Bb PDC20BA Virtuoso Plus 2 Lb Breadmaker, Black | Gluten-free and whole-wheat programs, dual heaters, 13-hour timer

I bought this bread maker three months ago, and I haven't purchased a single loaf of store-bought bread since. My family asks for fresh bread everyday, and this machine makes it effortless. Knowing there are only 6 ingredients in the bread and one of them is water makes me feel good about them eating it. It takes me under 5 minutes to throw the ingredients in, and then the machine does all of the work for the next 3 and 1/2 hours. I love it so much that I even brought it along on vacation! Everyone laughed at me when they saw me carrying it, but they weren't laughing long. The never got cold, I made it every single day and some people even found their way to the kitchen just from the smell. For my recipe, I use honey instead of sugar. It is supposed to keep the bread moist longer, and it absolutely works. When I was shopping for a bread maker, I noticed this model had some of the best reviews online. It is a little bit more expensive, but it delivers a perfect loaf of bread every time. It is worth every penny, and I would highly recommend buying one!

One of my favorite things about this bread maker is how easy the included recipes are to follow. I can simply add a few basic ingredients, start the machine, and walk away while it does all the work. As someone who’s always busy, that convenience is a huge plus. The bread tastes far better than most store-bought bread—fresh, flavorful, and well worth the effort. I’ve even used it to make homemade jams, and they’ve turned out great. Overall, this is an excellent machine for anyone who wants fresh, homemade bread and other foods without spending hours in the kitchen.

I hesitated to buy this bread-maker and I shouldn't have. While I like to bake my own bread in the winter months, living in the Phoenix area, I do not like to bake in a full-sized oven with the A/C already straining with outdoor Summer and Spring temperatures between 90 and 115. So I bought this to use on a shelf in my un-insulated garage mostly during the warmest weather. The instructions and minimal recipes provided come in English and French. I've tried most of the recipes and they produce very respectable 2 lb loaves of bread. The programming is fairly rigid and you can select three levels of darkness to the final loaf. The elongated Teflon-coated "tray" has two spinning paddles and cleans easily. At a time when a good, tasty loaf of bread can cost $4 - $6 dollars for just a one pound loaf, after the initial investment in purchasing this bread-maker, you can save a lot of money making your own bread over the long haul. If I have any negatives to report, it's simply that I would like more control over the programs used by this machine. The periods of kneading, resting, mixing, and rising are relatively fixed within each of a number of programs, and there are three levels of darkness to choose from. I like my bread crust a bit dark, and like to add semolina flour to my bread flour for a more Italian or Sicilian-style loaf. I'm not sure if I can adjust a recipe to adapt to the relatively fixed baking routines. I'll need more time to figure that out. If you want an easy solution to having fresh bread, have a few mouths to feed, and don't like paying $5.00 for a loaf of bread whose ingredients cost about $0.50 for a one pound loaf, this bread-maker is about as good as they come. For a busy household in need of very good sandwich bread, I highly-recommend this machine. If you are into baking artisan loaves of ciabatta bread or French baguettes, this or any machine is not what you are looking for. If you enjoy making good bread and want to customize your loaves, you're somewhat limited with any bread maker. I do compromise and use a "poolish" or "biga" fermentation to get the best flavors from my loaves, and I simply adjust the recipes provided by this bread-maker. You'll get great artisan flavors in a very typical-looking bread machine loaf if you do that. This bread-maker also can make pizza dough and other types of food that are outlined in the manual.

8.7.25 UPDATE: After a year and a half, this bread machine is still working as it should with no issues. It is used 3-4 times a week. I would definitely recommend to others. I was hesitant to pull the trigger on something I consider "pricey" and not really a necessity. Glad I did. I have owned many different models and makers of bread machines over the years and this one beats then all! I love that it has the heating element in the lid also as it helps to bake the bread more evenly. I have had it about 3 weeks now and have used it no less than 3 times a week to make raisin bread, white bread, dinner rolls and pizza dough. Everything I have made has been good. I even deviated from the recipes a bit and added a few additional ingredients to the raisin bread with no issues. The machine does the work for you when making dough and you just remove it and shape it into whatever you want to bake. Clean up is easy but you need to aware that you cannot submerge to dough bucket in water. You must hand wash the inside with a soft cloth and soap and rinse it out. The dough paddles are easy to remove and clean with soap and a soft rag. When I am done I just wipe the outside of the machine off with a damp cloth and it is ready for the next time I need to use it. If you are limited on storage space you need to know this machine is larger than most as it makes a 2 pound loaf of bread. I have cheese bread being made in my machine as I write this. The recipe book is easy to follow also and has many very good recipes to use. Overall I love this machine and feel for the money you will not be disappointed if you got one for yourself! Happy bread baking to you!

I used a bread maker back in the day when this fairly new appliance category began. I didn't like it much. It was fine, but not great. Over the years our eating habits adjusted and one of the things we cut out of our diet was supermarket bread from the aisles. We'd either buy it from the bakery department or make it ourselves. And that worked pretty well for years, although my own efforts to put a loaf together were inconsistent because I'm not clever enough to figure out how to adjust a recipe of it's extra humid or extra cool or any of a million other little adjustments that can affect the end result. Recently I had the opportunity to try another brand of bread machine, and I really enjoyed the ease of preparing a fresh loaf several times a week, and except for browning the top of the loaf which was sort of hit and miss, the results were pretty consistent. But I wasn't crazy about the vertical shape of the loaf, and it was very hit and miss when it came to properly distributing fruit and nuts. Like. It barely distributed them. But we liked the idea of a bread machine enough that we hunted around for one that would do a better job, and the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus really does. The loaves come out consistently well baked and evenly browned. Any additions (which you must add manually, although you'll be beeped when it's time to add) are distributed throughout the loaf instead of being clumped into a corner edge. And it's a normal shaped loaf that fits everyone's expectations. But the machine isn't cheap. And it takes up a hefty amount of counter real estate. I saw some complaints here and around the internet about inconsistent results. That is, I am certain, user error. First, make sure your yeast is still active. Add some to warm, sugared water and wait five minutes. If it isn't foamy, it isn't any good. Read the entire instruction manual before using the machine, particularly if you've never used a bread machine before. There is a specific order that ingredients must be added for proper mixing and baking. The one thing I DIDN'T see in the manual, but does seem to keep a finished loaf from having a "saddle back" (where the center of the finished loaf is dramatically slumped), is when you add the dry ingredients on top of the liquid, don't just make a mount of dry ingredients. Add the dry so that it's evenly distributed atop the liquid. Then, you'll learn from the manual, you add yeast. Another complaint I read more than once from reviewers is that mold grew inside of the machine. No kidding. Really? Here's a primer: The interior of the machine that just had yeast flying around in it is steamy at the end of the bake. After you remove the loaf pan, leave the lid open. Let the interior of the machine air dry. Let any yeast spores move on to other spaces because otherwise, yeah, mold will develop. Another complaint is that it makes a grinding noise and/or the non-stick coating is coming off. I can't speak to this one absolutely, but my guess is that some users aren't seating the loaf pan and/or paddles correctly. Just a guess. But I think it's a pretty good guess. Anyway, we love this machine, even the husband who has an aversion to small appliances.

I read reviews from CNET. This Zojirushi BB-PDC20 bread machine was reviewed as the favorite, but due to high price did not make #1 spot. I was willing to pay the high price because of the double mixer paddles and the excellent review it got. I have had this for 2 to 3 weeks and do really like this bread machine. The bread is so light and airy compared to my old Hamilton Beach being heavy and dense. I use regular flour and not the called for bread flour. I make my own cinnamon rolls using the dough setting, I've made the white bread and the honey bread recipes from the book that came with it, delicious. Husband asks to make more of the bread. The machine is pretty easy to use and are the recipes although, it doesn't indicate if the liquid should be warmed or not unless I am missing it somewhere or not understanding so I warm it to the temperature my yeast recommends. There is a resting period right at the start, but I didn't read anywhere if it warms/heats the ingredients to temperature while in Rest therefore, I warm my liquid. I also haven't been using Rest. I recommend going through the book a few times with a "mock" set up to get an understanding with hands on. Also to understand using Dough and Homemade settings because those you can change up to your liking and can be a little hard to understand in the book. Update: I reread the review and it indicates the Rest brings the ingredients to an ideal temperature. Pros: Dough comes out nice. Bread bakes and comes out nice. Light and airy. Simple to use so far. Top and bottom heaters. Double mixing arms Rectangular loaf. Pretty quiet. Recipe book fairly easy to understand. 'Rest' can be shut off. Really nice machine and highly recommend it. Can't think of anything I don't like. Cons: I don't have any so far about the machine. The book can be a little hard to understand without hands on practice. Update 03.19 23 Still love this bread machine. I use it All The Time. I would buy again and recommend to others. The only con I have: all manufacturers should include a mini brush to insert into the paddle holes for cleaning the little bits of dough out that water won't get out. Luckily I have brush that works.

Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker received on 4-22-22. This bread maker makes wonderful tasting bread. Easy to use and clean. Followed the recipes, in the furnished recipe book, for white bread and mini white bread. And yes, this bread maker does make a smaller more traditional sandwich sized loaf of bread aka mini. Both came out perfect. Loved the looks, texture and especially the taste of both. Store bought (no more for us) does not even come close. Can't understand why some have indicated the recipes did not work for them. Looking forward to trying some of the other recipes. Relative to the mixing paddles. Yes, sometimes, they will stick to the paddle shafts. No big deal. Filling the inside of the baking pan with water, AFTER THE PAN IS ALLOWED TO COOL, to just cover the shafts and paddles and allowing to soak for a few minutes takes care of the issue. Again, no big deal. TIP: Removing the paddles, just prior to the last rise, substantially reduces the bottom of loaf torn bread problem that some have taken issue with. Now for the REAL BIG DEAL PADDLE PROBLEM and why four stars instead of five. As stated in many of the negative reviews, and in my opinion, the paddles are very poorly designed. I feel that the paddles, when placed on the shafts, have way to much play in them. In fact, in the new as received unused condition, they appear to be 90% worn out and in my opinion will lead to premature failure. I feel that the way the paddles fit on the shafts is a major problem that the Zojirushi staff should address and change. It's a very simple manufacturing fix. No logical reason that the paddles should have so much play. Thanks to all who brought this issue to our attention. We will be paying close attention to premature paddle failure and will replace accordingly. But, guess what, as of this date, 5/5/22, I was told by a customer service rep that replacement paddles ARE NOT IN STOCK. What's up with that? We do highly recommend this bread maker as it does make a wonderful loaf of bread.

Wish I’d found this sooner ,but now that I have I’m using it at least twice a week. Bread is perfect with minimal work .

I have only owned this bread machine for a few days so can’t say anything about durability and reliability. But in terms of what it can do, I’m amazed. My very first loaf of basic white bread was perfect! I have tried making bread by hand quite a few times over the years and have always ended up frustrated and disappointed. I just never got the “feel” that you need to be a good bread baker. But this little “bread robot” solves the problem. Just measure the ingredients carefully and you’re guaranteed a good result. Things i was a bit skeptical about, like the loaf coming away cleanly from the baking pan/bucket, actually work like a charm. This is an expensive toy and you can’t really justify it in terms of saving money vs buying commercial bread. But if you like speciality breads that can be hard to find (like a decent loaf of deli caraway rye in coastal BC!) and are willing to pay for the satisfaction of enjoying them fresh and made with ingredients that you control, whose quality you can be sure of, then this machine could be the ticket. Also if you bake for charity or other types of bread/cake production that are not commercial-scale but a bit more than you can manage singlehanded at home, this machine can crank out that loaf for the fund raiser or potluck in 3-4 hours completely unsupervised, while you do other things. There is also almost no cleanup. You don’t have a kitchen counter covered with flour, hands and apron covered with flour, sticky dough all over the place, multiple mixing bowls to wash. You put all the ingredients in a strict order into the bucket, put the bucket in the machine, push a button and the robot does the rest. Bread making is no longer a laborious whole-afternoon undertaking involving a lot of washing up. This is a truly functional kitchen appliance. Normally I’m skeptical of kitchen gadgets, having been fascinated by and then disappointed in many of them. Often they claim to “save labour” while being fiendishly hard to clean, or are so specialised that you end up using them once a year and regretting the purchase. But this bread robot actually delivers and if you and your family like breads and cakes, you’re likely to use it often. Fresh home made bread is a whole different experience from stale factory bread in a plastic bag from the supermarket. I agonised over this purchase for over a year, despite the rave reviews from a friend of mine who uses her Zoji weekly to make bread for her family. She swore up and down I would never regret it, so I finally took the plunge. And I think she is right. So long as there are no reliability issues, I am not likely to regret this appliance purchase. Highly recommended, lives up to its golden reputation. PS my friend said it was worth gritting my teeth and shelling out extra for the high end model because it has a heating element in the lid to make a proper top crust. Definitely did make a convincing top crust, so I agree with her that it’s worth it. It doesn’t look or feel like real bread if it has a soft steamed top.

Lo mejor de lo mejor muy recomendable

Tengo un hijo con intolerancia al gluten y a los lácteos, y yo soy alergico a la nuez, encontrar un pan que no tenga esos ingredientes es prácticamente imposible, sin embargo con esta máquina he podido hacer pan para sandwitches, pan de chocolate, pan de calabaza, muy deliciosos, Tanto con levadura como sin levadura, gracias al plan de programación manual. Excelente producto.

Best purchase ever!! It is expensive but it has been one of the best machines we have ever purchased. We researched the heck out of bread machines and this one comes up on top. It makes perfect bread every time and cooks it evenly and consistently. We have had it for over 3 years now and we have made our money back! We have stopped buying bread, bagels, cinnamon buns, pizza dough, because it is so easy to make!

I’ve been using the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker for a bit now, and it feels more like a dependable kitchen appliance than a flashy gadget. The dual kneading blades do a good job of mixing dough evenly. I have not had issues with dry flour sitting in the corners, which tends to happen often with my older single paddle machine. The horizontal loaf shape is practical, slices fit the toaster and work well for sandwiches. The top heating element actually makes a difference. The crust browns evenly all around, including the top, without having to finish the loaf in the oven. Whole wheat and multigrain loaves come out consistently, and the gluten-free and specialty settings have worked as expected so far. It runs quietly and stays put during kneading, which I appreciate since some machines tend to vibrate or creep on the counter. Once started, it really is hands-off. Cleanup is easy since everything stays in the pan and there is no mess left behind on the counter. It is larger and heavier than other breadmakers I have used in the past, so it does take up space, but it also feels solid and well-built. All in all, If you make bread regularly and want consistent results without extra fuss, this machine does the job reliably. Highly recommend!