Kenwood BM256 Review

Overall Rating

More stylish than other breadmakers, smaller, and faster. Easy to use and not too expensive

The dough hook keeps getting caught in the bread, so my loaves have a hole in the bottom, also the measuring utensils they supply are hard to use - the markings are too vague!

I was all set to buy the Panasonic 253 as all the reviews say that it's the daddy of all breadmakers, however, it's huge and not so pretty, and as I was in John Lewis, preparing to take the Panasonic to the till, I spotted this Kenwood. It is very cute, smaller than the panasonic in cream metal with quite a retro 50's styling which looks nicer in my kitchen than a massive white plastic thing.

I didn't want to go on looks alone however, so I spoke to the Breadmaker Demonstrator (don't you love John Lewis's!) and she told me that the 256 was new in, it had all the features of the Panasonic, but it baked more quickly and was almost half the price.

I was almost sold, but to clinch it, she has just that moment taken a loaf out the model she was testing, and I tried some - delicious. She also told me that she had used Kenwood breadmakers for 10 years, and I think someone who demonstrates them for a living should be a good judge!

I have used mine every other day or so for a month or more now, and I love it. I love that I can adjust the salt and other ingredients. I made cake last weekend (banana and cinnamon with dates and walnuts - yum). The recipes in the book are easy to follow and tasty, and I've started experimenting with my own.

I work full time, and all i do is pop the ingredients in when I get in from work, and before bedtime the loaf is ready, cooling overnight to make sandwiches in the morning. At weekend I use the timer and we wake to the smell of fresh bread.... wonderful! It's so easy that I would rather make a small loaf every other day than a large one less frequently!

I would be happy to recommend this breadmaker, I think it looks more attractive than most - which is quite important when you remember that the key thing with breadmakers is that you should leave them out on the worktop - if you hide it away in a cupboard it won't get used! It performs well and it smells yummy!