Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Review
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Update: There is a newer model of this bread machine called the Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Virtuoso Plus.
The Zojirushi BB-PAC20 bread machine is for serious bakers. It has almost every feature imaginable in today’s bread machines and is put together with quality materials. Although Zojirushi is a Japanese company, don’t be surprised to find it as one of the leaders in bread machines. The company has developed technology for vacuum bottles and rice cookers that have become a staple for every Japanese household since 1918. It’s only natural that they use that perfected technology to make bread machines. In fact, Zojirushi is the top selling bread machine brand. Each of their machines feel like a work of art.
As mentioned, the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 is a very impressive machine. Standing horizontally, the machine bakes a traditional 2-pound loaf of bread. Plenty of machines on the market make “odd” shaped bread, so if you’re looking to make a traditional loaf this machine will do that. Inside the machine, there is a removable baking pan with dual blades for kneading and handles on the side for easy removal. On the lid, there is an additional heater to ensure that your bread bakes on all sides evenly. This is a rare feature for bread machines. And built into the lid there is a large viewing window that can be used to monitor the bread as it bakes.
Other features of the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 include a variety of menu settings. You can make basic bread, wheat bread, gluten-free bread, sourdough starter, pizza dough, cookie dough, donut dough, cake, and even jam. Yes, there is a gluten-free setting! These are only a handful of things the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 can do. One great feature that the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 has is the 13-hour delay timer. You can set the bread machine at night and let it bake closer to morning so that you can wake up in the morning to freshly baked bread.
Our Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Review
Before even receiving our Zojirushi BB-PAC20 in the mail, we were already looking forward to playing with it. Or should we say baking with it? We’ve done some preliminary reading and it seemed like this machine can do everything. So did it disappoint? You’ll find out soon. Here’s our review!
Put simply, we were amazed by this machine. We first tried to bake a regular loaf of bread. We measured out the ingredients carefully and added them in order. According to Zojirushi, there is a certain order that the ingredients should be added for the bread to come out perfectly. So we made sure to add the liquids, dry ingredients, and yeast in the order as instructed. Then we simply chose the basic bread setting and waited for the bread to bake. There was a bit of a wait at the beginning because the machine tried to reach the optimal temperature before mixing. This is very smart on Zojirushi’s part because the bread came out nicely and the shape was beautiful. So if you’re wondering, you don’t need to be a good cook. You just need to follow instructions to make tasty bread with this machine. There’s a DVD, manual, and recipe booklet that comes in the box. Use them. All the instructions are detailed and easy to follow.
We wanted to test some of the machine’s other functions, so we tried the 13-hour delay setting as well as adding nuts to our bread. Both turned out fine as well. We didn’t run into any problems and the machine seems to be able to handle everything we throw at it. We noticed that the heater on the lid is a nice feature to have. The bread bakes up beautifully. We tried making pizza dough once and that worked well as advertised. We noticed that there’s a “home made” cycle which allows you to set the knead, rise, and bake times. This is a really, really nice option to have. Not many machines have it this customizable.
This machine is really simple and fun to use; so simple that we would recommend it to anybody from novice to professional bakers. We especially liked that it was quiet. Despite being a beautiful machine, we wished that it was a bit smaller as it seemed to take up a lot of counter space. But it’s meant to be as good as commercial ones for home use. And the fact that it bakes a 2-pound loaf of bread seems to justify the size of the machine. So to counter this problem, we built a floating sideboard in our kitchen and that became the area where we test bread machines. Cleaning is a breeze after each use since it has a nonstick coating. Just pop the pan out and wash.
Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Rating
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Features
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Quality of Bread
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Price
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Performance
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Versatility
Summary
The Zojirushi BB-PAC20 bread machine does everything right. Its features, quality, and performance make it a standout machine among today’s choices. It most definitely is a baker’s best friend.
Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Features At A Glance
- Makes a classic horizontal 2-pound loaf
- Bakes bread in 2 hours, and has a 13-hour delay timer
- Has an extra heater on the lid which helps bake bread evenly and beautifully
- Stainless steel design
- Has a large viewing window
- Has a wide range of pre-programmed settings: basic bread, wheat bread, dough, cake, jam, “home made”, etc.
- Comes with instruction manual, dvd, recipe book, removable bake pan, measuring spoon, and measuring cup
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, we really enjoyed using the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 and suspect that most will too. It simply wow’d us. If we had to choose one bread machine that has all the customizable features and makes a delicious classic loaf of bread enough to feed a family of 4, then this would be it. Zojirushi is a reliable company and the machine is well-made. So we have nothing but good things to say about this machine.
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Will this machine continue from the point of a power failure, or do you have to start over? I live in the “boonies” and power failures and “blips” are part of everyday life here.
This machine has a 6-minute power failure backup, so you wouldn’t have to start over if you can restore power within that window.
You could put it on a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that’s normally used for computers. A decent one would such as by APC would run you about $200 and depending on the draw of the machine would give you up to say 15 minutes of power in addition to the internal battery on the bread machine. It would also condition your power so power spikes or minor drops would not harm the attached equipment.
Does the manual come in English, unlike the Panasonic? And, is the fruit and nut dispenser automatic, or do you need to come back and add them yourself? What metal is the baking pan made of?
This is my first time with a bread machine. You like the Breville as well. Which would you recomend for the novice?
Thanks!
Yes. You need to add them. Aluminum. Tough choice – Is the automatic dispenser function important to you? If it’s fairly important go with the Breville. Otherwise the Zoji. Both are easy to use.
Are all these pans aluminum?
What voltages does this machine have? I live in the U.K. Where the voltage is 230/40 volts and do not like transformers etc in the kitchen.
Is this machine available for purchase in the U.K. Or do I have to purchase it for the USA or Canada?
Thank you for the review. If your main use was to make Gluten Free bread, would you choose the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 or the TFAL PF311? It’s a nice option to be able to bake different size loaves, which the TFAL appears to have but the Zojirushi does not. Is that accurate? The other concern I have is that it was noted the TFAL always makes a very thick crust. I look forward to your thoughts on the comparison of these 2 machines. Both sound great. Thank you.
With the Zoji, there are recipes for 1.5 pound loaves. If you want to bake 1 pound loaves you can divide the ingredients in half from the 2 pound recipes and they should turn out alright. You might need to customize the bake time though. So…it’s a little easier to bake different-sized loaves with the T-fal, but we like the overall bread quality of the Zoji a little more. Hope this helps!
Will the bread bake at half the height of a 2 lb loaf? Or will it raise to the same height?
amazing, amazing, after owning 2 other machines struggled with the pricing, however worth every penny. I have tried all the options following the recipes from the supplied book looking for issues, none to report on, bread/dough delivers. Utilizing Timer, nothing is lost in loaf quality and you can wake up to the smell of fresh bread. 2-3 loafs per week consistent …all you can ask for.
The Zoji uses 2 blades, the Breville 1. Does that seem to make any noticeable difference? Other bread makers that use one, like Breadman, often leave unmixed bit of flour in the corners etc. Thanks
In our experience, yes…the dough is kneaded more thoroughly, and you get an even result. The Zoji is our pick for consistency. But the Breville makes a delicious loaf too, so it’s not just the blade that makes the bread. Other machines that have one blade do a poor job compared to the Breville which also has one blade.
L.S.,
1. Only gluten-free bread will be made with the Bread Machine.
2. We live in Europe Holland 220 Volt.
Which Bread Machine will work for me.
Thx for your advice