A couple of years ago, I wrote a post where I shared my all-time favorite gluten-free bread recipe. At the time, I was making this bread fairly regularly for my son Kell who has celiac disease.
But making homemade bread is a time-consuming process, even if you’re not doing it every day! I started opting to just buy gluten free bread at the store to save myself some time and effort.
But not only is store-bought gluten free bread nowhere near as good as the homemade stuff, it’s also expensive! So a couple of months ago, I decided I wouldn’t rest until I figured out a way to make our favorite gluten free bread at home without the time-consuming process I was used to.
Enter My New Favorite Bread Maker!
After doing some research online, I came across the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker. While I was a bit apprehensive about the cost at first, it did have a gluten free bread program built right in!
The thought of being able to enjoy homemade gluten free bread without spending all that time making it by hand was too enticing to resist! So I bought the bread maker, and once it arrived, I eagerly set about making my recipe using the method for the Gluten Free course from the recipe book that came with the machine.
And just over 2 hours later, we were digging into gluten free bread that was every bit as good as I had hoped it would be! Since then, I’ve made dozens of amazing loaves of bread (both conventional and gluten free) that have made me incredibly glad I decided to take a chance on this machine!
I wanted to share some of my favorite things about this bread maker with you today, in case you’ve been thinking about getting one for your own kitchen!
5 Things I Love About This Bread Maker
1. Large Loaf Size
A lot of bread makers produce one-pound loaves of bread. When you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed like I do, a loaf of that size can disappear in minutes!
But this bread maker produces a much more substantial two-pound loaf. These loaves last longer than their smaller counterparts, which saves me time and effort in the kitchen.
2. Even Cooking & Browning
Whenever I make bread in my oven, I can never get the loaves to turn out as evenly as I’d like them to be. The bottom will be dark while the top is still pale, or vice versa!
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With this bread maker’s dual heating elements, I don’t have to worry! They cook the bread from both the top and bottom, so the loaves come out evenly cooked and consistent in color.
3. Easy To Use
If you want a bread maker that does nearly all the work for you, this one is perfect! The process can be as simple as adding the ingredients to the pan, selecting one of the programs, and hitting “Start.”
The recipe book that comes with this bread maker contains a recipe for each program the machine offers. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
4. Very Customizable
But even if you’re the type who likes to have more control over the bread making process, this model is still an excellent option! Between the built-in programs and the adjustable settings, you can customize things as much or as little as you’d like.
For instance, the machine has a Rest cycle that allows the ingredients to come to temperature before it starts kneading them. The recipe I wanted to use calls for bloomed yeast, so I just turned the Rest cycle off. (More details on that below!)
There are many other ways to turn certain functions on or off as needed for your recipe. You can even create your own custom program so that the machine remembers your specific method!
5. It’s Not Just A Bread Maker!
While I bought this machine primarily to make bread, I was also intrigued by the number of ways you could use it! It features a jam program you can use to make homemade jams and jellies, a cake program for pound cakes and other loaf-type cakes, and more!
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You can also use this machine to make dough for rolls, pizza, and homemade pasta, and you can even make meatloaf with it! I haven’t used all of these functions yet, but I’m looking forward to trying them out!
BONUS: Bread Maker Recipe For White Bread
Since I’ve already shared the recipe for my favorite gluten free bread, I thought I’d share the recipe I’ve been using for conventional white bread! This recipe turns out perfect every time in the Zojirushi bread maker!
Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
3 Tbsp white sugar
2 tsp instant yeast
1/4 cup olive oil (or butter)
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
Add the warm water, sugar, and yeast to the pan inside the bread maker. Let the yeast bloom for 10 minutes, then add the oil (or butter), flour, and salt to the pan.
Select the “White Bread” program (Course 1), then press both the up and down Time Setting buttons for 3 seconds to turn off the Rest cycle. Hit the Start button, and in just about 3 hours, you’ll end up with a delicious loaf of warm homemade white bread!
For uniform slices, you can use something like this bamboo bread slicer. Or you can just go for it, because it’s not a beauty contest! ;-)
Do you have a bread maker at home?
I have used this company’s bread machine for 25 years. This one looks updated, but I am sure it is superb. They really have done a terrific job with their bread maker. I have to change the times for rising for summer and winter since our house temperature fluctuates. This bread maker gives the option to do that. Otherwise it will rise too high in the warm summer house and then fall with big holes and a gummy texture. In winter the loaves would otherwise not rise high and would be dense and small.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I understand that there is a cycle for gluten free bread. Can the dough cycle for pizza, and other things that would require dough as a base also be made gluten free in this machine? I’m thinking it would because gluten free doesn’t just apply to bread but would like to know before I make such a big purchase.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I bought the Zojirushi 1 lb. breadmaker about 5 years ago and absolutely LOVE it. The bread made at home is 1000% better than the kind you buy already made. There are so many options. Yes, the Zoji is expensive but so worth every penny!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ive had mine for twenty years now and it still works fine! Well worth the investment!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree. I was making the gluten free bread for awhile. It’s very time consuming. I would use a bread machine if I could find a cheaper model.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.But you get what you paid for. My husband researches things to death. Somethings are not worth the price they ask, but other things are not. This is one. Also, buying some things on Amazon not worth it. Check the price through the manufacturer’s site. Even if it is more, it may be worth getting that way simply for warranty work and customer service. I have a pair of headphones I bought from the company who makes them, and they were wonderful when I had a problem. The reviews on Amazon said otherwise.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you can make gluten-free bread in a bread maker why is it so difficult to make it without a bread maker? What if you want to use ancient grains and nuts seeds with your recipe can it be adapted?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was reading the reviews on this product on Amazon. There seems to be an issue with the blades shearing and metal fragments in the loaf. Also, customer service is not presented in a very good light. Have you heard of these issues?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Amazon reviews scare me sometimes. They seem to love or hate a product, with no in-betweens. The reviews there have scared me into not buying an Instant Pot, while I read others online saying they love theirs.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have much money, so buying the Pot is something I have to really think about, and the reviews put me off. I could almost say that about everything I see on Amazon going by the reviews.
I am a real person who owns both the zojirushi bread maker and the instant pot. I absolutely adore both. I am also on a limited income and spent a long time saving for both items. For me, they have been worth every penny. I have a lot of health issues and can not buy store bread. It is also hard for me to do all the work involved in making a loaf of bread. I have also gone thru quite a few bread makers. I am thrifty and started picking them up free or very cheap at yard sales and stuff. In all that I tried, none compare to the zojirushi. It is exactly as described in this review. The only thing I would add is that it has double paddles and it consistently makes a fluffier lighter crumb bread, than I got with other bread makers, by hand or by using my kitchenAid mixer to knead.
The instant pot is a whole other thing but I use it multiple times a week. If nothing else it is an extra burner at holidays. But I make soup, bone broth, roasts, stews, dog food, rice dishes, etc. I do use it a little more in the winter than the summer because of the soup. What I will say, it isn’t quite as advertised. Like hard boiled eggs. Yes it can do it but it actually takes longer than my little dedicated egg cooker. The only time I use it for eggs is when I need to do a lot at once. I also don’t find I like it for cooking noodles. It does fine but I don’t think it saves any time. The cook time might be less but you have to remember that it takes awhile to get to pressure.
Anyway, if anyone has any questions, I can try to answer them.
You make an excellent point, when on a limited income such as yourself there are practical ways to get appliances like you have – for free or cheap at yard sales. What a brilliant way to be frugal and ‘test’ appliances before forking over the big bucks or not having to fork over the big bucks at all.