There is a Japanese phrase, “waku-waku suru”, which means to be excited. But there is so much more nuance to what emotions it conveys—joy, nervousness, anticipation; and it’s always a positive feeling. At Zojirushi we think baking bread for the first time at home makes you go “waku-waku”, in ways that buying bread at the store never can. If you’re a first-time breadmaker owner, or a long-time breadmaker fan, get that “waku-waku” feeling and let’s bake!
How do you choose your very first Breadmaker? That’s easy; just choose one from Zojirushi and you can’t go wrong! Here are four models, each with different features and size capacities to match the way you would like to bake at home. Start with one of these and start on your baking journey to better bread. You’ll soon be expanding to developing your own recipes as well.
Our basic 1-lb. loaf model with simple and easy to use course settings—the ideal breadmaker for beginning home bakers.
Our advanced 1-lb. loaf model features double heating elements for a better crust, and an easy to view course list. 15 different courses to explore beyond bread!
Our basic 2-lb. loaf model with simple and easy to use course settings. Now you can bake bread that looks like you bought it at the grocery store.
Our advanced 2-lb. loaf model features double heating elements to bake more evenly, and an easy to view course list with expanded healthy choices.
Now that you have your first breadmaker, what do you want to bake? So many choices, so many ways to become that baker you’ve always wanted to be! With our easy course settings, you can bake almost anything, and develop your own recipes too. Here’s a lineup of some of our most popular recipes; try them yourself and see how easy it is for your new breadmaker to give you professional results.
Basic breads can be baked by our breadmakers from start to finish, all in the breadmaker, all with the touch of a button.
A variety of breads can be baked, including gluten free and whole wheat. Bake the type of bread to match your dietary needs.
Your breadmaker can make homemade dough with ease, allowing you to bake your own baguettes, pastries or bagels.
Of course, your homemade pizza dough is as easy as “pie”. Groan if you will, but we’re not joking—any toppings you want!
Doughs you can make are not limited to breads. Make your own pasta or lasagna with your first breadmaker.
Cakes are also possible; our breadmakers can bake from start to finish, and all that’s left is to decorate and enjoy.
Here’s a twist when using your breadmaker—make healthy fresh fruit jams with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners.
Unbelievable! You can actually bake a meatloaf in your breadmaker with this recipe. Who woulda thought you could do this?
So you got your first breadmaker but your loaf failed. Don’t feel bad! Baking is tricky, even with an automatic process. There are ways to avoid pitfalls and enhance your user experience so your breadmaker can bake the best loaf possible. Follow these tips and try again; we’re confident you’re going to succeed next time and you’ll soon have delicious homemade bread spreading joy around your kitchen!
Use fresh ingredients. Always choose by manufactured date and try to use right after opening. Always store yeast in the refrigerator.
Measure accurately—this is critical for all baking! We recommend using a digital scale and measuring by weight instead of volume.
Ambient temperature might affect baking results. Use water at a consistent 41°F (5°C) on hot days and 68°F (20°C) on cold days.
Add ingredients in the same order specified by the recipe. Make a dimple in the dry ingredients for the yeast, to keep it dry.
Before the breadmaker became a part of home baking, homemade bread was a tedious and time-consuming process. With roots in a home mochi making machine, Zojirushi perfected a home breadmaker in 1988 and released great tasting bread to everyone’s kitchens. We have been developing new ways to improve the bread baking experience ever since.
We created course settings to make it easier to decide what to bake, whether it be basic white bread, a sourdough starter or even jam. The settings customize kneading times and baking temps according to the course so you get the best results.
We are developing recipes and constantly testing them to get optimal loaves of height and weight when baked in various conditions, like different room temperatures and electrical voltage. We test to make sure the bread’s surface won’t crack or bake unevenly.
We want anyone to be able to bake perfect bread even for the first time. Our fine tuning of the temperature sensors during the fermentation process ensures the best dough. The advanced models come with extra heating elements for even browning.
We encourage recipe growth by including a Homemade Course, which allows ample room for experimentation. Using our breadmakers as a starting point, your recipes can reach new levels of sophistication and skill. Visit our Breadmaker Recipes page for more.
Did you know the Portuguese first brought bread to Japan? That’s why the Portuguese word for bread, “pan”, is still used in Japanese today. Did you know eating bread crusts was once thought to make a person’s hair curlier? Turkey as a country consumes the most bread in the world--are you surprised? Bread gets stale faster in the refrigerator because it loses moisture in cold temperatures. Freezing it is one of the best ways to store leftover bread.
Japan is well known for taking foreign concepts and making them exclusively “Japanese”. Food is no exception—if you want to read about how piroshiki became so popular in Japan, read this!
One off-shoot of the Russian piroshiki is the mega popular curry-pan, a deep fried donut filled with a delicious Japanese style curry paste. Learn how to make it at home with our recipe.
Fun with Bert-san. Your homemade bread can become more than just a piece of toast if you get a little creative with it. This luscious sandwich is a well-known Korean street food called gilgeori.
Japanese onomatopoeia is a fun way to learn how sounds and feelings are expressed using word phonics. The Japanese language has hundreds of them—read these articles to learn more!
Zojirushi 101 Subscribers!
Click on the link in your email to answer this issue’s survey and be entered to win our special prize!
If you have not yet registered, click the SUBSCRIBE button below to receive the next issue of Zojirushi 101 in your mailbox!
