problems, and the crust settings moderate the outer hardness somewhat. Having said that, I've used several different breadmakers and haven't found one yet that can do crusts as soft as bakery bread.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:44 AM on October 12

I have the Zojirushi BBCC-X20, or at least another model from the same manufacturer that looks exactly the same. It is very good. It does appear to be available in Canada.
posted by caddis at 10:28 AM on October 12 [1 favorite]

Short answer: this one by Black and Decker. I could find it only at Canadian Tire.

I make 6-8 loaves a week in my breadmaker and have done so for years. I've had about 6 different machines. I loved my old Black and Decker, went through about a dozen kneading paddles and three bread pans before I decided that it wasn't worth buying those replacement parts. I bought a new Cuisinart because of the name and it was junk; the paddle kept popping off the spindle. I did some research and found that many people had the same problems. Also found that the paddles frequently pop off double paddle bread machines, irrespective of maker.

I've been using the one I linked to at least 5 times a week for the past 6 months and still like it. It's noisier than many models, but only during the actual kneading process of course, which is only about 20 minutes. I've made bread dough, pizza dough, and banana loaf (the quick bread/cakey type) very successfully, in addition to our "daily bread".

By the way, it's also hard to find bread machine recipes that work well in Canada as most of them are from the USA and their flour is quite different from ours. This book is my favourite and I've never had anything not be successful from it.

And oh yes, MeMail me if you want my own regular bread recipe. I make it almost daily in Calgary, but my stepmum uses it successfully in Halifax, too.
posted by angiep at 11:16 AM on October 12

I hope this isn't a derail, but making bread is a relaxing and simple thing to do on your own; this book is a really clear and coherent introduction. If you remove the breadmaker from the occasion, you'll be able to really experiment with other factors (oven temperature/moisture, e.g.) that will allow you to get the sorts of textures you're looking for.
posted by cmyr at 3:17 PM on October 12

Home now, yes that is the Zojirushi I have. It really is a great machine. It does make a full size loaf, not one of the mini vertical ones. That is a plus or a negative depending upon your needs. The full sized ones also look like a regular loaf of bread. It's sourdough starter cycle works well, which for me is a plus as I never seem to be able to attend to a starter for very long and then I need a new one. It works well even with some of the low carb Cornell bread variants I make.

Even when you make bread as cmyr suggests, the machine makes the kneading and rising a snap. Good ones like the Zojirushi have easy programming to have it do things your way.
posted by caddis at 6:31 PM on October 12

I second the Zoji. Built like a tank. Excellent product.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:40 PM on November 2