
Rather than go through each machine one by one, as I had intended to do, I thought it more useful to just post a graph showing the baking pan temperature versus remaining time for a number of bread makers. The purpose is to give a good picture of how each unit performs as an oven to bake bread in.
For all machines except one, the Basic program was used. If loaf size control was available, the medium setting was used. If crust color control was available, the Dark setting was used. Temperatures were measured as described in an earlier blog post, begining about 10 minutes in from the start of the bake cycle.
The winner was the Cuisinart CBK-200 in French mode. It heats up quickly and bakes at 400ºF.
Runner-up was the T-fal Actibread at 385ºF.
In last place was the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 at 288º. (Lest you think that is an error, the owners manual lists its max baking temp as 290º.) Not only is its baking temp low, it heats up the slowest as well. Later models (PAC20, etc.) raise those temps by about 7 degrees.
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Thank you for doing the experiment and reporting on it. Very useful data.
Did you buy all these?
Gary
Hi Gary, yes I did. And I still have all but one of 'em. I have data on others, some worthy, some not, some obscure/less popular but the graph would get too cluttered including them.
It should be said; just because a machine bakes well, doesn't nesessarily make it the "best". Examples: The CBK-200 is a great baker (even hotter in 'Bake-only" mode) but is a poor mixer/kneader, has a paper-weight bread pan, is not programmable, and the cycle timings are 'wierd' because of the poor kneading. The Zojirushi is a mediocre baker, but is a 'good-enough' mixer/kneader, has a lot of room inside, is programmable, and is a good fermentation/proofing chamber. That's why lots of folks use Zo's to prep dough and then bake in an oven.
John
Amazing effort to put this graph up for BM users!
Zoji is low on temps but can do Borodinsky to 50% rye doughs to 100% whole wheat clas loaves.
BMs are sure useful for those HOT summer days too.
Hope to see more of your loaves too. :)
Thanks Jo. Have you baked anything in the Panasonic yet? It's a really good baker.