6 Best Bread Makers for Sourdough [2024 Review]

There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh bread in the kitchen. There are a bunch of ways you can make your own homemade bread, but a breadmaker is the easiest. Stick in your dough and wait for it to be done! 

I’ve got an epic review of the best bread makers for sourdough for you to pick from.

Here are the 3 main criteria I used to find the best sourdough bread makers: 

1. Overall quality
2. Price
3. Functions

You can scroll down to my buyer’s guide to see why these criteria matter.

Breadmakers aren’t cheap, but if you find the right one it will last for a long time! The key is to get one that’s high quality, but won’t break the bank. 

That’s why my top two picks are:

• Overall best: Breville BBM800XL. The Breville is the most impressive on this list! It comes with 13 different settings and it can make 4 different size loaves. The Breville brand is in a class of its own when it comes to quality and craftsmanship. 
• Most affordable: Oster Expressbake. If you’re tight on funds, but need a new bread machine–this is my go to option. It’s around $100, which is a third of the price of the Breville. 

6 Best Bread Makers for Sourdough

Here’s a quick overview showing all of my top picks and the factors I looked at in my research. You can click through on any model to check out the recent price. You can also take a look at other customer’s bread maker reviews.

1. Best Overall – Breville BBM800XL

I just had to share the best bread maker for sourdough first.

This is the Breville BBM800XL.

This powerful bread maker comes with 13 different bread settings, 3 crust colors to choose from, and 4, that’s right 4, different loaf sizes, the biggest being 2.5 pounds.

This makes it stand out from Zojirushi bread machines, with their largest being only 2 pounds.

It has an automatic fruit and nut dispenser that knows exactly when to dispense additional ingredients throughout the kneading process.

The Breville has a special door that the additional ingredients can go through without having to open up the door and lose its heat. This also means you don’t have to babysit your bread machine. You can go out and let the bread machine take care of itself.

It also has a collapsible kneading paddle. The kneading paddle will collapse before baking, after thoroughly kneading the dough, which will lessen the size of the hole at the bottom of the sourdough bread.

One of the downsides of this awesome machine is that it’s massive.

So why is it the best bread machine for sourdough?

Oh yeah, because of the fully customizable settings.

You can customize the kneading time and baking time. Just because you don’t have a sourdough bread setting, doesn’t mean you won’t have sourdough on your plate in a few hours. All you have to do is grab your sourdough starter, turn on the crusty bread setting and let the Breville work its magic.

Here’s a quick pic of the screen options:

The Breville is great for simplicity.

It comes with 46 clear and easy step-by-step recipes and easily-digested baking options that won’t leave you googling what everything means! (I’ve all been there.)

This is a great bread maker for beginners, who are happy to invest in their baking skills, or novices who need a serious upgrade!

Pros

• Fully customizable settings: This means you can make sourdough bread, without actually having a specific setting for it!
• Ingredient dispenser: This will automatically release ingredients throughout the kneading process. You don’t even have to be in the same room to oversee this.
• A window and a light to see inside: This means you won’t let out any of the heat by opening up the hatch to check its progress.
• Collapsable paddle: This will automatically move out of your bread’s way and will minimize the hole at the bottom of your bread!

Cons

• It can be quite loud: This could disturb your sleep if you use the delay timer.

2. Best for Speed – Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA is an attractive, modern, and stylish bread maker.

Who should buy it?

People with specific dietary needs would benefit from this bread maker. Although a lot of other bread makers make gluten-free bread, the Zojirushi does a better job at it. This is because of the double kneading panels.

It comes with a range of healthy bread settings such as whole wheat bread, gluten-free bread, and even vegan bread.

It comes with dual heaters that create an even color all over. The double kneading blades are coated in a non-stick finish that makes it easier to clean and quicker to knead the dough.

The window on top of the machine is larger than most other bread maker windows. The LCD is also big and bright, so you won’t feel the need to squint your eyes to get a good reading.

The loaf pan shape is longer, meaning the actual-sized slices will be regular and fit inside a toaster better than the Breville.

So why is it best for speed? You’re presented with rapid courses that can bake a loaf of delicious sourdough bread in just 2 and a half hours.

The Zojirushi bread maker is a very sturdy machine. So if you’re low on space, maybe smaller bread makers, like the Cuisinart’s, would suffice.

Pros

• Big and clear window: This is great for you to easily see the progress.
• Dual heaters: This will give you an even color on the crust.
• 13 hour delay time: Your bread will be ready whenever you need it to be!
• Double kneading panels: This kneads the dough faster, and also easier.

Cons

• Smaller loaf size: 2 pounds is its largest loaf size, which wouldn’t be ideal for larger families.

3. Best Budget Buy – Oster Expressbake

This is a pretty hefty machine in terms of size and weight so it’ll take up a lot of room. However, it has a clean, stylish and sleek look, it’ll look wonderful on your kitchen counter.

The Oster Expressbake comes with an instruction manual full of basic recipes, including sourdough starter and sourdough bread roll recipes.

There’s a vent on the outside, that has to remain uncovered when baking, and a glass viewing window for you to watch your bread grow. It comes with an LCD control panel, a 13-hour delay timer, and a rapid bake option.

Like many other bread makers, it comes with an automatic keep-warm setting in case you’re late taking the bread out of the pan.

It doesn’t have an automatic dispenser, but the machine will beep at you when it’s time to manually insert extra ingredients. This means you will have to stay around to listen out for this.

Its 2-pound loaf capacity and 12 bread settings make it a great addition to an already larger family.

It has everything you need to bake some bread! It’s perfect for beginners who want to bake sourdough bread. Although there’s no official sourdough bread setting, it can still be made when you have your sourdough starter ready, particularly on the European cycle.

This is perfect for beginners who might not know if they’re bakers yet.

If you’re going to be baking sourdough bread often, and you would rather have a machine that offers a better kneading process, then the Zojirushi or the Breville would be better suited.

Pros

• Rapid baking: This setting is great for those in a rush!
• 13-hour delay: The bread can be set to be ready whenever you need it.
• Large LCD: can be easily read by beginners.
• A beeping reminder sound: This is so you won’t forget to add in any extra ingredients.

Cons

• No light for the window: You won’t be able to see in as clearly as other bread machines.
• Loud kneading: This could be disruptive if it’s on when you are sleeping.
• Only one kneading blade: This will leave a hole at the bottom of the bread, and might also not knead it thoroughly.

4. Best for Ease-of-use – Cuisinart CBK-110

The Cuisinart CBK-110 is a fantastic bread maker for beginners and people who don’t want to spend a long time baking. It’s such a simple and easy-to-operate machine that you’ll be baking sourdough bread with every meal.

All of the programs available to you are written on the top of the bread maker. Such as French bread, sweet bread, and bread that’s gluten-free. There are 12 pre-programmed settings in total, each with a number to help you choose the right one before baking.

There are 3 crust settings to choose from. You’re gifted with a large window and a light to see that all of your ingredients have been incorporated or that the kneading is working as it should be.

Not everyone knows that there’s a light setting. You just have to hold down the button that says ‘size’ to get the light on. You repeat this to turn it off.

Another great feature is that the bread maker will automatically turn off when not in use. If for any reason you need to step out, or to quickly fix something with the dough, then you can pause the process.

To do this, you have to hold down the stop/start button for roughly 2 seconds until you hear a long beep. This will indicate that the process of your baking has been paused. To continue, you just have to press the stop/start button.

Although it’s great for people who don’t want to spend a long time baking, the Zojirushi might do a better job because of the dual heaters it comes with.

Pros

• Easy to read: This makes it a brilliant beginner-friendly machine!
• Compact, small design: This makes it easy to store away, and would be great for people who don’t bake often.
• 13-hour delay: Your bread can be ready whenever you’d like it to be!
• Door with window and light: You can watch the bread bake without having to open the door.

Cons

• No top heating element: This could cause uneven crust color.

5. Best for Hole-free Loaves – Breadman BK1050S

The Breadman bread maker brings bakery-like results to your kitchen. A whopping 14 pre-programmed settings are giving you the option to make gluten-free bread, french bread, whole wheat bread and so much more!

Perfectionists would appreciate the Breadman because it’s the best bread machine to make hole-free sourdough loaves, so close to perfection that you’ll never want to let it go. It also doesn’t leave a hole in your wallet, unlike other advanced bread makers.

It only comes in three loaf sizes, 1 pound, 1.5 pounds, and 2 pounds, and three loaf crust colors.

Unlike the other recommendations, it comes with a gigantic 15-hour delay timer, ensuring your fresh sourdough bread is ready when you need it to be.

Just like the Breville, the Breadman comes with a fruit and nut dispenser that holds onto the ingredients before letting them out at an optimal time. This is great to keep the heat inside the pod.

It comes with 80 recipes to experiment with, a measuring spoon, and a collapsible measuring cup. It also comes with a collapsible kneading paddle which will minimize the size of the hole at the bottom of your sourdough bread.

The Breadman is cheaper than the Breville, so those on a budget would do well by this bread maker. Both machines have collapsible kneading paddles and a dispenser.

Pros

• 15-hour delay: One of the longest delays out there for bread to be ready whenever you need it.
• Fruit and nut dispenser: This is easy to transfer ingredients without you being there.
• Collapsible kneading panel: This will bring a stronger kneading process and it will minimize the hole at the bottom of the bread.
• Beginner-friendly: Comes with 80 recipes and its collapsible measuring cup and measuring spoon.

Cons

• Loud beeping between stages: This can get annoying for some people
• No window light: You may have to open the door depending on the lighting in your home

6. Best Features for the Price – Cuisinart CBK-200

When you look at the features on offer with the Cuisinart CBK-200, and then you look at the price, you think something’s got to be wrong.

But it isn’t.

It is the best sourdough bread maker price for the value it brings.

This bread maker will suit those on a budget, but who also want to get as much value as they can.

Its compact and sleek stainless steel design won’t take up too much room on your kitchen counter. This makes a great sourdough bread for busy individuals that won’t have time to bake regularly.

It has 16 pre-programmed settings, 3 crusty loaf colors to choose from, and 3 loaf sizes with over 100 choices of bread and doughs.

There are gluten-free and healthy menu options and recipes. Including rustic bread recipes to make the best sourdough bread for your family.

Unlike the Cuisinart 110, it has a convection fan that rotates hot air around your loaf of bread, creating an even color from the top, sides, and bottom.

There’s a 12-hour delay cycle, 3-year warranty, and 15-minute pause option!

However, it doesn’t have an automatic dispenser like the Breville or Breadman.

Pros

• 12-hour delay: The bread can be ready whenever you need it.
• Its convection fan: This creates an even color all around your bread!
• Durable: it should last a long time, so you won’t have to purchase a new one for a while
• The handles will stay cool: This makes an easier removal of the bread tin (unlike the Osterexpress bake, whose handles remain too hot to remove with ease)

Cons

• No automatic dispenser: This means you have to stick around while your bread is baking if you wanted to add in extra ingredients.

Buyers’ Guide: How to Pick the Best Sourdough Bread Maker for Your Kitchen

Loaf Capacity

Depending on your family size at home, you’ll need the correct loaf capacity selected in your bread maker. For big families, Breville is the best.

The majority of bread machines come with at least three loaf sizes to choose from. However, the peak capacity will differ from bread machines.

It’s important to stick to the capacity your bread maker will allow. Although you can add in more flour and water to adjust the needs of your bread, you cannot try to make a 2-pound loaf of sourdough bread in a bread pan with lesser capacity.

The Breville is the only option that can go above 2lbs! It has a max capacity of 2.5lbs. 

Comparison Table

Product	Color	Number of Settings
Breville BBM800XL	Stainless Steel	13
Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA	Stainless Steel / Black	9
Oster Expressbake	White/Ivory	12
Cuisinart CBK-110	New Compact Automatic	12
Breadman BK1050S	Silver	14
Cuisinart CBK-200	Convection	16

Overall Size and Weight of the Machine

What is your setup like at home? Will you be making homemade bread almost every day? Or is it only going to make an appearance on special occasions? These are important questions to ask yourself before purchasing a bread machine.

If you’re only planning on making sourdough bread a few times a month, then purchasing a heavy-duty bread machine might put you off baking altogether! You don’t want to be straining yourself every time you store the bread machine away. Either of the Cuisinart’s is the best for storing regularly.

Here’s a picture of how big the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA is.

Settings and Programs

Are you looking to make sourdough bread, and that’s all? If the answer is a yes, then don’t over-complicate your process by choosing a bread machine with tons of programs. 

All of the bread machines listed in this article will meet the simple need for sourdough bread baking.

Or are you looking to experiment in bread making past sourdough, including adding extra ingredients and different styles? If this is the case, then you’ll benefit from a bread machine with a variety of settings. 

As you can see, the Cuisinart CBK-200 has the most functions on this list with 16! 

Crust Control

To expand your bread-making horizon, you can experiment with the color of your loves to see which you and your family like best. Your crust setting will vary from light crust to medium crust and dark crust.

If you’re interested in crust control, a great tip would be to purchase a bread machine with a window so you can observe the process of your bread-making. This will help you learn how much additional time, or even less time, is needed to achieve great color.

Delayed Start

This is a wonderful option for on-the-go people.

Imagine going to work and coming home to the smell of freshly baked bread.

No, it’s not an intruder that’s broken into your house and decided to bake sandwich loaves.

It’s your bread machine on a delayed timer, serving you bread at a convenient time.

The delayed start will let you choose the time the bread is ready to eat. You can prepare it the night before, and have it ready for when you wake up.

Deliciously, warm sourdough bread in the morning is a great alarm clock!

Settings for Different Types of Bread

Even a basic bread maker will have a great selection of bread settings to choose from. This varies from gluten-free bread and wheat bread to cakes and jam! Your bread machine is your oyster. You can experiment wildly depending on the settings on offer.

There’s the option of a fruit and nut dispenser which will automatically dispense extra ingredients during the kneading process. This will save you time and will also protect the heat being released from the window. I want to keep that heat in!

There are also bread machines with a quick bread option, also known as rapid baking. This is great for last-minute dinners, guests, or bread-hunger-pangs. (They really are a thing!)

Another great setting to look out for is a window with a light. A lot of bread makers come with a window to observe the progress of your bread.

Having that extra bit of support during the process will provide you with the information you may need. Such as unwanted flour sticking to the sides, or your bread looking wetter than it should be. Light gives a faster reaction time to problems arising in your process, so you can bake bread to perfection.

Number of Kneading Paddles

For the best bread to be served at the table, you ideally want a bread maker with two kneading paddles. But this isn’t to say you won’t end up with tasty bread if there’s just one. Typically, a budget bread maker will only come with one kneading paddle. This gets the job done, but it might not satisfy the needs of avid bakers.

Once your bread comes out of the machine, there may be a hole in the bottom due to the stationary kneading paddles. This flaw won’t change the way your bread tastes, but it will change its appearance.

Collapsible paddles (like on the Breville and Breadman) will move out of your bread’s way before the final bake phase. This means your bread will slide out of the bread machine without the kneading paddles coming along with it.

Removable paddles can be removed after an alert is set off to remind you about it. You take out the paddles and re-insert the dough for the final phase of baking.

Type: Vertical vs Horizontal

Vertical

Vertical bread machines are typically less expensive bread machines. They’re usually smaller and easier to maneuver. They are great for small families that don’t eat a lot of bread due to their smaller loaf pan shape.

However, vertical bread machines create taller bread slices. This means it’ll be harder to fit your bread into a toaster.

Vertical bread makers also have a no heating element on the top of their machine. This will result in an uneven spread of color, usually a dark crust on the bottom and a pale top.

Vertical bread machines are extremely popular. Although with a couple of faults, it’s still able to deliver delicious sourdough bread.

Horizontal

If you’ll be making a lot of toast with your bread, then maybe an awkward slice of bread will quickly become irritating. A horizontal-shaped bread pan will give you the desired, store-bought bread shape that you’re looking for.

A larger bread pan equals a larger bread machine.

This means it’ll take up more room than its vertical sibling and will require extra effort when storing.

In a horizontal pan, your bread will have more room to slide around. This means it could easily stick to one side during the kneading process and might not create an efficient loaf of bread. To avoid this, get a machine with two kneading paddles. This will evenly spread out the dough without cause for concern.

Usually, a two-paddle bread machine will be more expensive. If you aren’t willing to pay more money, then you should lookout for a bread machine with a window. This way, you can keep an eye on your bread’s progress and for any problems that may occur.

Price

You can expect to find some real budget-beast bread makers for less than $100!

The more advanced bread machines, like my favorite the Breville BBM800XL, can come close to $300. There’s a clear difference in price here. But the advanced bread machines are an investment.

You have to think logically about the purpose you need your machine to serve.

Is there a chance that you’ll buy a cheaper bread machine, only to realize how much you love it and want to upgrade?

Or will you splash the cash on an advanced bread machine, only for it to be collecting dust in your closet, having only been used twice?

You’ve got to be realistic in your expectations. This will ultimately save you money in the long run.

As you can see, the Oster Expressbake is the cheapest on the list at the time I wrote this article! There are a few options that are all around the same price. 

Common Questions about Sourdough Bread Makers

Final Verdict

I believe the Breville BBM800XL is the best bread maker for sourdough. It comes with all the features you need and more. It will be especially good for those of you that will be baking regularly.

For beginners or part-time bakers, the best option is the Oster Expressbake. You can still make warm sourdough bread without putting a dent in your wallet.

Can I make sourdough bread in a bread machine? With one of these gadgets you can, and with ease!