The key benefit of a dual blade bread machine is that it produces a bread loaf with a normal rectangular horizontal shape like the loaves you buy from a bakery. Unfortunately, the two kneading paddles also leave an extra hole in the bread loaf when compared to a single paddle bread maker. I have spent many hours searching for dual paddle bread machines. The result is this buying guide to the best bread machines with two kneading paddles and horizontal loaf bread pans.
Introduction
I published the original guide a few years ago when the top bread maker with twin paddles was the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme. The other less expensive choice was the West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise dual-blade bread maker. That model is no longer available. However, it seems like the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 is still available (buy it on Amazon – paid link).
I have tried to update this buying guide with the newer Zojirushi and West Bend models. I have also included other models from other brands that might not be available anymore. Likewise, I will leave them all in this review to provide as much of an overview of bread machines with twin kneading paddles as I can.
Why do you need a bread maker with two blades?
The main reason why you should get a two paddle bread machine is if you want to make a horizontal shape loaf instead of a vertical bread loaf.
A single paddle bread machine makes a loaf that is thin and tall. A bread maker with two paddles has a large rectangular pan that makes a loaf that looks fairly normal (except for the two paddle holes in the bottom).
Another reason to get a dual blade bread maker is that it has more power to knead heavy dough made with whole wheat or rye flour.
How To Handle Bread Maker With Two Paddles
I will use the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme as an example.
If you want to remove the baking pan from the chamber, then take hold of the pan and pull it towards you to unlatch it before lifting to remove it. Please use oven mitts for a hot baking pan.
The most important bit is probably attaching the two kneading blades correctly on each rotating shaft. The blades should be pushed down completely on the shafts otherwise the ingredients will mix poorly.
The order for adding ingredients into the baking pan is as follows:
- water
- flour
- butter, dry milk, salt, sugar
- yeast
The yeast should never touch the liquid, so add it into a shallow depression in the flour. The bread might not turn out well if the yeast gets wet before the bread machine starts mixing and kneading.
To insert the baking pan into the baking chamber you place it in the center and press down until you hear it click into place.
How To Clean The Bread Pan And Two Paddles
The most important thing to remember is that both the horizontal baking pan and the two paddles are coated with a nonstick substance: for that reason abrasive cleaners, scrubbers or utensils must never be used to clean it. Moreover, the baking pan must never be immersed in water or placed in a dishwasher because of the risk of discoloration or malfunction.
You may fill the dirty baking pan with a liquid detergent and water. Leave it for half an hour before pouring out the soapy water. The kneading blades should now be easy to remove. You might use a soft brush to brush away any sticky crumbs from the shaft or kneading blades. Wipe the inside of the baking pan clean with a soft sponge. The kneading paddles should be reattached to the shafts before storage.
The Best 2-Pound Bread Machine With Dual Blades
Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus
At the present time, the best dual paddle bread machine is probably the Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus. This beautiful bread maker makes a traditional-shaped 2-pound bread loaf as a result of its two kneading blades and horizontal baking pan. This model, like the previous BB-PAC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso, has an additional heater element in its lid to achieve better baking results.
The BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (I wish they had shorter product names) has an expanded menu course list that includes options such as Gluten Free, Multigrain, Rapid Whole Wheat, Salt Free, Sugar Free, Vegan and Whole Wheat. If you want to customize the bread making process, then you may do so with the three Homemade memory settings. You are allowed to customize the kneading, rising and baking times according to your own special bread recipe.
I do not know if the BB-PAC20 has been shelved because it is not shown with the other Zojirushi bread maker models on the Zojirushi website. I understand why they might have done so since the BB-PDC20 makes the BB-PAC20 obsolete. Likewise, the names and features are so similar that it leads to unnecessary confusion. Thus, no reason to have both models when the BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is the best version.
Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme
Nevertheless, the much older Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme bread maker is still listed on the Zojirushi website. This bread maker with two blades has 10 menu settings for baking a large 2-pound loaf of bread, making cake, making jam, creating a light sourdough or kneading dough for baking in an oven. Choose a light, medium or dark crust color for the bread loaf. It also has a 13-hour delay timer to delay the start of a bread baking cycle.
The main cost of the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 dual paddle bread machine is its suggested retail price. It also does not have the additional heating element in its lid, hence the crust color on top might not match the color of the sides and bottom. The BB-PAC20 and BB-PDC20 was updated with the additional lid heater to ensure an even crust color.
The key benefit of the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 is that it kneads and bakes a 2-pound traditional rectangular bread loaf due to its dual paddle horizontal bread pan.
Should you buy the Zojirushi BB-PDC20 or the BB-CEC20?
The Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is the newest model. Furthermore, it also has a gluten free bread making option which the BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme does not have. The BB-PDC20 also has an extra heating element in its lid to brown the bread crust more evenly when compared to the Zojirushi BB-CEC20.
However, when it comes to price, the Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is going to cost you a few dollars more (check price on Amazon – paid link).
The Best 2.5-lb Bread Maker With Dual Kneading Paddles
The maximum bread loaf size increases by half-a-pound to 2.5 pounds with the West Bend 41410 Hi-Rise bread maker.
Of course, this is not the only bread loaf size that this twin paddle bread machine can make. The West Bend 41410 can make three loaf sizes: 1.5 lb, 2 lb and 2.5 lb. The biggest loaf size it is able to make is 2.5 pounds. However, it cannot bake a small 1-pound loaf size.
The West Bend 41410 has menu settings for making different types of basic bread recipes such as white bread or garlic bread. Setting number 2 is for making French bread. Setting number 3 is for whole wheat bread. The other menu options are Sweet, Super Rapid, Sandwich, Gluten Free, Mix, Dough, Cake, Jam and Bake.
The West Bend 41410 might have problems that you should know about. For example, the two kneading paddles do not fit as nicely onto the shafts as it did in the older West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise bread maker. A few owners had trouble with the kneading paddles working themselves loose and scratching the nonstick coating of the bread pan. This is a shame because the rest of the bread maker is well-designed. Most owners do not have this problem, but you should be aware of it nonetheless.
Please be advised that the West Bend 41410 has been discontinued by the manufacturer. It has been replaced by a newer model: the West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise dual blade bread maker (read this review to learn more).
The Best 3-Pound Bread Maker With Two Kneading Blades
Black And Decker B6000C Deluxe Bread Machine
Formerly, my choice for a dual paddle bread machine that could bake a 3-lb bread loaf in its big baking pan was the Black & Decker B6000C Deluxe 3-pound bread maker (reviewed here). However, it is currently unavailable which is a disappointing situation.
The B6000C deluxe bread maker can make a minimum loaf size of 1.5 pounds. It can also make 2-pound or 3-pound loaves. The loaf shape can be described as horizontal, rectangular or traditional due to its extra large baking pan and double kneading blades.
The Black and Decker B6000C has 10 menu settings and a 13-hour baking delay timer. If you want to make gluten free bread, then menu setting number 6 can be used for making a gluten-free bread loaf. It takes almost three hours to mix, knead and bake a gluten-free loaf.
The one thing that the B6000C does not have is an automatic fruit, herb and nut dispenser. You need to listen for the beep signal and then open the lid to add raisins or nuts to the dough. Indeed, none of the other dual paddle bread machines have such an automatic dispenser, except for the Breadman BK2000B.
West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise Bread Maker
Currently, the popular choice for a 3-pound dual kneading paddle bread machine is the West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise bread maker. It has a horizontal bread pan that produces a traditional bread loaf shape in three sizes: 2 lb, 2.5 lb, and 3 lb.
This bread maker offers you twelve menu settings that includes Basic, Custom, Dough, French, Gluten-Free, Sweet and Wheat. The Custom setting allows you to customize the various bread making steps. It is rare to find a programmable Custom setting on such an affordable bread machine (shop now on Amazon – paid link).
The Best Bread Maker With Two Collapsible Paddles
A bread maker with dual kneading paddles leave two holes in the bottom of the baked bread loaf. Is there an alternative to the uncomfortable task of removing the two kneading paddles by hand just before the baking cycle starts?
There is an alternative. It is the Breadman BK2000B Bakery Pro bread maker (read full review). It has two collapsible kneading paddles that are pushed down automatically just before the baking cycle starts. This reduces the holes in the bread loaf to two shallow indentations.
You might wonder if the collapsible kneading paddles really work. It works, but not every time. When the paddles do collapse, it is not as if it just disappears. There will still be two dents on the bottom of the bread loaf.
The collapsible paddles are not as strong and durable as ordinary kneading paddles. They might hold up to regular use, or they might break after a few months. We have seen a few reviews where people complain that one or more of the collapsible paddles broke. This is just something to keep in mind.
The Breadman BK2000B has an automatic fruit and nut dispenser that can add a maximum of 2/3 cups of nuts or raisins to the dough. You do not have to wait around for a fruity beep to add raisins. The BK2000B adds the fruit automatically. All you have to do is to load the fruit nut dispenser with the ingredients you want to add into the dough.
A unique feature of the Breadman BK2000B is that it can make two bread loaves simultaneously. Yes, the BK2000B Bakery Pro is a double loaf bread machine that has a dual bread pan system: because of that three bread pans are included. It has one large rectangular bread pan for making a 1.5-lb, 2-lb or 2.5-lb bread loaf. It also has two smaller bread pans for making two 1-pound bread loaves at the same time. Each 1-lb loaf bread pan fits onto one of the kneading blade shafts and then uses a single kneading blade to mix and knead the dough. I cannot remember seeing another twin loaf bread maker except for the Breadman BK2000B, so that makes it quite special.
Conclusion
I do not have much more to say about these dual paddle bread makers. If you want the finished bread machine loaf to look almost like a traditional oven baked loaf, then there is no other alternative.
I already mentioned which dual kneading blade bread machine is the best, but I will repeat it again. The Zojirushi BB-PDC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is a most excellent bread maker, even though its suggested retail price might be too much for some people (check price on Amazon – paid link).
The more affordable alternative to the Zojirushi is the West Bend 47413 Hi-Rise dual blade bread maker. It not only has most of the menu options that you might need, but also has a Custom setting so that you can program your own kneading, rise and bake times. The Custom setting is similar to the Homemade setting of the Zojirushi bread machines.
If you want a bread maker with two collapsible kneading blades, then look no further than the Breadman BK2000B. This is also the only choice if you want a bread maker for making two bread loaves at the same time.
Thank you for reading this guide to the best automatic bread machines with dual kneading paddles.