Let’s face it: baking bread is a time-consuming procedure. Making bread over the weekend can be enjoyable, but during the workweek, when you get home from work and still have to take care of the family, the likelihood of you having a burst of energy to make fresh bread is minimal.
If you like fresh bread every day, a Japanese bread machine is a good option for you. So, before you go out and buy one for yourself, let’s go through the fundamentals of this useful machine.
I. What is a bread machine?
Nothing beats the aroma of fresh bread drifting through your kitchen, but who has time to get up early to painstakingly mix the dough and watch a loaf prove for hours? That’s when a bread machine steps in to save the day.
A bread machine, often known as a bread maker, is a kitchen appliance used to bake bread. The appliance is made out of a bread pan or tin with built-in paddles that sit in the center of a small customized multi-purpose oven.
It feels like the most amazing thing in the world if you have a bread machine and a Japanese milk bread machine recipe. Every day of the week, you may have fresh, preservative-free baked bread or rolls. And it requires almost no effort: Simply add the ingredients, close the lid, and push the button. That’s all!
II. Why should you have a Japanese bread machine?
While using a bread maker may seem like an unnecessary step for some, others cannot picture living without freshly baked bread. However, let’s get down to business — we’ve listed the advantages of owning a bread machine below.
No-knead bread – For Real
Kneading the dough is possibly the most physically demanding aspect of bread production. Nonetheless, many people lack the time or skill to knead the dough themselves for a variety of reasons, including medical issues, aging-related weariness, or any other cause you can think of.
A bread machine is an excellent option for anyone who wants to “skip” this stage. It kneads the bread automatically and effectively. Even if you prefer to do everything by hand, the kneading may undoubtedly be left to the bread machine’s experienced hands.
Clean, Tidy, And Easy To Operate
Baking bread is a thousand-year-old craft that requires us and our kitchen to dedicate ourselves to it. Instead of sitting and calmly waiting for the bread to come out of the oven when we finish working on the dough, we find ourselves cleaning up the kitchen, sweeping flour and bits of dough off the counter, washing dishes in the sink, and all that jazz.
The bread machine greatly simplifies the process.
It’s as simple as putting the ingredients in the breadmaker, pressing a button, and adjusting the timer. The kitchen remains spotless, and all that remains is to wait for the bread to bake. hallelujah!
When you cook bread on a regular basis and consider the hectic schedules that most of us have, this component becomes extremely important.
When it comes to timing — unlike a mixer, a bread machine has built-in timers for stopping mixing, rising, punching down the bread, and so on. Mixers, on the other hand, are unable to bake bread.
The Healthy Choice
Making bread at home is a far healthier option than purchasing bread from a supermarket or even some bakeries since most bread is created with some degree of baking improvements. You can choose healthier components for your bread, such as organic flour, whole wheat, gluten-free bread, or any diet constraint or preferences you have.
To help you accomplish your bread golds, there are a number of Japanese milk bread machine recipes available that are specifically intended for bread machines.
The Economical Choice
Bread machines range in price from 65 to 320 dollars. The amount of bread you make will decide how long it will take you to cover the cost of the bread maker and begin saving.
If you have a large family that consumes a lot of bread on a regular basis, preparing bread at home is unquestionably the more cost-effective option, as quality bakery bread is not inexpensive.
When you consider the cost of materials, the cost of time and effort, and other relevant factors, even if you do not use significant quantities of bread but nevertheless make one loaf per week, making bread yourself saves money in the long term.
III. Top 3 best Japanese bread machines you should buy
Now that we’ve covered the most important aspects of bread makers, it’s time to look at the top three Japanese milk bread machines you should buy.
Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker
If you’re serious about creating bread, the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker BB-PDC20BA is a good choice. While this machine is more expensive than many other bread machines on the market today, it makes baking excellent handcrafted loaves of bread a breeze—all you have to do is measure out the ingredients and let the machine do the rest.
In various respects, the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker deserves its premium price. To begin with, it has 15 distinct settings, including gluten-free, salt-free, sugar-free, and vegan bread options. It can also assist you in the creation of sourdough starters, and you may program three “homemade” memory settings to bake bespoke loaves. This bread machine also includes dual kneading blades for more equal mixing and a horizontal baking pan for a traditional loaf shape.
Oster Express Bake Breadmaker
This countertop device allows the bread-making process completely hands-free, and it pairs well with the best toaster. Simply measure the ingredients into the removable bread pan and click ‘Start,’ and you’ll be rewarded with a freshly cooked loaf of bread in a few hours.
The Oster Expressbake Breadmaker makes white, whole-grain, French, sweet, and gluten-free bread, and it stands out from the competition thanks to its Expressbake mode, which bakes a loaf of bread in just one hour. It really sounds incredible, and it certainly deserves to be considered one of the greatest Japanese bread makers available.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Maestro Breadmaker
The Zojirushi BB-SSC10WZ Home Bakery Maestro is perfect for baking smaller loaves of bread up to 1 pound. With a tall frame that takes up minimal counter space, it’s extremely well-designed.
In this bread machine, Zojirushi uses two heaters to quickly heat the interior, creating an oven-spring that results in a light, well-cooked, airy crust. You may pick between a mild or dark crust for each loaf you bake using Crust Control.
The Auto Add Dispenser, a customized gadget that dispenses nuts and other ingredients, is another cool feature. It’s detachable and washable, making it simple to clean. The bread maker is easy to move and store thanks to the strong carry handle. The extras, such as the measuring cup and spoon, ensure that you get the ingredients right every time.
IV. Tips for choosing the most suitable Japanese Bread Machine for your family
When buying a bread maker, what should you check for? While some of us may be looking for design, color, or other personal preferences, we believe there are several critical qualities particular to this kitchen equipment to consider.
To get you thinking about these, we’ve put together a list of common features that you should think about before making your purchase. Please also read our in-depth Japanese bread machine purchase guide to familiarize yourself with all of the crucial features.
Bread size
1 pound, 1.5 pound, 2 pound, 2.5 pound, and 3 pound loaves are routinely made in bread machines. Keep in mind that machine-baked bread should be consumed within two days of baking, although store-bought bread can be kept for up to a week. So all you’ll need is a bread maker that produces just enough bread to last two days. For a household of four, we think a 2-pound loaf should suffice.
Bread shape
Do you prefer a regular rectangular loaf of bread, or something round or square? Or maybe you want your bread to stand vertically instead of horizontally? Bread makers can produce a variety of bread forms, allowing you to select the best shape for you. Whatever it is, choosing the shape you want for your self-made bread is never a bad thing.
Bread pan
A replaceable bread pan with single or dual kneading blades is included with most bread makers. In today’s machines, replaceable bread pans are widespread, but you can come across others that aren’t. Make sure you get one that is removable because it will be difficult to clean if it isn’t.
When picking a bread maker, keep in mind that aluminum bread pans produce a lighter, thinner crust than machines with thick cast aluminum pans, which produce darker, thicker crusts. You should also seek a skillet with a nonstick coating, as your dough will stick to the pan if it does not have one.
Best reviews
Needless to say, everyone has a distinct take on each bread machine model. However, it is also vital to check consumer evaluations because these people have previously used the equipment and may have important information about it. Read reviews and learn what other people have to say about the machines you’re thinking about buying. And we also recommend you to use our review because we have spent a significant amount of time and effort creating it!
Replacement parts
Unfortunately, you will most likely need to replace the kneading blades, bread pan, or both in the future. Both of these components will wear out, and there is nothing that can be done about it. This is something to consider when purchasing a bread maker.
Kneading blades are inexpensive, but bread pan replacements can be costly. They typically cost roughly 30% of what you would pay for a bread machine. So, if you are seeking to buy a machine that costs approximately $100, you may expect to pay roughly $30 for a replacement bread pan.
V. How to clean a Japanese bread machine
If you want to extend the life of your Japanese bread machine, you must take care of it on a regular basis. You won’t need to devote much time to keeping your bread machine in perfect working order.
Step 1: Clean Out The Bread Tin Of All Crumbs And Residue.
You can begin the cleaning process after the bread maker has been unplugged and cooled completely. Turn it on its side over the sink, garbage can, or any other surface, and gently sweep the crumbs or residual flour away using a sponge or soft brush.
If any dough remains on the inside walls of the bread maker pan, wait until it dries up before removing it in the same manner as the crumbs. If there is dough on the heating element of the bread machine, the same procedure should be performed.
Step 2: Wash the Kneading Paddles and the Tin
The baking tin and kneading paddles should be cleaned next in the bread machine cleaning process. Warm water, soap, and a soft sponge or towel can be used to do this.
When cleaning the pan, it’s best to stay away from chemicals.
Remember that not all of your bread maker’s replaceable parts are dishwasher safe. Many bread machines include washable parts. However, in order to determine compatibility, it is always a good idea to double-check and study the handbook.
Step 3: Before using the bread machine again, make sure everything is dry.
After you’ve finished washing the parts of your bread maker, ensure sure they’re all thoroughly dry before reassembling it.
That’s everything there is about how to clean a Japanese bread machine! It’s as easy as that — three simple steps to keep your bread machine in top shape. Follow our guide to keep it with you as long as possible
VI. Conclusion
Feeling hungry? We know – reading so much about breadmakers might be quite challenging. Now it’s time to get your favorite Japanese bread machine.
But where to buy this useful appliance? Yeah, Janbox may be one of your best choices. This is a cross-border eCommerce platform where you can buy & auction billions of products from Japan. It’s safe to say that Janbox is the bridge between Japanese sellers and foreign buyers. So what are you waiting for? Make a journey to Janbox website and get everything you need, including a Japanese bread machine with ease.
