The Panasonic SD-RD250 Bread Maker is a timeless classic. Having been around for well over a decade, the SD-RD250 is a staple in many homes.
How does it stack up against newer bread machines, such as the Panasonic YD-250? Let’s find out.
Panasonic SD-RD250 Features
- Extremely simple to use
- 5 baking modes
- 2 loaf sizes: medium (1 pound) and XL (2 pounds)
- Non-stick bread pan
- Patented automatic fruit and nut dispenser
- LED display
- Reliable
There’s a reason that the SD-RD250 has been around for so long – it’s built to last. Panasonic really outdid themselves when they made this model. That’s just one of the things that we love about the SD-RD250. Here’s what else we love…
Check Price on Amazon[clear]
Things we love
The main advantage of the Panasonic SD-RD250 is how easy it is to use. With only 5 settings and 2 loaf sizes to choose from, you’re not going to accidentally choose the wrong settings and make a bad loaf of bread.
With a fruit and nut dispenser, you’re not just limited to plain white bread. We found that this machine makes great fruit and nut bread, but only if you use simple, easy-to-mix ingredients such as raisins and chopped walnuts.
We found that baking white bread was a breeze and came out great. The average cook time was just over an hour. The bread would come out with a crisp crust, and a perfect inside.
Look: the main advantage of this machine is its simplicity. If you’re looking to make more than simple, white bread, then you may want to look at other models (such as the newer Panasonic YD-250, or any of our other recommended best bread machines).
Lots of annoyances
Usually, it’s hard for us to find faults in bread makers, but with the SD-RD250, we found a lot.
First, if you’re looking to make anything other than white bread or a simple fruit/nut bread, you’re going to be disappointed. For whatever reason, we were unable to consistently bake a great tasting whole wheat bread.
Also, using the dispenser wasn’t as easy as we had hoped. Maybe we’re used to newer models that also have automatic yeast dispensers. Either way, we weren’t that impressed.
The SD-RD250 is also very, very loud compared to other comparable models. This is to be expected given how long this device has been on the market.
You’re also really limited on which recipes you can use – and what kind of leeway you have in changing the recipe. We found it best to only make the simplest (read: 3-4 ingredient) recipes.
The verdict
The Panasonic SD-RD250 is good if you want the simplest bread machine available. However, given the price you’re going to be paying for it, we really recommend that you look at other models.
Here are a few that we recommend that are in this price range:
However, if you already have the SD-RD250 and simply want a replacement, or want to try it out for yourself, click the below button to get the best price on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon[clear]
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, check out our Ultimate Guide to the Best Bread Machines.