Panasonic SD255 Breadmaker with Raisin/Nut Dispenser

I'm really pleased with this machine, it's easy to use and makes perfect bread every time. So far I've made an ordinary white loaf (the XL size is massive!)a spiced raisin loaf- great for breakfast, and a brioche with chocolate chips. What's really useful is the timer delay so you wake up to great fresh bread. You know all the things that have gone into it, and its really tasty. The machine is easy to use,but you MUST follow the instructions carefully, and the automatic dispenser for fruit, nuts etc is a boon as you don't have to stand over it waiting for the beep to add these like other machines. There is a dough only option which allows you to take out the dough and shape it yourself.It also does cake but I haven't tried this yet. It is like magic, add the ingredients at night, set the timer, and wake up to the house smelling of lovely fresh bread- amazing!

I like wholemeal bread with a good texture, colour, small and taste, but over the last 20 years each supermarket in turn seems to have replaced its excellent wholemeal with an ersatz variety of a strange sponge-like texture, a suspiciously uniform dyed-looking colouring, and hardly any aroma or crust. I read various internet reviews that all agreed the Panasonic was the only breadmaker to get if you wanted top-grade wholemeal, although many makes could manage a decent white loaf. So I took the plunge and forked out £85. Well, folks, it's all true. The Panasonic does indeed produce a better wholemeal loaf than any supermarket, and at half the cost. I haven't bought a loaf since the machine arrived 6 months ago, and I make an XL (850gm) loaf every two days. I reckon the machine will have paid for itself in a year. It takes just a few minutes to load the machine and set the timer before you go to bed. In the morning you tip it out to cool while you make the tea. Easy! I've tried out lots of the recipes that come with it, and have several favourites: spicy fruit loaf, French rustic white, olive bread, rye and wholemeal 50/50...........The instruction booklet is excellent, and Panasonic is obviously a company that has a seriously-funded R&D section to develop and improve its products - a friend who has the preceding model to mine noticed several worthwhile improvements. One thing I have found though, is that flours vary a lot. (The book warns you.) Keep trying different ones till you find one that rises consistently well and tastes good.

I've had a non branded breadmaker for around 15 years .. I was reasonably happy with it, but only to use shop bought bread mixes in it .. because however carefully I measured my ingredients .. I often found the bread 'made from scratch' was heavy, or too sweet or just didn't rise too well .. and with time the baking tin had become rather scratched due to so much use .. soooooo ... I decided to invest in a new bread maker .. this time I decided to spend what to me is a small fortune (disabled on a very low income) and get the Panasonic SD255 breadmaker with raisin/nut dispenser .. because it easily gets the best reviews .. it's the most ranted about bread maker and gets the thumbs up from many professional chefs or catering folk .. Yesterday it arrived and I was quickly making my first 'shop bought bread mix' bread in it .. (simply because I didn't have any yeast in the house) .. the instructions are clear, easy to read and the display on the machine is positioned so it is easy to read .. and just 2 hours later (basic bread on rapid cook) I had my first 'Panasonic' loaf .. I simply couldn't believe the difference from my old non branded machine .. the bread was lighter .. more evenly baked .. and somehow .. even tasted better .. and that was just a shop bought bread mix .. This morning I baked my first 'true' loaf .. from scratch following the Panasonic recipe exactly .. BRILLIANT .. a perfect loaf .. proper bread texture .. good crust .. wonderful flavour and easily sliced .. better than 'shop bought premium breads' .. and this was only my first effort .. after 14 years of using my old bread maker I simply cannot praise the Panasonic SD255 breadmaker with raisin/nut dispenser enough .. I am thoroughly satisfied with everything .. the comprehensive recipe guide .. the paddle shape and the way the baking tin has ultra smooth rounded corners .. the measuring spoon and jug .. even the shape of the breadmaker means it will take up less space than my old bulkier machine. 10 out of 10 to Panasonic for designing the perfect breadmaker .. I'd thought the reviews I'd previously read were 'over the top' .. but here I am expressing the same 'wonderful, great, love it' review .. it really IS that good .. yes .. it is a little pricey (only in my opinion) .. BUT it is well worth the cost .. and as I will now be baking all my bread from scratch at home I will easily recoup the cost because 'baking the Panasonic way' is excellent bread at a fraction of shop bought bread ..

I admit to being a bit of a bread snob with a preference for wood fired oven sourdough, so I really only bought it for my partner. As it is it makes lovely bread - I really like the spelt fruit bread & it makes a nice solid rye loaf too! I haven't missed my premium bread so far. And Saturdays we have raisin brioche for breakfast, can life get any better? I believe the machine has saved us its purchase price in bread in the couple of months we've had it already, despite my pessimistic initial calculation that it would take us up to 1 year. I wouldn't bother getting a separate bread recipe book as the included book gives you enough options.

I am a newcomer to breadmakers so I thought I would buy the best as this had the best reviews. I have not had any mishaps with the bread they have all come out great, so now I buy my flour in bulk it's easier. The timer is wonderfull & so nice to come home to a fresh baked bread smell, my dogs are always to be found near the breadmaker. The packet bread mixes are great in there too & the sundried tomatoe & parmesan is a must to try & comes out massive, as one reviewer said they are quite hard to cut. I have not bought any bread for the last 2 months,highly recommended.

I've been using a Panasonic bread maker daily for 16 years. My first one cost £220 back then. It's a fantastic machine. My three top tips are: Don't use more than 25% wholemeal flour unless you like a rather heavy loaf. For a really tasty change, add 2 tablespoons each of sunflower and pumpkin seeds and use the Raisin bake programme. Try it with a sourdough starter. It works on the French loaf programme but is even better on the French Dough programme. When it has finished, just let it carry on rising and then use the bake only programme for 50mins.

All i can say is A+++, I purchased this item last week with Amazon and have made good use of it. (like any new toy). The bread is just wonderful with very easy and clear instructions. The bread looked great, smelled great and better still tasted great. I can't wait to try many more recipes. I found the reviews on this site and others recommending this product, so i took a leap of faith and ordered. i have not been disapointed. Well done Panasonic. Great product and thanks Amazon for the speedy delivery and great service as usual..

Got this last December (9 months ago) and haven't bought any bread since. Tend to make 5/6 loafs a week - white, wholemeal or granary. The XL make a 600g loaf - which is a good size. My kids love the bread and have real run making pizzas from the pizza dough recipe. Overall - the best, most used, reliable gadget I've ever bought. Only one loaf has come out wrong and it was my mistake. It comes with a good recipe book - with lots of different bread types. Downsides - XL slices are too big for my toaster. - doesn't keep as long as shop bread - however not normally an issue as its so yummy - quite hard to cut the XL loaf as it quite tall - however dug out the electric knife from the cupboard and solved the issue.

I debated for ages as the whether to invest in a breadmaker, read lots of online reviews and decided to opt for this model. And I haven't been disappointed, the Panasonic is just so easy to use, and the bread has been excellent. I bought this machine about one month ago, and just don't feel the need to buy any supermarket bread, we have fruit loaf for breakfast, and ciabatta with dinner. Its just great, one mistake I did make with my first loaf was to be a bit relaxed regarding measurements and thought a bit of extra butter won't make any difference! But it did! From then on, I have been meticulous with the measurements, and every loaf has turned out great. The bread stays fresh for about 3 days in a airtight container, and even on the fourth day is great for toasting. But usually it doesn't last that long as its so tasty. I really can't fault this machine, its just great, and at approx 35p per loaf, using good quality organic flour, over a long period it will be cost effective, and more importantly you know exactly what is going into the bread.

This has got to be one of my best kitchen purchases ever! After tasting my mothers breadmaker bread several years ago, I didnt have particularly high expectations however this breadmaker makes amazing bread! As long as you follow the instructions (very easy to understand, lots of great bread and dough recipes) and follow the recipes to the book, you cant go wrong. I have to admit my first few loaves were a bit "heavy" and yeasty, but that was because I wasnt using the "fast action" yeast type. Now im using the right yeast, and good quality flour (the Super Strong Bread/ Bakers grade type) i'm getting soft fluffy delicious loaves. The timer function is very useful if you want to wake up to fresh bread, although I havnt tried the nut/seed dispenser or dough programmes I would imagine and have heard they have excellent results! In my opinion Breadmakers get better and better and Pansonic is a brand you can definatly trust, go spend the little extra, you wont be dissapointed!