Kenwood BM350 Stainless Steel Breadmaker

Product Information

Our experiences with the bread makers varied widely. While some ran quietly and couldn't be easier to use, others were very noisy and kneaded so aggressively that the bread maker moved across the kitchen counter. So, for the extra five quid you get a clean, stainless steel finish. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel so the BM256 breadmaker should out last the BM250. We listened out for annoying whirring noises during kneading, or piercingly loud beeps that couldn't be silenced. We favoured bread makers that hummed along quietly throughout baking. Breadmakers are versatile in the loaf sizes and crust colours they offer, but many come with settings that extend beyond the realm of simple bread recipes. Here are a few other ways to make the most of your gadget:

Every effort is made to ensure the above price comparison table is kept up to date. However, we do apologise if you experience an inconsistancy in the data. BM256 Breadmaker ReviewThe bread maker is rather noisy in operation, but I was impressed with the white loaf it produced. This was not too hard nor too squashy, so was easy to cut, and the texture was even throughout. The loaf was huge, though, so you’ll need a toaster with extra-long slots.

Extra features: viewing windows, separate yeast or nut and seed dispensers are handy but not essential. Measuring at 345 x 250 x 310 millimeters, the Kenwood BM250 has a compact design that can fit neatly on any kitchen countertop. It weighs approximately 6300 grams, making it relatively lightweight and portable. Like the Kenwood BM260, the BM450 has simpler recipes, such as the standard white and wholemeal loaves, in the instruction booklet, and more complex ones in a glossy magazine. The BM450’s wholemeal recipe is far more involved; you have to mix one egg and one yolk with water, and the recipe requires lemon juice and honey, too. Compared to other bread makers I’ve seen, putting together a wholemeal loaf is a bit of a faff.

Flexibility

Build quality is seriously solid for a fairly affordable breadmaker. The love-or-loathe design is unusual, white with a retro-style handle for the lid, reminiscent of a 1950s fridge. And instead of a window for inspecting progress, the lid boasts a built-in fan to assist cooking. The BM260 is compact, the size of an A4 sheet. The BM450’s automatic fruit and nut dispenser slots neatly into the top of the lid. The fruit loaf I made with the dispenser came out well, with a good even spread of added ingredients throughout. If you have never used a breadmaker before, or are used to older models, here are a few tips for that perfect loaf. Pizza dough: Some breadmakers come with specific pizza dough settings that take care of kneading and rising – ideal for making classic margherita pizzas, barbecue pizza, or calzones. See our pizza dough recipes for more inspiration.

A delay timer is fitted as standard on the BM256, ensuring you can have fresh bread in the morning. Don't worry if you are late to collect your bread as the BM256 will automatically turn itself to the handy keep warm feature. For up to an hour, your bread will stay hot, ready and waiting for you. Jam and yogurt: Other non-bread functions on certain models include jams, compotes and yogurt. Try our peach & amaretto jam recipe or garlic yogurt, and read our guide on how to sterilise jars for jams and preserves.The white lid of this brushed stainless steel breadmaker has a large viewing window allowing you to see your bread as it progresses. The clear LCD screen shows you exactly which stage your bread is at and allows easy programming of the machine. Push buttons on the control panel are clearly marked and highlighted with stylish chrome detailing. Whereas the Kenwood BM260 is compact and understated, the BM450 is flashy and huge. It’s big in every direction, so you’ll need a substantial worktop if you want the bread maker to be out all the time. Longer programs tend to be better: Although lots of bread makers have fast-bake programs, you're likely to get better loaves from the traditional, longer programs. There's no way to force yeast to work faster. The Kenwood’s accompanying recipe book contains a good range of recipes, some of them rather foodie. Recipes include, or example, caramelised onion bread and chocolate bread. We tested it with an 86% wholemeal recipe but even this had slightly quirky ingredients, including lemon juice (perhaps taking the place of the vitamin C powder that some recipes feature) and a combination of butter and skimmed milk powder, rather than one or the other.