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If we had to choose one, we would pick the West Bend 47413 to make large loaves.
Bread machines have the capacity to bake anything from a 1-pound loaf to a 3-pound loaf. Most bread machines will bake 2 or 3 different sizes, and the common sizes are 1-pound, 1.5-pound, 2-pound, 2.5-pound, or 3-pound.
However, it’s rare to find a large bread machine that will bake a 2.5-pound or 3-pound loaf. Most will go up to 2 pounds because bread machines are for home use, and most families won’t need anything larger than a 2-pound loaf. In our experience, most people would rather bake a smaller loaf so they don’t have to store any leftover and can enjoy freshly baked bread each and every time.
To give you an idea of what these sizes mean, a 2.5-pound loaf can feed about 4 to 6 people. A bread machine that makes a 1-pound loaf should be adequate for singles and couples. And small families of 2 to 4 people should go for a machine that makes a 1.5 or 2-pound loaf.
We noticed that it’s getting tougher and tougher to find good bread machines that bake more than a 2.5-pound loaf. These days, most manufacturers make bread machines that have a capacity of up to 2 pounds. Perhaps larger machines are not as popular.
Nonetheless, for those who are looking for a large bread machine, check out this list of the best large bread machines you can buy today. We also did a list of small bread machines for those who are looking for a space-saver or something to bake less than a 2-pound loaf.
3 Best Large Bread Machines:
1) West Bend 47413 – Our Top Pick
We were sad to see the West Bend 41410 get discontinued because it was a good machine and one of the few bread machines that could make a 2.5 pound loaf. But in 2018, West Bend released the West Bend 47413 which took its place. And what do you know! This new West Bend 47413 makes a 2-pound, 2.5-pound, and 3-pound loaf! And a traditional one at that – not those oddly-shaped loaves.
The older model could bake a 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-pound loaf so it was a machine that was intended for larger families. The sizes on this new one starts at 2-pounds so it’s definitely intended for larger families. Other than the size change, nothing much has changed with this new machine except for a noticeable facelift – it still has 12 pre-programmed settings and dual kneading blades. Yes, dual kneading blades are a must for larger bread machines!
One thing we would like to point out is that this bread machine has a gluten-free setting so if “large” and “gluten-free” are absolute must-haves when choosing your bread machine, then the West Bend 47413 delivers on both.
2) Breville BBM800XL
The Breville BBM800XL has long been one of the best bread machines you can buy and, given the fact that it can make a 2.5-pound loaf, it’s a great choice for larger families too. In fact, it’s a great bread machine for households of all sizes because it can make a 1-, 1.5-, 2-pound loaf too. It’s one of the more versatile bread machines. One of its most appealing features is the automatic fruit and nut dispenser. If you plan to bake bread with fruit and nut then this is an indispensable feature to have. And just like the West Bend, this is a great machine to use to make gluten-free bread.
Because this machine is so good and so versatile – bakes many loaf sizes, has a fruit and nut dispenser, can handle all sorts of bread including gluten-free – it has been a bestselling bread machine for years.
3) Zojirushi BB-PDC20
As we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s getting harder and harder to find decent bread machines that have a loaf capacity of more than 2.5 pounds. So we should mention that the one we’re about to show you is designed to bake a 2-pound loaf of bread. We thought: If we were going to show you a bread machine that makes only a 2-pound loaf or a poor bread machine that makes a 3-pound loaf, we might as well show you the Zojirushi BB-PDC20 which can deliver a quality 2-pound loaf that should work well enough for larger households.
The Zojirushi BB-PDC20 is a newer bread machine model that was released in 2018. We think it’s going to eventually replace the older Zojirushi BB-PAC20 which was released a few years ago and is the ultimate bread machine – the Ferrari of bread machines. These Zoji machines are light-years ahead of the others. If you are serious about baking bread at home and can work around a 2-pound loaf, invest in a Zoji.
Updated: November 2018
When I have the paddles in the pan I find it difficult to put the pan in the machine is there an easy way to do this.