Finding the best small bread maker for you can be very easy. Why do I say that? Because there are only a few small bread makers to choose from.
Even so, I’ve selected the best, and, the good news is that they fit every budget.
Whether you want a cheap best small bread machine or a considerably more expensive small bread maker produced by a renowned manufacturer, these 5 models cover the expectations and needs of any potential buyer.
Also, if you want to make your own flour at home for all these delicious breads, check out my reviews for the best grain mill for bread flour.
Contents
Best Small Bread Maker: My Favorite 5
1. Best Small Bread Maker: Oster CKSTBRTW20
At only 8 pounds this is the lightest bread maker but its capabilities of making amazing breads and dough is what makes this machine so popular, especially given the low price tag.
2. Gluten-Free Small Bread Machine: Hamilton Beach 29982
This is slightly heavier since it weighs 12 pounds but it has one advantage: it has a gluten-free cycle, which makes it very popular, the cheap price being the second factor for its popularity.
3. Great: Zojirushi BB-HAC10 Mini Breadmaker
My third recommendation is also the heaviest at 14 pounds and it only bakes 1-pound loves. It’s a small bread machine for a number of reasons. It’s also an expensive model since Zojirushi doesn’t make anything cheap.
4. Expensive Small Bread Machine: Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10
The Zojirushi Maestro is an upgrade for the Mini Breadmaker. It’s prettier but it also includes an auto dispenser and 14 cycles. The things that are the same is that this one also bakes only 1 pound loaves and it’s pretty expensive. Still, if the 1 pound loaf is okay for your needs, the Maestro is definitely the best small bread maker for you.
5. Best Value for Money: Cuisinart CBK-110
The Cuisinart CBK 110 weighs just 10.75 pounds, bakes all types of breads, including gluten-free loaves, makes different kinds of dough, it’s of excellent quality, and it’s very affordable.
Best Small Bread Maker Reviews
There are 5 models that I decided to recommend as the best small bread maker. They’re all wonderful machines that can make a variety of breads, jams, amazing dough for pizza, bread or even pasta, etc.
One of the best is the Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10, however it only make breads of one size: 1 pound loaves. That means that this compact and very tall Zojirushi cannot be chosen by people with families. It will work for one or two people but that’s about it.
The same goes for the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 Mini Breadmaker.
Both these Zojirushi machines are wonderful and pretty expensive and they can make all types of bread, including gluten free, but the 1 pound loaf size limits them quite a bit.
On the other hand, if you want small bread machines that offers us the possibility to bake 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, and 2 pounds loaves of bread, I recommend the Oster CKSTBRTW20, the Hamilton Beach 29982, and the Cuisinart CBK-110.
The Cuisinart CBK-110 might be amongst my top favorites and the Hamilton Beach 29982 comes in at a close second. I like them because these two also include a gluten-free cycle. And they’re very affordable.
The Oster CKSTBRTW20 only lacks the gluten-free setting. If you’re not bothered by that and you want an affordable, best small bread maker that bakes delicious bread and makes great dough, then go for it. It’s among the lightest and easiest to use. So the Oster CKSTBRTW20 is my top recommendation.
1. Oster CKSTBRTW20: Best Small Bread Maker
The Oster CKSTBRTW20 can definitely be regarded as a best small bread machine for the cheapest price.
The price is actually the first thing that people notice about the Oster CKSTBRTW20.
It’s so great that you can enjoy homemade fresh bread whenever you want without putting any work into it thanks to a kitchen appliance that’s so affordable.
Design
It’s the smallest bread maker on this list: it only weighs 8 pounds.
There’s no lighter model out there.
You can permanently leave it on the kitchen counter or you can store it in a cupboard if you’re not using it daily or once every 2-3 days.
Since it’s a compact bread machine, you easily store it away. It fits both scenarios.
Even though it’s so light, its shape confers stability during the kneading phase.
I very much like the design, simple and clean – the white color can fit pretty much everywhere.
What I really like is the very easy to use control panel. It’s very intuitive, there aren’t a lot of buttons and even total beginners can adjust to it in a matter of seconds.
It has a viewing window.
12 cycles
- basic
- whole wheat
- sweet
- French
- Expressbake 1.5 and Expressbake 2.0 (loaves are made and baked in 58 minutes, the water needs to have a specific temperature but they’re not as delicious)
- quick for breads with no yeast
- European
- dough/pasta
- bagel dough
- jam
- bake
The important thing and the reason why I recommend the Oster CKSTBRTW20 is that it doesn’t fail in making delicious loaves as long as you follow the instructions written in the user manual.
Loaf sizes
This Oster bakes vertical loaves. These are not the horizontal loaves that we are used to buying from a store. In fact, one of the few models that bakes horizontal loaves is the Zojirushi Virtuoso. However, it doesn’t come cheap, it’s one of the most expensive models at the moment.
There are 3 loaf sizes: 1 pound, 1.5, and 2 pounds.
I like the fact that so many options were included. It wants to attract both small and large families.
3 crusts: light, medium, and dark.
There’s also 13-hour delay timer. It means that you can program a loaf to be baked anywhere within the next 13 hours. It’s a standard feature for bread makers. If you need a fresh loaf in the morning, you can add the ingredients in the evening and calculate in how many hours you want your fresh loaf.
It also makes really good dough – it’s worth buying it just for that, in case you prefer loaves baked in the oven.
2. Hamilton Beach 29982: Gluten-Free Small Bread Maker
There’s one important thing that I have to mention first about the Hamilton Beach 29982: it’s definitely the best small bread machine with a very affordable price that also has a gluten free setting.
The Gluten-Free Bread Machine Cookbook by Jane Bonacci can be a great additional resource as a gluten-free bread machine cookbook, if you’re interested in experimenting with gluten-free loaves.
12 cycles
- basic (white)
- French
- gluten free (it takes 3:09 minutes for a 2 pounds gluten free bread to be made from start to finish)
- quick (for recipes that don’t use yeast)
- sweet
- 1.5-pound Express, 2-pound Express (for the Express ones the loaves are all done from start to finish in just 58 minutes but the result is not as delicious and they don’t work for the GF recipes, they’re just a fast replacement for the basic setting)
- dough perfect for pizza and any other recipes that need to be baked in a conventional oven
- jam
- roast nut
- whole grain
- bake
All settings work very well, making delicious loaves, good dough, and jam.
The roast nut setting is certainly unique among bread machines of all sizes.
This roast nut cycle can be used for roasting nuts or making a roasted nuts recipe.
There’s a lightly salted roasted almonds recipe for the roast nut cycle in the user manual. You can check it out here.
It’s the complete package and that’s why the Hamilton Beach 29982 is fit for being called the best small bread machine with a gluten-free setting.
Size
It weighs almost 12 pounds and it can be considered a compact, small machine that won’t take up too much space on the countertop.
The Hamilton Beach 29982 can be easily stored away though, if you’re not using it daily.
Just as the Oster above, this Hamilton Beach also has an easy to use, intuitive control panel. You’ll get used to it in no time, even if you’re not a big fan of technology. There’s nothing complicated here.
There’s also a pretty big viewing window. I love that.
It bakes the same vertical loaves, with the addition that some of the bread baked can be gluten-free.
13-hour delay timer.
Loaf sizes
There are 3 loaf sizes: 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, and 2 pounds.
3 crust options: light, medium, and dark.
3. Zojirushi BB-HAC10 1-Pound-Loaf Mini Breadmaker
This model even includes the words mini breadmaker in its name but is it the best small bread machine?
It definitely is but it will cost you. It’s 3 times more expensive than the above two models – there’s a considerable price difference between them. I’m sure you want to know what it has to offer.
8 cycles
- basic bread (regular or firm)
- soft (for a softer texture, you will have to use all purpose flour instead of bread flour, a banana bread recipe is also included under this setting plus much more)
- quick baking (makes a loaf in 2 hours)
- French bread (there’s even a wheat French bread recipe),
- dough, cookie/pasta dough (ready in just 13 minutes)
- cake (corn meal bread can be made under this cycle as well as zucchini bread and chocolate cake)
- jam
Although there are 8 settings, there are a few things hidden from plain sight: under the basic bread regular cycle you can make whole wheat and gluten-free breads.
The Zojirushi BB-HAC10 is a pretty complex best small bread machine.
I love the recipes included in the user manual – there are plenty.
The No-Fuss Bread Machine Cookbook by Michelle Anderson is excellent if you want to try out even more exciting recipes because it includes the measurements for 1 pound loaves, as well.
Just keep in mind that some users have complained about the too crunchy crust. If you’re not into that, just check out the Oster or the Hamilton Beach that I’ve reviewed above.
All in all, the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 mini bread machine is expensive, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s worthy of its price, the high quality is unbeatable.
Size
The Zojirushi BB-HAC10 mini bread machine is a model built around portability, it’s a compact bread maker.
It weighs 14 pounds. It’s a bit heavier but not by much. It can still be placed in a cupboard with ease if you don’t have any permanent space for it on your countertop.
Portable
To demonstrate its portability further, it has a sturdy handle, which is something that I haven’t seen in any bread maker. Carrying it is definitely easy and comfortable.
It even has a power cord holder in the back for when you store it away.
There’s also a removable lid – again, not a common feature among this sort of kitchen appliances that make loaves and dough from scratch (we barely have to do a thing).
It has a viewing window and a very easy-to-use control panel.
Just like all models, it comes with measuring spoon and cup. I recommend using a digital scale for measuring flour, it’s important to measure the ingredient accurately.
Loaf size
Just as the two models that I’ve reviewed above, the Zojirushi Mini Breadmaker also bakes vertical loaves. Get its very big sister, the Virtuoso, if you want horizontal loaves. The Supreme from the same manufacturer is another choice for a horizontal bread maker.
There’s only 1 loaf size: 1 pound. That certainly makes it different.
It’s great for single people or for small families, there won’t be any leftovers to worry about – I hate throwing food away, no matter what it is.
However, it’s definitely not on option for families of 3 or 4.
2 crust options: light and regular – these two crust options are not available for the French setting.
Recipes
Even if we can only bake 1 pound loaves, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make amazing bread recipes.
The user manual for the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 1-Pound-Loaf Mini Breadmaker illustrates its versatility.
Only under the basic setting we get a very long list of recipes: basic white bread (2 cups bread flour), honey bread, sugar free white bread, 100% whole wheat bread (2-1/4 cups whole wheat flour), fat free basic wheat bread, light rye bread (1-1/2 cups bread flour and 2/3 cup rye flour), pumpernickel bread, seven grain bread, apple oat bread, cheese ‘n’ onion bread, fat free apple oat bread, granola bread, raising bread, walnut bread, chocolate bread, 100% whole wheat apple bread, gluten free brown rice bread.
And here we can clearly see that we can make gluten free loaves under the basic setting. That makes the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 1-Pound-Loaf Mini Breadmaker quite impressive.
We also get recipes for banana bread and milk bread for those with a sweeter tooth. Bread machines, including the best small bread makers, can definitely satisfy our sweet cravings.
The French cycle is a delight: basic French bread, rye French bread, wheat French bread, cheese ‘n’ onion French bread, garlic French bread.
The dough cycle illustrates that it’s one of the best dough kneading machines: butter roll, doughnut, brioche, cinnamon roll, croissant, whole wheat buns, traditional pizza dough, pizza dough with beer (soft pretzels), thin-crust pizza, thick-crust pizza, basic cookies, oatmeal cookies, sugar cookies, home made pasta, fettuccine with tuna and broccoli, lasagna, scone.
Since the dough setting is so amazingly versatile, now all we need is a very good oven.
4. Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10: Expensive Small Bread Maker
Just as I’ve said in my introduction, the Maestro is an upgrade for the Mini Breadmaker.
It’s definitely an upgrade regarding its overall beautiful design but we should see what else is changed.
14 cycles
The other major difference is that the Zojirushi Maestro has a lot more cycles than any other model in this article.
- white
- European
- quick white
- whole wheat
- quick whole wheat
- multigrain
- gluten free
- salt free
- sugar free
- vegan
- bread/pizza dough
- pasta dough
- cake
- jam
There’s also a Homemade course where you can store 3 of your favorite recipes. You can add recipes for meatloaf, banana bread, a specific gluten free recipe, etc.
Once you check out the recipes for the Zojirushi Mini Breadmaker in the user manual that you’re going to get, you’ll quickly see why this one is absolutely a top pick as the best small bread maker. Even if it’s limited by the 1 pound loaf baking only and by the rather expensive price.
The Maestro is beautiful and it’s an awesome model if you can afford it but it isn’t different enough from the Zojirushi Mini Breadmaker. It’s justifiable only if you want the prettier, newer model.
Size
This is actually the heaviest bread machine from my reviews – it weighs 16 pounds. However, it still manages to be very compact albeit quite tall.
It also has the same portability feature with the handle for carrying it and all.
One changed thing is that there is no viewing window.
The control panel is still easy to navigate. Just read the user manual once with attention and then you’ll know what to do.
Auto dispenser
This is actually where the main difference lies in but it’s up to you to decide is the addition of an auto dispenser justifies the price.
The auto dispenser has one role: you add your raisins, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, fruits or whatever else in the dispenser and the machine releases these additional ingredients when the recipe calls for them. Hence, the name auto.
If we have no auto dispenser we have to add them by hand when the machine beeps to let us know that we should add our raisins, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, fruits. That means that we must be around the machine to hear the needed beeps.
If you’re into the habit of making 1 pound loaves with nuts/fruits/chocolate chips, the auto dispenser can be very helpful.
The dispenser is also detachable so that you can easily fill it without making a mess.
Loaf size
It bakes only 1-pound loaf so that’s definitely not changed.
The loaves are vertical.
5. Cuisinart CBK-110: Best Value
I picked the Cuisinart CBK 110 as my fifth choice for a small bread maker but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an excellent machine for making all kinds of breads, including gluten free, and a variety of doughs.
The Cuisinart CBK 110 is absolutely amazing. From my point of view, it’s actually the bread maker that offers the best value for money. That’s why I absolutely had to offer a short review here.
12 cycles
- basic
- French/Italian
- whole wheat
- sweet
- gluten free
- packaged mix
- cake
- dough
- pasta dough
- jam
- bake-only
- rapid bake
For the gluten-free cycle, the user manual includes 4 recipes.
Nevertheless, if you want to explore the full potential of a small bread maker for whatever cycle you want, I recommend getting a bread machine cookbook. Of course, you can also find plenty of recipes online.
There’s also an alert that lets you know when you can remove the paddle. If you remove the paddle after the dough has been kneaded and before it’s baked, the loaf will be baked with a smaller hole that the base.
It’s a nice option but I don’t know how many people will end up using it because it implies that you must be around to hear the beeps that let you know that you must remove the kneading paddle.
Design
It has a compact shape and it weighs under 11 pounds.
Dimensions: 10.25 x 13.25 x 11.25 inches.
The control panel is very easy to use, it’s completely intuitive. Still, read the user manual carefully because that way you will understand how to make perfect loaves or dough every time.
There’s also a nice viewing window.
It also comes with a 3-year warranty, which only Cuisinart offers.
Loaf size
3 loaf sizes: 1 pound, 1.5, and 2 pounds. It’s very versatile.
3 crust settings: light, medium, and dark.
There’s also a 13-hour delay timer.
Best small bread maker: what makes it so?
When we’re looking for the best small bread maker, are we looking for a small machine that weighs only 8 pounds, like the Oster CKSTBRTW20, which is my top pick?
Or are we looking for a machine that even though weighs 16 pounds it’s capable of fitting in pretty narrow spaces due to its design, like the Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10?
Another distinction we should make regarding the term small is the following: even if the Oster CKSTBRTW20 only weighs 8 pounds and it’s pretty small, it’s still capable of baking loaves of 3 sizes: 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, and 2 pounds.
On the other hand, the Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10 and the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 1-Pound-Loaf Mini Breadmaker actually represent a unique thing in the wonderful world of bread machines: these two only bake 1 pound loaves.
Thus, are there people who are looking to buy the best bread machine and by that they mean a machine that only bakes 1 pound loaves?
Or maybe pretty much everyone wants a bread machine that is lightweight, weighing 8-12 pounds, that is compact but that it’s also capable of baking different loaf sizes, like 2 pounds loaves.
We must also take into account that some of these models that I reviewed also don’t have a dedicated gluten-free setting, like the Oster CKSTBRTW20.
If we get the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 1-Pound-Loaf Mini Breadmaker, we are informed that we can bake gluten-free breads under the basic bread regular cycle.
On the other hand, the Zojirushi Maestro BB-SSC10 manages to be one of the most complex machines at the moment, featuring a wide array of cycles including a gluten-free setting, and even having a nut dispenser. But it only bakes 1 pound loaves.
All in all, whatever you’re looking for when you search for the best small bread maker is something only you know but I hope I have provided enough recommendations for you to find what you need.
