Zojirushi Bb HAC10 Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 Lb (White)

Why it's worth it

The Home Bakery Mini makes 1-pound loaves and takes up about 8.5 inches of counter width, roughly a third narrower than a standard 2-pound machine. It's the sensible choice for one or two people who don't want half a loaf going stale.

A 2-pound loaf is too much bread for a household of one or two. You eat it for three days and throw out the end. This machine makes a 1-pound loaf instead — enough for a few days of toast and sandwiches, gone before it dries out. That's a better outcome than a bigger machine you run half as often.

At about 8.5 inches wide, it's the only machine here that genuinely disappears into a small kitchen. It's roughly a third narrower than standard 2-pound machines and has a carrying handle, so stashing it in a cabinet between bakes is realistic. It's the machine that comes up most often in apartment and small-kitchen discussions for exactly that reason.

From our review of 6 bread machines, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +A 2-pound loaf is too much bread for a household of one or two
• +At about 8.5 inches wide, it's the only machine here that genuinely disappears into a small kitchen
• +You still get the essentials: a 13-hour delay timer, an LCD panel, a viewing window, quick-bake, and settings for cookie and…

What to know

• –The program list is short
• –It costs more than several larger, more featured machines here, which is a hard sell until you understand you're paying for…