20-in-1 Bread Maker, 2 lb

About this machine

Twenty programmes is not a spec sheet flourish, it is the difference between a machine that bakes white bread and one that earns its counter space. Basic and quick cover weekday loaves; french, sweet and whole wheat change the knead and rise times rather than just the timer; gluten free skips the second knock back that ruins a gluten free crumb. Beyond bread there are dough only cycles for pizza and rolls, plus jam, yoghurt and a plain bake setting for cake batter.

The two heating elements are the reason the crust colours evenly. One sits under the pan and one above it, and the machine shifts between them through the bake, so the top of the loaf browns instead of staying pale the way it does in single element machines. Three crust settings decide how far that goes, and a viewing window lets you watch without opening the lid and dropping the temperature.

Everyday details: a 15 hour delay timer so the loaf finishes when you want it rather than when you started, an hour of keep warm afterwards, and a 15 minute power interruption recovery that picks the cycle back up if the lights blink. The pan is ceramic lined rather than PTFE coated, the body is metal, and the paddle hook, measuring cup, measuring spoons, two paddles and a heat glove are all in the box.

The rest of the range sits on bread makers, and the parts that keep it running are on bread machine parts. Neretva loaf machines covers the whole catalogue.