I recently wrote a post encouraging the consideration of home baking using a bread maker.  A big part of this effort is to offer people options as they feel ever pushed by inflation and the Trump tariff taxes. 

Being raised in a one-income family of seven, I learned ways to stretch a dollar without feeling like I was being punished.  With a bit of ingenuity, it is possible to have a good life without spending a lot of money.  What could be a better mood lifter than homemade bread, pizza, and rolls?

If you have read my other posts, you know I love machines, especially kitchen gadgets.  OK, I love power tools too. My rediscovered bread makers were high-end in their time, and I am accustomed to high bread standards. At the same time, it makes little sense to encourage potentially struggling readers to drop hundreds of dollars on a bread machine to “save money.”  That is why it was interesting for me to see all of the used machines on the market for less than the cost of breakfast for two at a dive restaurant.  

Taking a few precautionary steps can help you obtain a decent machine for next to nothing.  I wanted to prove this to myself using my own hard-earned cash.  I stopped by a local second-hand store and spied a Regal bread maker, likely from the 1990s.  I checked it out in the store and decided that it was worth my $14.  Today I’ll walk you through the process so you can also make an informed decision if you decide to take the used bread maker plunge.

First, do a visual inspection. Normal wear and tear is OK, but avoid machines that look dented or abused. This Regal machine was dusty, but it cleaned up nicely with a little TLC. The bread maker came with its original box and recipe guide, another plus! This suggests that the former owner treated the machine with care.

Check out the inside. Make sure that the machine has both its bread pan and its kneading paddle. Make sure that the bread pan can lock in place. This model’s pan had to be twisted in. Remove the bread pan and examine the baking chamber. Crumbs are normal, but avoid machines where the interior looks burnt or smells burnt. This machine was pretty clean.

This machine was made in Japan, so it is likely a quality build.

Check to see if the machine does what you need it to do. You mostly need a standard white bread program, a whole wheat program, and a dough program. This unit has a few other options too. I was able to plug in the machine at the store and test the display and buttons. Everything seemed to work.

Examine the unit for any hidden damage. In this machine the plastic pins that held the cover in place were broken. However, this did not impact the functioning of the machine.

Bread pans are expensive to replace and it is likely that an old model like this one wouldn’t have replacement parts anyway. Make sure that the non-stick coating on the pan looks good and that the paddle rotates freely.

I decided to make a small loaf just to see if the machine worked. The loaf baked properly, but it was a bit smaller than expected. However, that can be corrected with a little ingredient tweaking.

The texture was not quite as good as my expensive bread makers, but the crust was good, the bread was fully cooked, and it was delicious. This bread maker makes the older style vertical loaf, but that works if you cut the bread perpendicular to the pan (as above). It makes up to a 2 pound loaf, which is another plus at this price.

All in all, an amazing value for $14. This small purchase opens up a world of fantastic homemade breads of all types as well as dough perfect for rolls, pizza, and baguettes. It also features a few extra cycles for foods like quick breads, and sweet breads. A great purchase!

Check out your local thrift store or Facebook Marketplace to find your bread maker today! You could get stuck with a broken machine, but at this price… well, you have to sometimes take a few risks in life.

Peace,

Mike