Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Bread Machine: Full Review

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 is an excellent bread maker that produces consistently delicious loaves of bread. This machine is part of Zojirushi's Home Bakery line, designed for home bakers who want to make high-quality bread with minimal effort.

With its sleek stainless steel design and compact size, the BB-CEC20 fits nicely on a kitchen countertop without taking up too much space. It offers a variety of settings to accommodate different sizes and types of bread, including basic, whole wheat, multigrain, quick bread, cake/pasta dough, jam, and home made modes. The BB-CEC20 can make loaves up to 2 pounds in size.

This bread machine simplifies the bread making process. All you need to do is add ingredients to the non-stick bread pan, select the appropriate setting, and let the machine do the work of mixing, kneading, proofing, and baking. With its intuitive control panel and menu options, anyone can use this bread maker to bake homemade loaves with ease.

Design & Appearance

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 has a sleek, modern design that fits the countertop well in most kitchens. It measures 13 x 8.5 x 11.5 inches and weighs around 10 pounds, making it a compact size but still sturdy and stable while in use.

The breadmaker comes in a silver stainless steel exterior that gives it a high-end look. The interior bread pan is a nonstick coated aluminum, which allows the dough to release easily after baking. The viewing window on the top of the lid and control panel display also match the silver accents.

Overall, the design is visually appealing yet functional. The dimensions keep it from taking up too much space, while still allowing it to bake loaves up to 2 pounds in size.

On the other hand, the Cuisinart CBK-110P1 offers a sleek, compact design perfect for modern kitchens. Measuring just 10.25 x 13.25 x 11.25 inches, it fits comfortably on most countertops without occupying excessive space. Weighing only 10.8 pounds, it is easy to move yet remains stable during use. Featuring a brushed stainless steel exterior, it boasts a contemporary look. The nonstick, removable bread pan ensures effortless cleaning and bread release. With simple controls and an LCD display, this appliance is as user-friendly as it is stylish.

Features

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 bread machine comes with a variety of features that make it versatile for any home baker.

Baking Cycles

The BB-CEC20 has 13 different bread cycles, including Basic, White Bread, Whole Wheat, Quick Bread, Salt-Free Bread, Sugar-Free Bread, and more. It can make bread with three different crust settings - light, medium and dark. The pre-programmed settings make it easy to bake a perfect loaf every time by automatically adjusting the baking time and temperature.

Timer

A convenient 15-hour delay timer allows you to set the bread to bake whenever you want. For example, you can add ingredients to the machine at night and set it to start baking early in the morning, so fresh bread is ready for breakfast.

Loaf Sizes

The BB-CEC20 can make loaves in three different sizes - 1-pound, 1.5-pound, and 2-pound. The interior bread pan is non-stick coated for easy release. Being able to choose smaller or larger loaves is useful for controlling the amount of bread you bake at once.

Crust Control

As mentioned above, the Zojirushi provides light, medium and dark crust settings. This allows customizing the crispiness and color of the crust. For example, you may prefer a light golden crust or a darker crunchier crust. Having crust control gives flexibility.

For those looking for another reliable option, consider the Neretva PE8866GR. This bread machine features advanced baking technology and customizable settings to suit your baking needs. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, you can bake various types of bread and even cakes. The machine also includes a delay timer and multiple loaf size options, making it a versatile choice for any home baker.

Ease of Use

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 bread machine is very easy to use thanks to its intuitive control panel and programming options. The large LCD control panel allows you to easily select settings and program the bread machine for different cycles.

There are 3 menu settings to choose from - Basic, Quick Bread, and Homemade. The Basic setting has options for different loaf sizes and crust colors. The Quick Bread cycle is optimized for quicker breads like cake bread. Finally, the Homemade setting allows you to customize and tweak the baking process.

Programming the Zojirushi is a breeze. Simply add your ingredients to the bread pan, insert the pan into the machine, select your settings and desired cycle, and press start. The machine does the rest!

Cleaning the Zojirushi is also very easy. The bread pan and kneading blade can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher. The lid and body of the machine just need a quick wipe down. There is no need to take apart or dismantle any parts of the machine for cleaning.

With its intuitive control panel, customizable cycles, and easy cleanup, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 offers great ease of use for both beginners and advanced users. It takes the hassle out of bread making.

Performance

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 performs extremely well when it comes to making delicious loaves of bread. The bread that comes out has an excellent crusty exterior and soft, airy interior. The texture is consistent from loaf to loaf.

The machine is very reliable and can handle making multiple loaves in a row without issue. It doesn't overheat or show any signs of strain even after continuously operating for hours. Owners mention being able to make bread 3-4 times a week for years without any decrease in performance.

Noise levels are quite low, especially compared to many other bread machines. There is a faint whirring sound when kneading and a quiet beep when cycles complete. But overall the Zojirushi is one of the quieter models available. It's unlikely to disturb you even if run at night in close proximity.

The Zojirushi delivers high-quality loaves with excellent reliability and quiet operation. Performance is a definite highlight of this bread machine.

Accessories

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 breadmaker comes with a number of handy accessories to help you get the most out of the machine.

It includes two kneading paddles - one for regular bread dough and one for whole wheat dough. The paddles are designed to efficiently knead the dough and are removable for easy cleaning.

There are also two baking pans included - a 2 pound loaf pan and a 2 pound quick bread/cake pan. Both pans are made of a durable nonstick material to ensure even baking and easy release of the bread. The loaf pan produces a nice standard vertical loaf while the quick bread pan bakes breads into a more horizontal loaf shape.

A measuring cup and measuring spoon come with the Zojirushi breadmaker to help accurately measure ingredients for your recipes. The cup measures liquids and the spoon handles dry ingredients like yeast, sugar, and salt.

Finally, the breadmaker comes with a handy recipe book that includes recipes optimized for the Zojirushi BB-CEC20. The book contains a nice variety of basic bread recipes as well as sweet breads and Gluten-free options.

Overall, the accessories included with the Zojirushi bread machine provide all the essential tools you need to start baking a variety of homemade breads. The pans, paddles, and measuring utensils help streamline the process from start to finish.

Pros

Versatile and Customizable Programs

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 bread maker has a wide variety of bread settings to choose from including basic white bread, whole wheat bread, quick bread, cake, jam, pizza dough and more. It allows you to easily customize the crust color, loaf size and baking cycles to get your desired result. The dual kneading blades provide excellent kneading for different types of dough.

User-Friendly and Convenient

The machine has an easy-to-use LCD control panel and menu for selecting settings. It can delay bake up to 13 hours in advance which is perfect for waking up to fresh bread. The viewing window allows you to monitor the baking process. When done, it automatically switches to the keep warm mode for up to 3 hours.

Consistent High Quality Bread

Customers consistently praise it for baking tasty and evenly baked loaves of bread every time. The machine does an excellent job kneading dough thoroughly and controlling baking temperature to produce bread with good rise and texture. It reliably bakes crusty artisan-style loaves as well as soft sandwich bread.

Cons

• The LCD screen is not backlit, making it hard to see in low light situations like early in the morning. You have to turn on an overhead light to see what settings you are choosing.

• There are limited settings and options compared to some high-end models. You don't have as much customization for crust color, loaf shape, and programming.

• The nonstick bread pan collects scratches easily, especially if using metal utensils. Over time the scratches can lead to sticking. Replacement pans are expensive direct from Zojirushi.

Competitors

When comparing the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 to other bread machines on the market, there are a few key competitors worth looking at.

The Cuisinart CBK-200 is a popular alternative with a very similar design and feature set. It has a 1400-watt motor, 13 hour delayed bake timer, and a range of pre-set cycles for different types of bread. The main advantages of the Cuisinart are the larger 2.5 pound capacity loaf size, and slightly lower price point. However, it may not have the same reputation for reliability and consistent performance as the Zojirushi brand.

For a more budget-friendly option, the Oster 2-Pound Expressbake Bread Maker is worth considering. It lacks some of the advanced features and built-in recipes of the Zojirushi, but can still bake a standard 2-pound loaf with basic settings. The much lower price point makes it attractive for casual home bakers on a tight budget. However, bread quality and consistency may suffer compared to pricier models.

At a higher price point, the Breville BBM800XL Custom Loaf Bread Maker offers greater customization and flexibility. It has an auto-start ingredient activation feature, fully customizable cycles, and automatic fruit and nut dispenser. The trade-off is a much higher price tag, putting it out of reach for many casual buyers.

Overall, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 strikes a great balance of bread quality, features, and thoughtful design at a reasonable mid-range price point. For those who bake bread frequently, it is likely worth the investment over cheaper options that may disappoint. And it provides great value compared to more expensive niche models with diminishing returns on extra features.

Conclusion: A Worthy Bread Making Machine For Any Kitchen

The Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Breadmaker is an excellent choice for anyone looking to bake fresh loaves of bread at home. Its combination of features, performance, and ease of use make it stand out from many other bread machines.

This machine can handle a wide variety of bread recipes, including basic white bread, whole wheat, and more artisanal varieties with nuts, fruits, and other mix-ins. The dual kneading blades ensure thorough mixing and rising for great texture and taste. There are multiple settings for different sizes and types of bread, allowing you to customize your loaves.

Operation is straightforward with an easy-to-read LCD display and simple control buttons. Programming the various cycles is intuitive and the machine takes care of the baking process automatically once started. The nonstick interior and removable parts make cleanup a breeze.

While the price is on the higher side, the quality construction and performance help justify it. Zojirushi is known for making durable, long-lasting appliances. For home bakers who want to reliably churn out loaf after loaf of delicious bread, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Breadmaker is an excellent investment.

Overall, this machine delivers excellent bread baking results for the money. If you're looking for a bread maker that consistently delivers perfect loaves time after time, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Breadmaker is highly recommended.