Russell Hobbs 23620 Compact Fast Breadmaker, 660 W, Black

Product Information

What’s especially good about this model is that it’s sleek enough to have out on the worktop. As well as a brushed stainless-steel exterior to help prevent fingerprints and a large viewing window, there’s a touchscreen instead of buttons and an LCD display. Annoyingly, the display only stays lit while it’s being programmed, so it’s hard to see at a glance how much time it has left, especially on a sunny day.

Another accessory some machines have is a fork-like paddle for kneading less elastic rye bread. Bread makers have different ways to add ingredients. This may be a pause button so you can add them when you want. Or, a specific time in the programme with an alert. Our gluten-free loaf was more challenging. The programme had plenty of mixing built into it, so there weren’t clumps of ingredients left behind, which can be a common problem. However, it didn’t rise as well as hoped, so the loaf was dense, and browner on the sides than on the top even though we baked using the dark crust option. During testing it functioned effectively – while being one of the noisier models we tried as it mixed, especially with heavier dough, it produced a well-risen 2lb loaf, which was consistently browned. There were a few traces of flour lumps on the side, and loose flour thrown into the baking chamber but it came out of the pan easily and sliced well. That said, it was an easier, and less messy, process than making gluten-free bread by hand, so for saving time on that, it’s a win.If you fancy getting creative, it has a preset and accessories for making your own sourdough starter. This is alongside a separate raisin/nut dispenser and rye bread paddle. Touch panel controls and a sleek steel finish also mean you won’t mind having it out on the worktop. Aesthetically it's not the prettiest bread maker in this buying guide by a long shot, but it's great value for something that creates supermarket-quality crusty white loaves. All machines will grow warm on the outside as they bake but some will be hotter than others. How long will each loaf take to make? There’s also a 13-hour delay start, 60-minute keep warm and three crust colour options. There’s no gluten-free setting. However, there are instructions on making gluten-free bread and cakes using the other programmes. There’s also no extras dispenser but it will sound an alert when you can add ingredients. Two spoons and a cup make measuring simple. There’s even an automatic dispenser for extras, such as nuts and raisins, though it has to be removed and replaced at the beginning of each bake, rather than a permanent dispenser that can be added to throughout. A 15-hour delay timer and 60-minute keep-warm function is great for fitting around a busy lifestyle, too.

Each programme will calculate the temperature and baking time and/or function. There should be an option for selecting how brown you prefer the crust to be, and a delay start. This allows you wake up or come home to fresh bread or make sure you’re there to remove it. This setting won’t always be suitable if you’re baking with ingredients that can spoil, such as eggs. Up to 13 hours is average, which includes the time the bread takes to be made. A default keep warm is a handy option if you’re not around to take the bread out. This maintains enough heat inside the pan to prevent condensation being absorbed by the loaf as it cools. Alternatively, look for a model with a paddle that collapses before baking. Bread makers can be bulky, so balance the size of the machine with how much you plan to bake. In testing, the 750g white loaf rose incredibly well. But while the sides and bottom were sufficiently browned, the top was pale, despite it being set for the darkest crust. The loaf came out of the pan easily but the paddle tore a hole. It was still a fluffy loaf, but its two-tone look somewhat let it down.

The verdict: Russell Hobbs 23620 compact bread maker

However, the bread maker was easy to use. In testing, it was ultra-quiet even when kneading with purpose. It made a basic large white loaf over four hours, although there’s also a rapid option if you want it faster. The outside of the machine grew warm but not hot. The finished loaf was well-risen with a light, fluffy interior. A sure-fire choice for better bread every time. This bread maker was used to make a 1.5lb white loaf on the basic programme. While it wasn’t too noisy, it beeped loudly when it was ready for extras. The action isn’t shown on the display so first-time bakers might wonder what it wants. The loaf rose and baked well, and stayed crisp on the keep warm setting. It came out of the pan easily. However, the paddle had to be dug out and there was some unmixed flour on one corner.

There’s a decent amount of versatility with 12 programmes (no gluten-free but there is jam and cake). There's a 13-hour delay start, an ‘add extras’ alert, viewing window and one-hour keep warm, plus a measuring spoon and cup. For all that, it’s probably a better bet for previous bread maker owners, rather than newbies. This is because the instructions and recipe book are poorly written. While it’s not billed as compact, this basic bread maker is relatively small. This makes it a good buy for a space-poor kitchen. The size is reflected in its pan, which is tall rather than wide, and can make small (1lb) or large (1.5lb) loaves with three crust colours. Larger machines will make bigger loaves but require more space. It’s a good idea to make your bread maker a permanent worktop resident. This is simply because storing it away means you’re less likely to use it regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions about Russell Hobbs 23620 Compact Bread Maker

On the downside, while the buttons are straightforward, there are a few quirks. For example, the crust settings don’t make much sense. Light appears on the LCD display as L, but medium and dark are P and H. There’s no measuring spoon and cup, and the pan pushes, rather than twists, into place. This needs a sharp yank to get it out.