Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker with Yeast Dispenser, White

I've owned this machine for two years now. I use these reviews so heavily that I want to give back. I researched it carefully, reading all the reviews, etc. Was nervous about some problems I'd read about in the reviews but took the plunge as this machine seemed to meet my needs and was cheaper than the Z. The machine I ordered burned the bread. I made bread twice with the same result. I called Amazon and they quickly made an exchange. I LOVE the second Panasonic!! I'm glad I stayed with it. Definitely worth: the trouble with the exchange, the longer wait time (longer time makes a much higher rise = more bread for the same ingredients), the necessary scales. I'd do it all over again without a second thought. The bread is fantastic! You get a choice for two hour bread but it makes an average sized loaf. The four hour bread is huge and wonderful. I love the timer on it -- I bought a slow cooker with a timer at the same time and now have dinner waiting for our family when I walk in the door ;) I have worked out a system of snap lid tubs in which I pre-measure dry ingredients, write the wet ingredients on the lid, and store them in a larger tub on the cold back porch. In the morning, I dump the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients and set the timer - five minute process - dinner when I walk in...heaven! -The scales are no biggie and truly do help to get it right. -I don't understand why people complain about the noise...other kitchen appliances are much louder. The yeast dispenser does make a thumping noise but only for four thumps. When I hear a soft whirring sound, I think: I'm not having to kneed bread...I'm reading a book! -The bread pan is easy to clean - I just add hot water to it after I extract the bread (slips right out) and add a bit of dish soap - soak. -Large machine? Well, do you want a large-sized loaf? You gotta have an oven to hold it! It's not THAT large...I have the slow cooker, a toaster, trays, and the bread machine all in one corner at the end of the counter. -The recipes are delicious. I love fixing calzones with it. I know I'm supposed to be able to fix other things in it but can't seem to get past the desire to cook all kinds of breads! Our favorite? Whole wheat cranberry...a loaf doesn't last the meal with my hungry teens and my husband is now a happy man! All this and I didn't have to hang over it. I DON'T work for Panasonic - I teach school (and eat bread). Enjoy! Update: Just went in to make French Bread dough for Christmas meal (2012) and had to say - still working fine after two more years, well used, love, love, love it! Would do it again in a heart-beat! Two more winters and still using it! Left over bread is delicious warmed in the microwave - if any is ever left! 2018 - just cooked a wonderful loaf of bread. Rose high, light, fluffy, husband ate the entire loaf in two days. Bread maker still working great.

UPDATE March 20th 2019**** It's dead Jim. I was using the "dough" setting for dinner rolls. It spazzed out on the kneading cycle and turned my bread to goo. *sob* It caught my attention when the kneading cycle was very rapid and sounded irregular. When you use the machine for 5 years you know how it sounds. It happened in January 2019, but I thought it was because of a power flicker. I knew it wasn't a recipe flub on my part because I had checked it during the last part of the dough cycle. It was a nice ball. Then it had an irregular kneading cycle after it had it's "punch down" knead cycle. It started kneading really fast. Turned it into a sticky mess. It was such an amazing machine until it wasn't. I thought I'd start over. Unplugged, let it set. Plugged it back in, and it was locked on some random baking setting- different from the one I had used. Hopefully it was just the power flicker. Ugh... this thing was amazing. ********************************************************************************** UPDATE November 2015*** This machine is still going strong. I do oil the bottom shaft on the pan with a 3 in 1 oil every so often(same thing as sewing machine) FYI- this is NOT the oil you use inside the pan.OUTSIDE ONLY. I decided to do some research on bread machines and various features when I decided my home made bread consumption was exceeding the time I was willing to commit. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised when I came across a Panasonic bread machine. We have a lot of Panasonic electronics in our house. My husband is quite loyal to the brand. So while researching- I tried to be unbiased. But with all the reviews and such- it just became very apparent that this was the machine for me. It has lived up to the name of Panasonic. It's a solidly built machine. Now- granted, bread making itself is a subjective art with a bit of science thrown in. Recipes and how one carries them out is strictly operator- not the machine. I will however say this is a quiet machine as far as a bread machine goes. No it's not whisper quiet, but you will appreciate the lack of racket if you've ever been around a machine that sounded like it was going to launch itself into outer space. I use the Rapid Bake feature a majority of the time because I make the basic milk bread recipe from the manual. It serves our needs. I have also used the dough cycle for making cinnamon rolls. (amazing) OH and of course- using it for Pizza dough has been great too. It does exactly what these features allow you to do.The yeast dispenser, although not necessary is very handy. I think it's a great bread machine. I've been experimenting and my use is about 2-3 times a week for loaf bread and a few other times for various mixing and kneading rolls, pizza dough etc. The reason I bought the machine is because I had gotten into bread making and came to the point that we were eating the home made bread more than the store bought loaves. At that point, all the kneading and such takes a toll,(Kudos to our pioneer ancestors) never mind the time it takes to mix and rise, bake, etc. I was hesitant to buy a machine as our counter space is limited and this is not a small machine. However, it's a part of my kitchen now and I look forward to more experimentation. I would say this machine is an excellent bread machine, with probably a few more bells and whistles than a lower priced model. So... Panasonic biased owner or not- It's a good machine so far. I've had it about 2 months? I will try to update as it receives more use. As far as the value- it is a Panasonic- which I rate in the upper middle range of cost for good quality product. Many times I end up over researching and over thinking items like this and end up NOT purchasing it. Because I am biased and love Panasonic, I decided to take the plunge because it was on sale, but I also had a $50 Amazon gift card. Probably not important, but that is my buying logic. lol I guess I am saying that knowing what I know about Panasonic brand and this specific machine- it would have been worth the purchase full price or not. I'm just glad it was on sale, and I had a $50 gift card... I've been buying a lot of flour and yeast lately. lol Update: October 2014- This machine has held up well. I have used several more modes and really have tried to make it a priority to use the longer cycle for basic bread. You just can't deny that the true process of letting the bread fully rise without extra yeast-makes a much better loaf. I've also learned that good quality flour makes a lot of difference. The French Bread from the manual was TO DIE FOR!!! AMAZING! But it's a 6 hour cycle but so worth it! I've also started to weigh out my flour. I've learned it's a bit more accurate- when you don't want to let the weather dictate your baking. It's fascinating. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this machine. It more than meets my needs. It's allowed me to be more experimental in the bread department. I would still recommend this machine. Update: October 2018- Still going strong. I have since acquired a fancy and powerful Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook. It's great for big jobs. But this bread machine I still break it out for dinner rolls, pizza dough and a single lovely loaf of bread. I still highly recommend this product and brand. It's still going strong.

Cart2India buys defective products abroad and dumps it at 3 times the price on unsuspecting customers like us who have seen the product and think we are getting the same. Panasonic Automatic Bread Maker with YeastPro Yeast Dispenser - SD-YD250 by Panasonic

Reserved damaged one

I have never used a bread machine before. I always made bread by hand. I have used a dough mixer, but I still had to put the dough in pans to rise and then put it in the oven. It took lots of work, and the machine was very hard to clean. With this machine, you just put all the ingredients in it and choose your settings and wait. Perfect bread comes out every time! The machine is so easy to clean too. I love it so much! If I had any negative input about this machine, it would be that it only makes one loaf. The bread is so good that it goes faster than I can make it. I have only had it for a short time, so I haven't tried making different things in it, but I am excited to try! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who loves fresh homemade bread, made so easily.

I have been using breadmaker bought in 1998 pretty much weekly and was afraid that one of these days it would quit working and I would be scrambling to find a replacement so I ordered a new one. I have been using it for about 2 weeks and have made probably 8 to 10 loaves with it. I like the choice of loaf sizes as well as the choice of crusts and would never want to be without the yeast dispenser, however I do not like the new recipe book. Who measures in sixteenths of a cup? My kitchen scale does not measure acurrately enough to weigh flour as suggested. As well this new one is alot noisier than my old one and this was a dissappointment to me, but the good things outweigh the bad and I am very satisfied with it overall

Panasonic has the best bread maker that I have found. This is my third Panasonic bread maker. My first one was too small for my growing family, but still works even though, it is now more than 20 years old. My son now uses it at university. My second one lasted almost 9 years and was used extensively,at least 6 whole wheat loaves a week and sometimes more including pizza dough etc. When I had difficulty finding a Panasonic dealer in my area I bought 2 machines in less than one year that didn't last. I love Panasonic and know that this bread maker will last more than a few months. We love fresh wholesome bread and this bread maker fits our needs!