Before we kick off this Sunbeam bread maker review, let’s pay our respects to Her Majesty, the Bread Loaf. “Panem et circenses” or “Bread and circuses!” Juvenal, a poet in ancient Rome said this to condemn deceptions of ruling elites and selfishness of common people of the time.
How little have we changed over the centuries! I didn’t mention it to instigate social, political, psychological or cultural aspects of human nature, though. It’s a story for another place and another occasion.
I just wanted to point out that bread, this ordinary and simple food, has been an inextricable part of our diet as well as our culture for thousands of years.
At the end of the 20th century, bread has unjustly been accused of contributing to obesity and being unhealthy food overall. Truth be told, highly processed white bread lacks healthy nutrients and fibers.
On the other hand, whole grain bread is very healthy for you as it is a good source of carbs and fibers while containing moderate amounts of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. These days, bread is coming back to our kitchen tables. Along with bread, we are buying more bread makers.
Sunbeam is a company that has produced home appliances since 1910. Today, I will tell you all you need to know before purchasing Sunbeam bread maker machine.
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I assume you love bread, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. But these days, you can buy all kinds of bread in the supermarket. So, do you really need a bread maker?
I won’t go that far to say that everyone needs one. But, I will give you a couple of reasons why it is good to have a bread machine. After that, it is up to you to figure out if it fits your wishes and possibilities.
For me, the smell of freshly baked bread is more than enough. But here are some serious reasons to consider purchasing a bread maker.
We live in hectic times, always in a rush. With a bread maker, you can get a tasty loaf of bread whenever you want it.
Most kinds of bread in the supermarket are loaded with additives to make it look better and last longer. At home, you are the master and commander, so you can make any kind of bread you like without preservatives and additives.
Of course, it is not all about preservatives. Flour and yeast quality play a part in how healthy your bread will be. Anyway, you can use all valuable ingredients while you don’t have to add potentially harmful ingredients.
Commercial bread usually contains a lot of salt. Excessive salt intake increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and more. Homemade bread contains what you want and as much as you want.
This is not always the truth as there are all kinds of commercial loaves out there. Anyway, using a bread machine will allow you to experiment and make a perfect and delicious bread of your own.
The cost can vary wildly depending on the ingredients that you use. Also, depending on the price of your bread maker it may take a while to reclaim your investment. But it will always be cheaper to bake it than having to buy it.
First of all, Sunbeam Bread Maker is pretty affordable. It comes with an impressive set of features considering the price.
But, let’s start from the beginning. Sunbeam bread maker has a nice and modern design. It only comes in white but it looks pretty good.
You can use this machine to bake 1.5 or 2-pound bread. It comes with a removable nonstick bread pan with one kneading blade.
Once you decide the size of your loaf you can choose one of 12 different settings for different styles.
This is the list of settings:
You can see all of the settings on the LCD control panel.
There’s also a 13-hour delay timer. This is a great feature that allows you to program the machine to start whenever you like in up to 13 hours. You can also choose light, medium or dark crust setting.
I was impressed with a large viewing window on the top of the machine. It is unusually large so you can clearly see the top of your bread as it bakes. Finally, you will get the instruction manual with a recipe book.
If you are looking for an affordable breadmaking machine, Sunbeam bread maker is a great choice. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it performs great over and over again. These bread makers bake tasty and delicious bread just as some of the more expensive models.
The ExpressBake function is particularly impressive. Getting fresh bread in an hour is a great timesaver. Having said that, don’t expect miracles. It is not a top-notch machine in every segment. You might face some minor issues, but most of them can be fixed easily.
While it’s not the best bread maker out there it delivers high-quality bread and that’s the most important part. For the price, it does more than enough.
Overall, I think it’s a great choice for your first bread maker, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Once you refine your skills and your bread senses, you might want to upgrade to a more advanced model. Until then, you will enjoy Sunbeam’s loaves for years.