I have a Zojirushi BBCC-X20 and I consider it the Rolls-Royce of breadmakers.
- It makes traditionally-shaped rectangular loaves
- It’s whole wheat cycle actually works
- It has a custom programmable cycle
At one time, I viewed automatic bread-making machines as almost blasphemous. Part of the art of breadmaking is developing a feel for the dough – shaping and kneading it until you can feel that it is ‘ready’. Then one day it dawned on me that I wasn’t making bread because I no longer had the time. With all the mixing and kneading and rising and punch-down etc, I had six hours invested in a loaf of bread.
Having the ‘Zo’ means that I spend a few minutes pouring in the ingredients and three hours later it gives me a loaf of bread. I also discovered something else: The Zo gave me the freedom to experiment. When you’ve got six hours invested in a loaf of bread you are reluctant to take the chance of screwing it up. When a breadmaker on the other hand, all you have invested in each loaf is a few cets worth of ingredients and a few minutes of your time. My Zo became empowering.