Panasonic YR2540 Fully Automatic Breadmaker, with yeast & nut dispensers, Manual Settings for Bread & Rising, Dual Temperature Sensors, 13 Hours Digital Timer, Gunmetal

This machine is an excellent piece of kit, producing pretty much everything “Loaf” and everything “Kneaded and Proved” if you want Rolls or Baguettes, and in doing so this machine pretty much removes all of the hard work in making dough, leaving you just to bake it! It’s a pity it doesn't have a range of trays that you can insert into the machine for other bread shapes, but thats a minor issue as the lack of such trays is really just an inconvenience in the process.It’s central core is the loaf and it does this brilliantly basically add the ingredients set the size, bake colour and timer and abracadabra great tasting breads when you want it; with a cost per loaf of about 50 percent of that of the shop bought loaf. That’s not to say it will save you money as the £200ish price tag will take some time to recover, but warm fresh bread everyday without any preservatives or additives is a compensation that goes a long way in payback for that overhead!It fits into my Kitchen very nicely and is about the same size as a microwave, is easy to maintain and clean. Its digital readout is self explanatory and with menu options printed alongside for reference.So if you like fresh bread and can swallow the machine cost for what is clearly well designed and built and turns out great results you can purchase this with confidence…

I had never made bread by hand. I’ve always wanted to but lacked the confidence to try. I believe this stems from my bitter childhood experiences with authoritarian home economic teachers who would shout and punish you for the slightest mistakes made which has in turn left me to fear anything to do with cooking. But when I put my mind to it I can follow simple recipes, and with a hankering to try my hand at bread making whilst avoiding my lack of knowledge of how to make dough, I decided a bread making machine was the way to go. So, I went for the plunge and brought the best model out there, the Panasonic YR2540. I can confidently make bread whilst avoiding the laborious mixing, kneading, proving, and baking as this can be all done by my bread machine. All I have to do is weigh out a few simple ingredients and let the machine do all the work.My confidence in baking has drastically improved since I got this machine. I can now make many types of bread with maximum flavour and minimal fuss, or stress. This machine has over 30 settings allowing you to make whole choice of breads from simple white and traditional wholemeal loafs to speciality breads made with flours such as spelt and rye, gluten free, and all manner of flavoured breads. It also has a cake mixing and cake backing settings allowing you to make all types of cakes. You can also use ready made bread mix and cake mix that you can buy from the supermarkets. This model also has an automatic yeast dispenser, and a fruit and nut dispenser. Plus, it has a timer so you can wake up to the smell of freshly made bread.The instruction booklet has many recipes. These are also available on the Panasonic website which are good but the recipes are not that easy to follow as aimed more for the American market. There is however a conversion chart on the website which helps you to convert US named flour types to UK ones. I tend to follow recipes provided in a really good book called “Brilliant Breadmaking In Your Bread Machine” by Catherine Atkinson, which is easier to follow as the recipe ingredients and measurements are for the UK market.Overall, I highly recommend the Panasonic YR2540 bread machine as its one of the best. Now I can fill my home with the wonderful aroma of freshly backed bread!The only negative point was the delivery as it arrived without being inside a delivery box. I don’t like this because I don’t want anyone seeing what’s been delivered to me. An outer box helps to protect the original box which in my case arrived with the corners crushed in. Luckily the item within the original packaging wasn’t damaged!Update 20/06/25. This bread maker also has a jam setting, so today I made jam for the very first time which turned out really well. If you search Google for Jam recipes you will find a number specifically for bread machines.

This is the best kitchen gadget I have ever boughtI’ve had it long enough now to write an honest and informed reviewThis bread maker does exactly as it saysThe bread made from the recipes in the little booklet that comes with the machine is truly something special every single timeI’ve made use of it every daySometimes setting it away again no sooner than it’s finished a loafThe basic loaf, the Italian loaf, the bacon and cheese loaf and the French loaf are all amazingThe focaccia and pizza doughs are perfectIt’s an expensive piece of kit but if you buy a loaf almost daily it’s worth itOh I must mention the bread rollsThey were fantastic tooIt’s so easy to use a child could do itEverything you need except for the ingredients and an oven glove is with the machineI’d get a spare set of measuring spoons thoughAnd a cooling rack for coolingIt’s easy to cleanIt’s quite large but with his good the bread is I couldn’t care less if it was twice the sizeThe aroma in my home is like walking into a bakery on steroids I just love that homely vibeIf I could give it 10 stars I wouldThe only downside for me personally is that as with all bread makers it can sometimes be tricky to get the bread out of the pan due to the dough blade (not sharp of course just in the way when removing the loaf)And inherently it leaves a tear in the bottom of each loaf .. that’s unavoidable with bread makers but if I could click my fingers to change something that would be the only thingThis machine has made me incredibly satisfied many times over now and it will continue to do soI have an Italian loaf in right nowSome loaves take a lot longer than othersBut there’s a timer so you can set it away during your sleeping hours ready for when you wakeAnd that’s easy tooI could go on but it’ll turn into a ramble but if you’re thinking of getting a bread maker I truly cannot fault this oneAmazing