There's nothing better than the fragrance of freshly baked bread wafting through the house, but baking your bread can take time. This is where a bread maker can come in handy, so you don't have to bake your bread. Panasonic has been one of the largest breadmaker manufacturers since its inception in the 1980s, and the latest addition to its breadmaker lineup is one of 4 units with a new horizontal design that doesn't take up or accept as much counter space.
The Panasonic SD-YR2540 has a very stylish stainless steel finish. For the first time, the appliance comes with automatic fruit/nut and diastase dispensers, which will add these ingredients at the right time in the baking process, distributing them evenly throughout the batter, so you don't have to worry. about doing it yourself. . You can bake multiple types of bread, including white, whole wheat, gluten-free, and sourdough bread.
The SD-YR2540 can also bake pastries, such as pizza dough, jams and chutney, making it one of the most versatile bread makers Panasonic has ever produced.
There are 32 presets designed for different types of bread, dough and other items, and the breadmaker lets you choose the size of bread you want to bake (M, L or XL), as the degree of darkness of the crust. The Panasonic SD-YR2540 also has a timer that can delay bread making until 1pm, so you can wake up to fresh bread in the morning, once you've weighed your ingredients and added them to the bread machine. . the preceding night. In addition to this, there is a 'bread mix' program that can be used with prepackaged mixes from supermarkets that contain diastase, a first for Panasonic bread makers.
(Image credit: LaComparacion)
Price and availability Panasonic SD-YR2540
The Panasonic SD-YR2540 is available in the UK for €239.99.
This is one of 2 bread machines in the new range to come with fruit/nut and diastase vending machines. The other model, the SD-YR2550, retails for €199.99 and has a dark gray-style finish instead of stainless steel. This latest model does not offer a syllabic bread program, but includes the rest of the presets offered by the SD-YR2540.
(Image credit: LaComparacion)
Integrated
- The blade reproduces hand kneading.
- A non-stick loaf pan can make up to XNUMXkg of loaves.
- Two sensors adjust the verification time according to the ambient temperature
As we previously mentioned, the SD-YR2540 is one of Panasonic's first "horizontal" bread makers, meaning it won't take up the full depth of your counter. However, with measurements of 48 x 22.2 x 36,2 cm (width x depth x height),
still requires a fair amount of space. The XNUMXcm display on the right hand side shows the chosen preset, chosen with the buttons below, along with the remaining time, the chosen loaf size and the browning level of the crust. Open the breadmaker's lid to access the nonstick bread pan, which has a handle for easy installation and removal.
Fruit/nut and diastase dispensers are located on top of the bread maker, under a thin plastic cover. The SD-YR2540 can bake loaves up to 1kg and even comes with 2 different kneading blades: one for standard bread dough and one for rye bread.
Panasonic claims it has redesigned the breadmaker's kneading motion, with what is more similar to manual kneading. It also includes 2 temperature sensors that control the temperature of the room and of the bread maker itself, adjusting the fermentation time of each bar to achieve constant cooking at all times. The Panasonic SD-YR2540 can make multiple types of bread such as dough, jam, and chutneys using the preset programs. There are 4 gluten-free programs, plus a manual one that lets you add the diastase yourself if you want more control over your bread.
(Image credit: LaComparacion)
- The buns were evenly browned with a sizzling crust.
- Fruit / nut dispenser evenly distributed throughout the bread
- The outer shell heats up throughout longer programs
We are very impressed with every loaf produced by the Panasonic SD-YR2540. We made white, fruit, whole wheat, and superfood breads in the appliance, all with a crispy, evenly browned crust, with the bread itself soft and chewy. When cutting into the raisin bread, it was clear that the bread maker had done a tremendous job distributing the fruit evenly throughout the bread dough. We also bake a gluten-free bread in the bread maker, following a recipe included in the instructions. It had a crackling crust that was golden brown, but the bread itself had a pie-like texture, although this is normal for gluten-free baking. The non-stick loaf pan made it easy to remove the bread after baking, and the bread simply slid out of the pan; however, we had to use oven mitts as the pan and handle were too hot to hold. We were also delighted that the paddle didn't get stuck in the bottom of the bread. In addition to this, the Panasonic SD-YR2540 was found to be easy to clean, with the loaf pan simply requiring wiping down with a damp cloth. The bread maker emits an audible and visual alarm to warn you that the bread is ready, so that you know when to open the lid and remove the bread. as expected,
the Panasonic SD-YR2540 rumbles throughout the bake, especially when intermixing and kneading dough. These lasted no more than 30 seconds in unison and measured just 64 dB on our decibel meter; This is similar to the noise that a dishwasher makes in the middle of the cycle, and more than admissible in our opinion. However, keep in mind that over the longest bakes, the casing reached 50°C, which was too hot to touch; this must be remembered when putting the bread maker on the counter.
Should I buy the Panasonic SD-YR2540 bread maker?
Buy it if...
You want versatility
The SD-YR2540 can do more than just bake bread; You can also make and bake cake dough, join pizza and pasta dough, and make jams and chutneys. If you are looking for a device that can do it all, this is the site.
You want to wake up with fresh bread
With a thirteen-hour timer and a diastase and fruit / nut vending machine, this breadmaker can make sure you wake up to fresh bread, if you have your ingredients ready the night before.
You are gluten free
The Panasonic SD-YR2540 has 4 different gluten free programs covering bread, cakes, pizza and pasta dough, so if you follow a gluten free diet this breadmaker is suitable for everyone.
Don't buy it if...
You have a limited budget
It is one of the most expensive bread machines on the market. Although it's the perfect bread every time and extremely versatile, those on a budget should look for more affordable options at Russell Hobbs or Tower.
You lack space
The SD-YR2540 takes up a fair amount of counter space, and its size also means that storing it in a cabinet after each use may not be practical. Check if you have enough space already before purchasing.
You want to put it under a kitchen cabinet
At 36cm, the Panasonic SD-YR2540 is a somewhat tall device, which is going to be inconvenient if you want to put it on a counter under wall cabinets; throughout testing we were unable to fully open the lid due to the fact that the edge of the cabinet was obstructing it.