Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker, 2 lb. loaf of bread

Product Description:
Get performance like you’ve never seen from a breadmaker. A revolutionary heating element built into our Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker changes the way you can bake bread at home. With perfectly browned crust every time, anyone can be a master baker. From novice to expert, now any home baker can take advantage of our most technologically advanced breadmaker, loaded with menu settings and options for the ultimate in versatility. For a basic bread recipe, simply add in measured ingredients, close the lid, make a selection from the user-friendly LCD control panel, and the Home Bakery Supreme takes care of the rest–baking up a rectangular-shaped 2-pound loaf of bread to perfection. Choose from three crust shades–light, medium, or dark–and from various healthy course settings, such as multigrain, whole wheat, rapid whole wheat, gluten free, salt free, and vegan. Best of all, the machine’s timer can be set to delay the end of the baking cycle by up to 13 hours, which makes it possible to wake up to the smell of freshly baked, homemade bread in the morning or to come home to a warm loaf at the end of a long day at the office. The bread maker provides two blades for thorough dough kneading and a higher rise, a large viewing window, an “on” indicator light, a start/reset button, and a removable nonstick bread pan for easy cleaning. Accessories include a liquid measuring cup, nested measuring cups, and a measuring spoon. Instruction manual and recipe book also included.
Various healthy course settings include Multigrain, Whole Wheat, Rapid Whole Wheat, Gluten Free, Salt Free, Sugar Free and Vegan
Double Kneading Blades thoroughly knead dough for superior results; Dual heaters on the bottom and lid of the bread maker promote even baking and browning
Rapid courses allow you to bake a loaf of white or whole wheat bread in just 2 hours and 25 minutes
Large, easy-to-read LCD display with convenient key code on lid simplifies course selection; RAPID SETTING: Use Rapid setting to have your loaf ready to eat in under two and a half hours
Electrical Rating 120 volts / 700 watts.Cord Length:39 inch

Product Summary:

Item Details:

Products Reviews:

Reviewer: ‘Zannah
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Worth Every Penny!
Review: Our trusty, 18-year-old Zo was still going strong when the non-stick coating began to peel. When no replacement parts could be found, we faced the inevitable and began to look for a worthy successor. After much research, other brands seemed to have serious issues we hadn’t had with our old workhorse, despite its age (it was a hard act to follow!). Plunking down mega-bucks for the Virtuoso took much soul-searching, especially after so many negative reviews of its predecessor, but we checked Amazon’s price daily and took the plunge when it went on sale, since it could be returned if it was a dud.Surprisingly, this machine actually has exceeded our expectations; even 100% whole wheat bread, which in the ancestor Zo could be iffy, is perfect. In both 2 lb. and 1.5 lb. loaves, the crust is just right – not tough or hard; the top is golden and even; every loaf/cake, complex or simple, has been almost freakishly flawless (true, you are paying for those double paddles and top heater, but do they ever make a difference!). In true Zo form, it’s simple to use, very quiet and stable, and finished goodies slip right out with minimal holes and cleanup. Paddles remain in the pan, not the bread, and separate easily after briefly soaking the cooled pan in warm water. A “Shape” stage can be used to remove the dough to specially form it or remove the paddles before baking (the splines will remain, but the resulting holes will be much smaller without the paddles), and raising the lid will stop the machine temporarily without interfering with the program. Like older models, the initial “Rest” period warms ingredients as needed before mixing so no need to bring them to room temp first, but a cool new feature is the ability to bypass this stage if you don’t need it, which shortens the overall time considerably. The “Add” signal also beeps for a longer period so you have less chance of missing it, which is easy to do if you’re not nearby since it isn’t very loud. Although the DVD manual provided is unintentionally comical and prim, and mind-numbingly redundant, it does have some useful info not included in the written manual.One consideration before buying would be your available space: since it bakes a horizontal loaf, this is a hefty machine with a footprint 18″w, 11″d, and with the lid raised, 20″h, plus space needed behind and at sides for vents. An extension cord will probably be needed unless parked directly in front of an outlet.Although we’ve only begun to tap its many talents, after over a month of frequent use (2 – 3 times/wk. for whole-grain breads w/nuts/fruit/seeds, banana bread, cakes, and pizza dough so far, and hopefully noodles soon), we’re delighted with our new Zo and recommend it without reservation; we also appreciate Amazon’s free shipping and right-on-time arrival before Christmas.Just an added note if you’re new to bread makers (and to set straight some previous detractors’ comments) – for best results with any machine, take the time to measure ingredients by weight rather than volume and add them in the order recommended in your machine’s manual, since order can vary by manufacturer and doesn’t necessarily match that listed in cookbook recipes. And if you need more reasons to think Zo, check out the King Arthur Flour website blog where they used one to cook almost every dish last Thanksgiving (except the turkey)!
Reviewer: D Phaneuf
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Amazing machine, amazing results.
Review: Absolutely love this BreadMaker, even after just one use. It arrived very well packaged. Set up and cleaning is a breeze. The bread turned out really good: fluffy and light, great taste, and horizontal rise. Made a 2 pound loaf. The instruction manual and recipe book are clear and easy to follow. The machine ran very quietly not like our old breadmaker. The dual blending blades make for a good mix. Though this machine was quite expensive (nearly $400), I am not unhappy with the expenditure. The quality of the machine and end product are worth the price. Looking forward to trying the other recipes. I highly recommend this unit
Reviewer: pt, wa
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This is amazing!
Review: First one had loud rattle in upper chamber. Returned immediately. Took about 3 weeks to get confirmed return and credit by Amazon. Bought same again. It is doing great. This is an amazing model. Replaced a 25 yr old Zoji. It is strong, versatile, and has dual heating elements not found in breadmakers. It is relatively quiet. It us a great sough dough starter incubator also. Made great wheat bread and sour dough (I did add a bit of rapid yeast to the sourdough starter). I love the Virtuoso. It is quite large but makes up to a huge 2 pound loaf. I cut recipe and made several smaller loves very well. I did make one error. I sliced into the 2 pounder and hit metal. One blade was baked into the loaf undetected, and the knife deeply scratched the blade. I easily ordered a replacement blade from Zoji. Strongly recommend following all cleaning and maintenance instructions carefully for long life. The pan is over $100 to replace. Should last a long time though with care for no scratches or submersion. By buying at Amazon, can get 4 yr extended warranty not offered directly from manuf nor most dealers.
Reviewer: H and H HONEY
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Makes bread, cakes, etc that get you compliments galore~~~ I LOVE IT!!!
Review: Oh, I cant tell you how much I love my zojirushi bread maker! I use it 1-2 times a day to make the most amazing breads and cakes! There are two things that I love the most in my kitchen; my zojirushi bread maker, and my zojirushi rice cooker. Whomever made this- thank you, just thank you! My bread is soft and moist and perfect each time. never over or under cooked. I thought all bread machine bread was like a hard log, but this beautiful creation proved me wrong. I get the same response from those whom eat my bread- after the first bite, their eyes widen, and I receive compliments galore. My parents are on a strict diet, and on their cheat days, they beg me to bring over bread! When the 14 year old boys in scouts (hubby is a scout master) come over, they ask for bread with honey as the “dessert”. I mentioned that I make 1-2 loaves daily- that is how quickly my small family devours them. The bread that comes out of this thing is better than store bought and I only pay like $.50- $1.00 a loaf? (honestly I haven’t calculated it, but is cheaper than a $5+ lump of coal (bread) from the store). Every single time I take a bite of bread from this thing, I practically cry out in song because the bread is just that good. This was the best buy ever. Along with my amazing bread maker, I bought “Bread Loaf Bags, Pack of 100 by Perfect Utopia”, those will happily fit a 2 pound loaf or home made pizza; and most importantly, “The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook: A Master Baker’s 300 Favorite Recipes for Perfect-Every-Time Bread-From Every Kind of Machine”. I am so in love with my bread machine. It has been the best birthday present ever. I recommend the Zojirushi bread maker to everyone whom has tasted my bread, and I recommend it to you to! You wont be disappointed! This bread machine has been a life changer.Update: Well, it has been nearly a year since my purchase of the Zojirushi bread machine, and I still think it is the best kitchen purchase I have ever made (well, it is tied with my Zojirushi rice cooker). I use my bread machine at least 5 times a week, as I make bread for my family and my parents and our weekly get family get togethers. My bread loaves come out perfectly each time (given that my ingredients- especially my yeast are still good). MY bread is still adored by all we entertain and my 1st grader even says her school friends at lunch love it (I guess they trade lunches sometimes!). I love, love, love, love this bread machine and rant and rave about it every time my bread is complemented. I have saved so much money baking bread instead of buying it, and now my entire family cant stand store bought bread, even my toddler tastes the difference. I love that it takes only a few minutes to load the machine with ingredients and then all I have to do is take the fresh bread out when it is done. Thank you Zojirushi for making such an amazing and high quality product!!Update 1/4/2019I still love this bread machine!! It makes the best bread ever. I am still praised by my kids and others for the bread this machine puts out. Even after owning it several years, this machine works like a charm. I still use it at least 6 times a week. I mainly make my white bread and the occasional banana or zucchini bread loaf. I will note that after about a year, I do need to purchase new mixing blades. I clean my bread pan/ mixing blades by filling the pan with water and letting it soak an hour or so each time, than cleaning it with a soft cloth, followed by a water rinse. After a banana bread loaf I use soap and have to be more aggressive with the washcloth, but it is easy to clean none the less.I notice when I do make banana bread, it tends to remove the nonstick finish off the mixing blades quicker. I have since just had an “older” set of mixing blades that I use just for banana bread, while I use my newer set for my regular bread, so I don’t have to replace them as quickly.When it is colder in my house (guessing 60 degrees or below), there is a higher chance my bread wont rise properly. I tend to end up tossing, making grill cheese sandwiches, or french toast with those loaves when that happens. The taste is still there, just not the light fluffy texture, and it is very dense. I cure this by heating the house, specifically where my machine is at, and baking the loaf during the warmest time of the day.I also have learned that, for at least my machine, placing both mixing blades to point in the same direction (i.e. both point north), the bread will rise evenly. I am not sure if there is some magical science to this, or if it causes the dough to rise evenly, but if they are not pointed in the same direction, I notice that one side will rise higher than the other. Took me a year to figure that out.I still recommend this machine to everyone who loves my bread! I get a good laugh that every time one of my brothers comes to visit, one of the first things they do is ‘causally’ walk into my kitchen and conveniently stand to talk in front of the bread and than after a few minutes, just nonchalantly cut a huge slice and smother it in our raw honey, and repeat until the loaf is more than half gone (well, at least they have the decency to leave one or two slices for my children, haha).This bread machine has been the best investment, with me only having a pay a few cents a loaf in ingredients. It has more than paid for itself.
Reviewer: superkathygirl
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I’ve been making bread in my Cuisinart Bread machine for my family until it broke down a few months ago. I have spent quite awhile doing research on various machines and was very impressed with the reviews that Zojirushi bread machines received. I decided on the Zojirushi Virtuoso because of the modification made with the heat element in the lid to help brown the top of the bread. I figured, that if I am going to invest this kind of money in a machine I want the one with updated features.First, I am truly impressed with how quickly I received my purchase from Amazon. I bought the item on a Saturday and got free shipping (which was supposed to take 5-7 days) and it arrived two days later. The packaging was great, no damage to the box, padding inside to ensure that it didn’t slide around.When I unwrapped the machine I was immediately thrilled with the quality of the machine itself. Compared to my Cusinart bread machine you can tell you get what you pay for. The machine is solid and doesn’t feel like tin like my previous machine. The bread pan is also impressive. I love the handles on each side (which is also a new feature on this Zojirushi model), the pan is also very solid with a good weight to it. Another big improvement from my previous machine is how the easy it is to insert and remove the pan into the machine (this is the one major thing I hated about the Cusinart bread machine).The first bread I made was Challah (egg bread). This is used on the dough setting then braided by hand and finished in the oven. The dough setting worked perfectly. The double paddle made a big difference in the texture of the dough. I then made a bread machine recipe for oatmeal bread (my mom used to make this when I was a kid). I found the recipe online. It turned out great, it didn’t rise as nicely as I would have liked, but it browned perfectly and it was yummy.Tonight I decided to try the original recipe my mother used to make (not meant for the bread machine) and modified it slightly. The results were AMAZING!! You can take any bread recipe and modify it slightly for your bread machine.Here is the recipe if you want to give it a try.Wholesome Oatmeal Bread:1 cup of warm water2 Tbsp of unsalted butter2 Tbsp of brown sugar1/4 cup of honey1 1/2 tsp of kosher salt1/2 Quick Oats2 3/4 cups of white bread flour2 1/4 tsp of bread machine yeast(I put the ingredients in the machine in this order making an indentation in the flour on top for the yeast to sit)Put the machine on the Basic Regualr cycle. I like the medium crust setting.Enjoy!!I highly recommend this machine. If you are looking to invest in a quality machine this is worth every penny, I’ve had a cheaper machine and it only lasted a year before it completely died. This machine is also incredibly quiet and it’s nice not to have to babysit it to make sure it doesn’t bounce off the counter during the kneading cycle…LOL!!
Reviewer: Guillermo Robles Gil y Chaves
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Inmediatamente que recibí la máquina se ve la calidad de ella, también en los manuales y el equipo adicional, es el costo alto pero a las personas qué les guste la calidad se las recomiendo ampliamente al probarla hoy no funcionó
Reviewer: J S Alejandre
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Tengo un hijo con intolerancia al gluten y a los lácteos, y yo soy alergico a la nuez, encontrar un pan que no tenga esos ingredientes es prácticamente imposible, sin embargo con esta máquina he podido hacer pan para sandwitches, pan de chocolate, pan de calabaza, muy deliciosos, Tanto con levadura como sin levadura, gracias al plan de programación manual. Excelente producto.
Reviewer: Rolf de Bruin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Purchased this breadmaker in Dec, 2017. We use the machine 6 times a week to make whole wheat loves. This is the first experience with the Zojirushi after we have had 3 WestBend 4140 Bread machines. The Westbend were great but no longer in production. Westbend is much cheaper, lasted about a year, sometimes two. I was reluctant to spend so much more on a breadmachine.When the Zojirushi arrived, it was very clear that this machine is a lot more durable than the Westbend. The machine feels heavier, the lid closes solid, the steel feels thicker.After almost six months of use, I can say that the Zojirushi is working like new. It even still looks like new, where others showed wear or discoloration from the heat. The pan looks like new, with no scratches or scruff marks. With the Westbend, we replaced the pan every six months to a year. In other words, the machine is very reliable, robust and well made.Operations are easy, menu intuitive. The annoying beeps when you pressed the buttons are a lot softer than the Westbend, so not everyone wakes up when making bread late at night. The normal whole wheat program does not start immediately with kneading, but spends 20 minutes warming the water, etc. Annoying when you make bread in the morning for lunch as it adds another 20 minutes. The initial kneading is very loud and there are still nights I wake up to it. It’s very rough, with very short bursts. It lasts about 5 minutes and than shifts to a more gentle rotating knead. We have had a few instances where the pan became dislodged during this initial stage with even more noise. Make sure the pan is very secure before starting the machine.The bread? Honestly, the Westbend was better. Even with the extra heater in the lid and the option for a dark crust, the top of the loaf is never really thick and crunchy. But even with Rye, Emmer and Spelt, loaves come out consistently in great shape.Ultimately, whether or not this is five or four stars will depend on how long the machine will last. If it still runs after 3 years and 900 loaves, I will give it five stars. At 30 cents per loaf, it becomes good value. If it fails sooner… perhaps four stars. Five for now.Update: April 2020. Working like a charm with no issues. Very durable. The original pan and paddles are working great. No leaks.
Reviewer: Ravrocks
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I bought this as a birthday gift for my mom when her old bread machine of 30 years finally died. She’s already made a few loaves of bread using the recipe book that came with and both the quality and flavour is amazing. It beats store bought bread in every single way.The pros I can list:-The duel heating element.-duel mixing paddles-The “rise” feature which works as a way to preheat your ingredients before the machine even begins to process the dough.-large, flavourful 2 lb loaf sizes-capable of making more than just bread. Buns, pizza crust, doughnuts, jams, pasta, cakes, dessert breads and much more.-ability to add additional ingredients, machine notifies you when to do so-your entire house will smell lovely like fresh baked bread-bakery quality-easy to useThe only cons I have:-isn’t a compact size, takes up a quite a lot of counter space (to me that is not a huge deal though)-machine is heavier than most other bread machines (also not a huge deal for me)-pricier than other machines (but so worth it)This machine is worth it in every way and worth every penny. If you are in the market for a new bread machine, you will certainly not regret this machine. Also makes a great gift.