Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker, 2 lb. loaf of bread

I love this machine works awesome and have had great dough and also made really good bread. I highly recommend this

I cannot believe the quality of the bread I'm producing. Granted, ingredients is what makes it, but the ease of use of this machine is fantastic. My family and I are extremely happy with this purchase and I make bread weekly. Pizza dough it's so easy that we make our own pizzas more often now. The recipe book is easy to follow and very informative

Absolutely love this bread-machine! First loaf I made was a 2 lb. Honey wheat bread. The loaf was perfect. I love the size and that it makes vertical loaf. The quality, size and speed was more than satisfactory

If you knew what kind of chemicals are in store bought bread and how many days ago it was baked before you picked it and took it home you’d shake your head in astonishment and wonder why you haven’t turned into either a yoga mat or a plastic water bottle by now. You are what you eat, right? Did you know that there are chemicals in American bread that disqualify it from being sold in both Europe and the UK? Do a quick search on the weird stuff they put into corporate US bread and then get back to this review. Seriously, the list of ingredients is scarier than the first few episodes of the Walking Dead. Now, this Zojirushi isn’t cheap that’s pretty clear and I’m betting on the old adage that you get what you pay for. I know this first hand as my Breadman Ultimate broke down after a year and I repaired it myself several times. A couple of weeks ago I listened to it running and thought that it reminded me of an old washing machine with a padded rock tumbling about on spin cycle. Duct tape held the lid closed... Seriously, even the dough wanted to get the heck out of that piece of junk. So I bit the bullet and decided it was time for a new Bread Machine. There are other reviews you can read here that go into much better comparisons of the differences between this bread maker and the others, so I’ll throw in my fifty cents and say—Well, It’s Japanese. Think Toyota and Honda... Great reliable cars, right? So I figure they make pretty reliable cars, so maybe they make reliable bread makers too. I know, right? You just can’t beat simple solutions to complex questions. Anyways it’s an old company that began by making thermos bottles in Osaka, back in 1918 as the Ichikawa Brothers Trading Company. That makes this company over a hundred years old, so I figure it stands to reason that you don’t get longevity like that from selling crap. And they’ve been making quality bread making machines since 1988. That’s thirty years to work any bugs out. Again, it wasn’t because I wanted to save money (even though anyone can bake their own high-quality bread for about fifty cents or so a loaf) but because I don’t want to eat the garbage that corporate America puts into its industrialized bread. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if crust was the leading cause of autism in the country. Look into it, I dare you. I double dog dare you. It’s about shipping and shelf life, not quality. You’re literally buying zombie bread. Well, OK... maybe not... but check out what the industry pumps into that stuff to keep it pliable and from going stale after many days (and in some cases, weeks) from plant to the shelf. You’ll at the very least figure out where so many of the tobacco industry executives went to work in their continued quest to destroy humanity. Anyways, this Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus really changes the game for me. It’s actually quiet. I mean really quiet. And I can simply add the ingredients and set a timer instead of fussing over it, so that’s a plus. Astonishingly, it actually makes more toaster standard sized loaves like the kind you’d buy in the store. I’m really hoping that this machine lasts longer than my previous bread-maker did before I had to play handyman on it. If it does break down, I imagine that a company this ancient must at least have an equally ancient Ruth Buzzi in a kimono sitting at her switchboard who can offer me some service options. I’ve also included some pics at how awesome the bread this machine makes looks. And the pan easily lifts right out. If I run into any problems with it I’ll post them here. But so far, better than my expectations.

I purchased this because it is heavy & some lighter bread machines have tendency to hop right off the kitchen counter! Have had 3-1/2 years now and am very pleased. Managed to buy for $293 which makes it even better :)

I used a bread maker back in the day when this fairly new appliance category began. I didn't like it much. It was fine, but not great. Over the years our eating habits adjusted and one of the things we cut out of our diet was supermarket bread from the aisles. We'd either buy it from the bakery department or make it ourselves. And that worked pretty well for years, although my own efforts to put a loaf together were inconsistent because I'm not clever enough to figure out how to adjust a recipe of it's extra humid or extra cool or any of a million other little adjustments that can affect the end result. Recently I had the opportunity to try another brand of bread machine, and I really enjoyed the ease of preparing a fresh loaf several times a week, and except for browning the top of the loaf which was sort of hit and miss, the results were pretty consistent. But I wasn't crazy about the vertical shape of the loaf, and it was very hit and miss when it came to properly distributing fruit and nuts. Like. It barely distributed them. But we liked the idea of a bread machine enough that we hunted around for one that would do a better job, and the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus really does. The loaves come out consistently well baked and evenly browned. Any additions (which you must add manually, although you'll be beeped when it's time to add) are distributed throughout the loaf instead of being clumped into a corner edge. And it's a normal shaped loaf that fits everyone's expectations. But the machine isn't cheap. And it takes up a hefty amount of counter real estate. I saw some complaints here and around the internet about inconsistent results. That is, I am certain, user error. First, make sure your yeast is still active. Add some to warm, sugared water and wait five minutes. If it isn't foamy, it isn't any good. Read the entire instruction manual before using the machine, particularly if you've never used a bread machine before. There is a specific order that ingredients must be added for proper mixing and baking. The one thing I DIDN'T see in the manual, but does seem to keep a finished loaf from having a "saddle back" (where the center of the finished loaf is dramatically slumped), is when you add the dry ingredients on top of the liquid, don't just make a mount of dry ingredients. Add the dry so that it's evenly distributed atop the liquid. Then, you'll learn from the manual, you add yeast. Another complaint I read more than once from reviewers is that mold grew inside of the machine. No kidding. Really? Here's a primer: The interior of the machine that just had yeast flying around in it is steamy at the end of the bake. After you remove the loaf pan, leave the lid open. Let the interior of the machine air dry. Let any yeast spores move on to other spaces because otherwise, yeah, mold will develop. Another complaint is that it makes a grinding noise and/or the non-stick coating is coming off. I can't speak to this one absolutely, but my guess is that some users aren't seating the loaf pan and/or paddles correctly. Just a guess. But I think it's a pretty good guess. Anyway, we love this machine, even the husband who has an aversion to small appliances.

Very satisfied with the purchase. Although a snag with the bank payment whis was their fault but I was pleased the the machine arrived. I haven't unbox it yet as I just had an operation. I hope to use it soon.

After months of researching and comparing different bread makers, I finally chose this one—and it was 100% worth the wait. The quality of the bread is amazing, the machine is straightforward to use, and it delivers consistent results every time. I was honestly surprised at how easy it makes the whole process. The loaves are really big!!! This has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen purchases. Highly recommend! (Photos included of my first loaves white bread and cinnamon raisin 😊)

Inmediatamente que recibí la máquina se ve la calidad de ella, también en los manuales y el equipo adicional, es el costo alto pero a las personas qué les guste la calidad se las recomiendo ampliamente al probarla hoy no funcionó

I’ve been using the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker for a bit now, and it feels more like a dependable kitchen appliance than a flashy gadget. The dual kneading blades do a good job of mixing dough evenly. I have not had issues with dry flour sitting in the corners, which tends to happen often with my older single paddle machine. The horizontal loaf shape is practical, slices fit the toaster and work well for sandwiches. The top heating element actually makes a difference. The crust browns evenly all around, including the top, without having to finish the loaf in the oven. Whole wheat and multigrain loaves come out consistently, and the gluten-free and specialty settings have worked as expected so far. It runs quietly and stays put during kneading, which I appreciate since some machines tend to vibrate or creep on the counter. Once started, it really is hands-off. Cleanup is easy since everything stays in the pan and there is no mess left behind on the counter. It is larger and heavier than other breadmakers I have used in the past, so it does take up space, but it also feels solid and well-built. All in all, If you make bread regularly and want consistent results without extra fuss, this machine does the job reliably. Highly recommend!

Tengo un hijo con intolerancia al gluten y a los lácteos, y yo soy alergico a la nuez, encontrar un pan que no tenga esos ingredientes es prácticamente imposible, sin embargo con esta máquina he podido hacer pan para sandwitches, pan de chocolate, pan de calabaza, muy deliciosos, Tanto con levadura como sin levadura, gracias al plan de programación manual. Excelente producto.

I have only owned this bread machine for a few days so can’t say anything about durability and reliability. But in terms of what it can do, I’m amazed. My very first loaf of basic white bread was perfect! I have tried making bread by hand quite a few times over the years and have always ended up frustrated and disappointed. I just never got the “feel” that you need to be a good bread baker. But this little “bread robot” solves the problem. Just measure the ingredients carefully and you’re guaranteed a good result. Things i was a bit skeptical about, like the loaf coming away cleanly from the baking pan/bucket, actually work like a charm. This is an expensive toy and you can’t really justify it in terms of saving money vs buying commercial bread. But if you like speciality breads that can be hard to find (like a decent loaf of deli caraway rye in coastal BC!) and are willing to pay for the satisfaction of enjoying them fresh and made with ingredients that you control, whose quality you can be sure of, then this machine could be the ticket. Also if you bake for charity or other types of bread/cake production that are not commercial-scale but a bit more than you can manage singlehanded at home, this machine can crank out that loaf for the fund raiser or potluck in 3-4 hours completely unsupervised, while you do other things. There is also almost no cleanup. You don’t have a kitchen counter covered with flour, hands and apron covered with flour, sticky dough all over the place, multiple mixing bowls to wash. You put all the ingredients in a strict order into the bucket, put the bucket in the machine, push a button and the robot does the rest. Bread making is no longer a laborious whole-afternoon undertaking involving a lot of washing up. This is a truly functional kitchen appliance. Normally I’m skeptical of kitchen gadgets, having been fascinated by and then disappointed in many of them. Often they claim to “save labour” while being fiendishly hard to clean, or are so specialised that you end up using them once a year and regretting the purchase. But this bread robot actually delivers and if you and your family like breads and cakes, you’re likely to use it often. Fresh home made bread is a whole different experience from stale factory bread in a plastic bag from the supermarket. I agonised over this purchase for over a year, despite the rave reviews from a friend of mine who uses her Zoji weekly to make bread for her family. She swore up and down I would never regret it, so I finally took the plunge. And I think she is right. So long as there are no reliability issues, I am not likely to regret this appliance purchase. Highly recommended, lives up to its golden reputation. PS my friend said it was worth gritting my teeth and shelling out extra for the high end model because it has a heating element in the lid to make a proper top crust. Definitely did make a convincing top crust, so I agree with her that it’s worth it. It doesn’t look or feel like real bread if it has a soft steamed top.