Zojirushi BB PDC20BA Bread Machine: Full Review

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread machine is an excellent option for home bakers wanting to make delicious homemade bread with minimal effort. This model has a sleek stainless steel design and offers a wide range of settings to customize your perfect loaf. It can make traditional breads like white, wheat, and sweet, as well as more artisanal varieties like sourdough, cake, and jam. The BB-PDC20BA uses exclusive dual blade technology and multiple kneading cycles to create superior bread texture and rise. With its user-friendly control panel, viewing window, and programmable menu settings, anyone can achieve bakery-quality results right from their kitchen counter. This review will cover the top features, usability, bread results, maintenance, and pros and cons of the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA to help you determine if it's the right bread machine for your needs and lifestyle.

Design

The Zojirushi Bread Machine BB-PDC20BA features a sleek stainless steel exterior that will look great on any kitchen counter. The stainless steel not only gives it a modern, stylish look but also makes the bread maker durable and long-lasting.

Fingerprints and smudges don't show up easily on the brushed stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about constantly wiping it down to keep it looking nice. The smooth surface also makes it easy to clean.

Unlike some machines made mostly of plastic, the stainless steel build gives the Zojirushi bread maker a high-quality feel and excellent sturdiness. You won't have to worry about any parts cracking or warping from the heat of bread baking inside.

Overall, the stainless steel exterior provides both form and function, giving the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA an attractive yet practical design perfect for any kitchen.

Features

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread machine comes with a number of useful features that make baking homemade loaves convenient and easy.

• It has a 2-pound bread capacity, allowing you to make larger sized loaves up to 2 pounds in weight. This gives you the flexibility to bake anything from smaller one-pound loaves to larger 2-pound recipes.

• The bread maker contains dual kneading blades that work together to thoroughly knead dough. The blades knead dough quickly and efficiently to develop gluten and create light, fluffy bread texture.

• There is a 13-hour delay timer for scheduling when you want the baking cycle to begin. This allows you to load ingredients into the machine at night and wake up to freshly baked bread in the morning. The delay start time is extremely convenient for busy home bakers.

Ease of Use

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread machine is designed to be very intuitive and easy to use. The control panel is straightforward, with a large LCD display and simple buttons to program the various settings.

There are pre-programmed menu settings for different types of bread, including basic, white bread, whole wheat, multigrain, quick bread, and even cake. You simply select the type of bread you want to make, the crust color, and the loaf size, and the machine takes care of the rest.

The paddle and bread pan are non-stick, which prevents dough from sticking and makes cleanup much easier. The viewing window allows you to monitor the bread as it bakes without having to remove the lid and disrupt the baking process.

Programming custom settings is also very simple. You can easily adjust things like the bake time, rise time, and ingredients delays. An audio beep lets you know when you need to add mix-ins like fruits, nuts or seeds.

Overall, the intuitive control panel and pre-programmed settings make the Zojirushi bread machine extremely easy to use even for beginners. However, it still provides customization options for more advanced users. The non-stick pan and viewing window add convenience.

Bread Quality

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA consistently produces delicious loaves of bread with excellent rise and texture. The machine kneads the dough thoroughly to develop gluten, allowing the bread to rise high in the pan. The heating element and steam injection system create the ideal environment for even baking and a nice crispy crust.

Many users compliment the bread's soft, airy interior with just the right amount of chew. The loaves have an artisanal bakery quality, with good oven spring and an open crumb structure full of large holes. Slices hold together well for sandwiches. Bread baked in this machine has a tender, moist texture that stays fresh longer than store-bought loaves.

The Zojirushi delivers reliable results once you find the perfect recipe and settings for your preferred type of bread. It can make basic white and wheat breads, as well as more complex recipes with fruits, nuts, and other mix-ins. With some experimentation, you can master gluten-free and whole grain breads too. Overall, this breadmaker exceeds expectations for homemade bread quality.

Noise Level

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread machine operates fairly quietly during all of its cycles. The motor generates a low hum that is comparable in volume to a small fan or air purifier. This makes it well-suited for use in open kitchens and living spaces where some ambient noise from appliances is expected.

Users report that the kneading cycle is quieter than most other bread machines. Even on the loudest setting, it does not produce noise levels that would interfere with conversation, television, or sleep. The machine itself does not "beep" loudly at the end of cycles. Overall, the Zojirushi bread maker is one of the quietest models available, making it an excellent choice for noise-sensitive users.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA breadmaker has a nonstick interior that makes cleaning easy. After baking, simply wipe down the inner bread pan with a damp cloth to remove any leftover crumbs or grease.

The kneading blade and inner lid are also detachable and dishwasher safe, so you can keep them clean with a quick run through the dishwasher after each use. The viewing window on the lid can be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.

Overall, clean-up is simple since the nonstick coating prevents baked-on messes. Just be sure not to use abrasive scouring pads or harsh chemical cleaners, as these can damage the nonstick surface over time. With basic care and cleaning, the breadmaker's interior should stay looking new for many loaves.

Warranty

The Zojirushi BB PDC20BA comes with a 1 year limited warranty. This covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal home use for 1 year from the date of original purchase.

The warranty is only valid for the original owner and proof of purchase is required for any warranty claims.

The warranty does not cover damages caused by improper use, abuse, neglect, disassembly, alterations or repairs not authorized by Zojirushi. It also does not cover normal wear and tear.

Make sure to register your warranty with Zojirushi within 10 days of purchase to ensure you are covered. You can register online on the Zojirushi website.

Overall the 1 year limited warranty provides decent protection in case any manufacturing defects arise with the bread maker. However some users may prefer a longer warranty period for a machine with an RRP of over $200.

Pros

The Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread machine has many positive qualities that make it a great choice.

Reliable Performance

The Zojirushi is known for making high-quality, reliable kitchen appliances that consistently deliver great results. This bread maker lives up to that reputation with its stable, consistent performance batch after batch. It expertly kneads dough and bakes loaves with precision timing and temperature control. You can trust it to expertly mix, rise, and bake breads without supervision or babysitting it.

Easy to Use

This machine is very user-friendly with an intuitive, straightforward control panel. Programming it is simple thanks to the menu of presets for different bread types. Just add your ingredients, select your settings, and push start for effortless breadmaking. The machine does all the work for you with just the press of a button. Clean-up is easy too since the nonstick pan cleans up nicely after use.

Excellent Bread Quality

Above all, the Zojirushi consistently delivers exceptional bread taste and texture. It bakes bread with an evenly cooked interior that is soft and moist. The crust comes out with just the right amount of crispness too. The horizontal baking pan shape gives the loaves a nice tall, rectangular form. It's able to knead dough thoroughly for good gluten development. Yeast breads in particular rise beautifully and take on an appetizing domed top. Breads baked in this machine rival quality bakery bread.

Cons

The main drawbacks of the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA bread maker are its high price point and large footprint.

• Expensive: At around $270, this bread machine sits at the higher end of the market in terms of price. While it does have premium features and consistently produces excellent bread, the cost may be prohibitive for some home bakers. There are cheaper alternatives that offer similar functionality.

• Large footprint: With dimensions of 13 x 15 x 10 inches, the Zojirushi takes up a substantial amount of counter space. This may be an issue for those with smaller kitchens who are tight on room to spare. The large, boxy design is not as compact or sleek looking as some other models. Those with limited counter space may want to consider a smaller capacity bread maker.