Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, must be avoided by those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Unfortunately, most bread contains gluten, as it is made from wheat flour. However, gluten-free bread can be made using rice, potato, or corn flour. For those wishing to bake gluten-free bread loaves at home, many popular automatic bread machines now offer a gluten-free setting.
Popular Bread Machines With Gluten-Free Settings
Gluten-free breads require special care when baking. Their higher moisture content means gluten-free dough should rise just once, though it needs a longer baking time to avoid under-cooking the interior. Many popular automatic bread makers now offer gluten-free settings designed for this process.
Cuisinart CBK-110 Bread Maker With Gluten-Free Cycle
The Cuisinart CBK-110 is a popular 2-pound bread machine with a gluten-free setting, but it has limitations for gluten-free baking. The machine includes gluten-free recipes and allows selecting a gluten-free cycle, but it restricts loaf size to just 1.5 pounds for this setting. More concerning, many owners report poor results when using the gluten-free setting – loaves fail to rise properly and have a dense, gummy texture. This appears to stem from inadequate proofing time, with a mere 15 minutes total for rising.
Though the CBK-110 earns praise for standard breads, the inflexible gluten-free program hampers results. Owners hoping to bake gluten-free bread loaves likely need to use a different model or employ an alternative setting like the White Bread cycle. While compact and versatile for regular baking, the Cuisinart CBK-110 falls short for satisfactory gluten-free loaves.
Oster CKSTBR9050 Bread Maker With Gluten-Free Option
The Oster CKSTBR9050 bread maker features a viewing window in the lid and a removable nonstick baking pan that can bake rectangular loaves of 1, 1.5 or 2 pounds. The control panel has an LCD screen and push-buttons to select crust color, loaf size, thirteen menu options, and a 13-hour baking timer.
Menus include Basic, French, Whole Wheat, Sweet, Quick, Express Bake for 1 or 1.5 pound loaves, Gluten Free, Dough, Pasta Dough, Jam, Bake and Cake. The 2-pound loaf recipes seem to work best across the various bread settings. The nonstick baking pan is easy to clean, and the dough setting kneads dough effectively.
A standout feature of the affordable Oster CKSTBR9050 is the gluten-free bread option. While not the most aesthetically pleasing bread maker, the Oster CKSTBR9050 is hard to beat for baking gluten-free loaves at a budget-friendly price. Click here to read my full review of this bread machine.
Panasonic SD-R2550 With Gluten-Free Menu Programs
The Panasonic SD-R2550 bread machine is perfect for those who are gluten-intolerant or simply enjoy homemade bread. It offers a wide range of twenty programs, including four specialized settings for gluten-free baking: Gluten Free Bread, Gluten Free Cake, Gluten Free Pizza, and Gluten Free Pasta. These programs make it incredibly convenient to bake delicious gluten-free creations right at home. The machine even has an automatic raisin/nut dispenser that evenly distributes ingredients at the perfect moment.
With its customizable options and specialized programs, the SD-R2550 empowers home bakers to create mouthwatering gluten-free breads, cakes, doughs, and more. Just remember to carefully follow the preparation instructions and recipes provided when using the gluten-free programs, as gluten-free baking differs from traditional bread baking. Additionally, expect gluten-free loaves to have a denser texture and lighter color compared to breads with gluten.
If you want to learn more about using this bread machine, feel free to read my Panasonic SD-R2550 review.
Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA With Gluten-Free Setting
The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus bread machine offers various settings for making different types of bread, including a dedicated gluten-free cycle. Its dual kneading blades provide thorough dough kneading for superior results.
Unlike other Zojirushi models, the BB-PDC20BA has an extra heating element in the lid for more even baking. This should make baking gluten-free loaves easier.
For those who cannot tolerate gluten, the gluten-free setting will likely be the most useful. It allows you to bake a tasty gluten-free loaf in under three hours, avoiding the expensive and unappetizing store-bought options.
While the BB-PDC20BA lacks an automatic fruit/nut dispenser, it is well-designed and an excellent choice for gluten-free baking. The thorough kneading and specialized cycle seem ideal for achieving an edible gluten-free loaf, a challenge with many cheaper machines.
Those with celiac disease know store-bought gluten-free bread is awful. Moreover, attempts at home baking with alternative flours might also prove disappointing.
While expensive, the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA may be worth the investment for those seeking decent homemade gluten-free bread. Some doubt a pricier dual-blade machine could produce better results, but this Zojirushi makes loaves with improved texture and taste.
For the most part, the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA’s gluten-free cycle and its dual paddles make it an excellent choice for baking edible gluten-free loaves at home. Click here for current pricing on Amazon (paid link).
Old Bread Makers That Had Gluten-Free Cycles
This section of my gluten-free bread machine review is optional, as the following machines are unavailable or discontinued. For instance, the once popular Cuisinart CBK-100 for gluten-free baking is now discontinued. It previously made homemade gluten-free bread that was more affordable and tasty than store-bought loaves. You can read more about these discontinued models below, or skip ahead to the conclusion.
Cuisinart CBK-100 Bread Maker
The Cuisinart CBK-100 bread maker can bake 1, 1.5, or 2-pound loaves in its nonstick, removable bread pan with a single kneading paddle. The machine offers twelve menu options: Basic/White, French/Italian, Whole Wheat, Sweet, Gluten Free, Packet Mix, Cake, Dough, Paste Dough, Jam, Bake-Only, and Rapid Bake. A crust color button provides dark, medium, or light crust settings. Other features include a 13-hour delay timer, power failure backup, and a viewing window in the lid.
This affordable bread maker could bake gluten-free loaves, but Cuisinart has unfortunately discontinued it. The CBK-100 has been replaced with the newer Cuisinart CBK-110 model.
Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker
The Cuisinart CBK-200 bread machine has a brushed stainless steel finish with chrome side handles that stay cooler than the steel sides during baking. A glass viewing window in the lid allows monitoring of the loaf as it bakes.
The control panel features push-button controls for selecting menu options, crust color, and loaf size. Menu options include: White, Rapid White, Whole Wheat, Rapid Whole Wheat, French/Italian, Rapid French/Italian, Quick Bread/Cake, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Dough/Pasta Dough, Artisan Dough, Sweet Breads, Rapid Sweet Breads, Jam, Last Minute Loaf and Bake Only. Crust color choices are light, medium or dark, and loaf sizes are 1 lb, 1.5 lbs and 2 lbs. The LCD screen displays the selected programs and bread cycles (Preheat, Knead, Rise, Bake, Warm).
The removable, nonstick bread pan has a handle for easy removal, as does the nonstick paddle. A convection fan circulates hot air around the baking pan during baking for improved texture and appearance. The pan shape is slightly more horizontal than vertical. Two audible tones sound during the bread cycle – the first as a reminder to add fruits or nuts, the second to remove the paddle before baking. Other useful features include a 15-minute pause button, 12-hour delay timer, and power failure backup.
In summary, the discontinued Cuisinart CBK-200 is a stainless steel bread maker with a convection fan, but lacks a fruit and nut dispenser, requiring manual addition per audible prompts. It offered a gluten-free bread option, but it is not being produced anymore.
Breadman TR2700 Convection Bread Maker
The Breadman TR2700 convection bread maker, which can bake loaves up to 2 pounds, features an automatic fruit and nut dispenser to add extras during kneading. With 16 settings including gluten-free bread, it provides low, medium, and dark crust options. Unlike most machines, the TR2700 has a 24-hour delay timer and a convection function for evenly browned crusts. The stainless steel finish and viewing window offer sleek style. Unfortunately, this versatile bread maker with the handy gluten-free setting is no longer available.
Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso
The Zojirushi BB-PAC20 bread maker is a fairly large appliance that requires ample counter space. The lid contains a viewing window for monitoring the baking process and an integrated heating element for browning the crust. The removable, rectangular baking pan accommodates 2-pound loaves, while the two kneading blades provide thorough mixing and kneading.
An LCD screen and control panel allow you to select settings like crust color, delay timer, and pre-programmed modes including Basic, Wheat, Gluten Free, Sourdough Starter, Dough, Jam, Cake, Quick Bread, and Home Made with its three customizable memory settings.
While the size and price point could be drawbacks, key advantages are the gluten-free cycle and customizable Home Made options. The dual kneading paddles should also optimize dough preparation. The rectangular pan produces a traditional 2-pound rectangular loaf, and the lid heating element ensures an evenly browned crust. Unfortunately, this versatile bread maker appears to no longer be available.
Which is the best bread machine for gluten-free bread?
While most bread makers today offer a gluten-free cycle, the quality of gluten-free loaves can vary greatly between models – from delicious loaves to inedible bricks. Choosing the right machine for your needs and budget takes some research to determine which model consistently produces the best gluten-free results.
For instance, the Oster CKSTBR9050 is one of the most budget-friendly options for those wanting a gluten-free setting (buy it on Amazon – paid link).
In conclusion, the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA might be the best choice for those seeking the highest quality bread machine for making gluten-free bread, although its expensive price is probably its biggest disadvantage (check price on Amazon – paid link).