Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 Breadmaker - Review

The Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 is an automatic bread machine that can make loaves, jam, pasta, cakes, and more. It has a sleek stainless steel body and an LCD control panel, allowing you to easily select from 33 baking programs.

This breadmaker can make loaves up to 900g in size, with three crust color options. It has a rapid baking cycle that can produce bread in under an hour. There is also a gluten-free bread setting that kneads the dough gently to prevent toughening.

Some key features of the Panasonic Croustina include:

• 33 automatic programs including basic, French, whole wheat, sweet, ultra-fast, gluten-free, jam, pasta, and cake
• LCD control panel with programmable timer and crust color options
• 900g loaf capacity
• Non-stick baking pan and kneading blade
• 13-hour delay start timer
• Keep warm function

With a sleek design and variety of settings, the Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 aims to provide flexibility and ease of use for home bakers. Its specialized cycles allow you to make breads, jams, cakes and more with minimal effort.

Design

The Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 bread maker has an attractive and compact design that won't take up too much counter space. It measures approximately 15.5 x 28 x 33.5 cm (6.1 x 11 x 13.2 inches), making it a good size for most kitchens.

The bread maker has a rectangular shape with curved edges and comes in either white or silver stainless steel. Both color options give it a sleek, modern look. The control panel is located on top and features an LCD screen and push buttons to select settings and start/stop the baking process.

There is a large viewing window on the top of the lid, allowing you to monitor the bread as it bakes without having to open the machine. The lid, bread pan, and kneading blade are all removable for easy cleaning. The bread pan has a non-stick coating and a capacity of up to 1kg of dough.

Overall, the design is both attractive and functional. The size makes it a convenient fit for most kitchens, while the shape and color options give it a contemporary style. The viewing window and easy-clean parts add to the user-friendliness.

The Hamilton Beach 29987 is another popular bread maker with a sleek, compact design. It has a more rounded shape compared to the rectangular Panasonic model. The Hamilton Beach unit comes in black stainless steel or platinum and measures approximately 13.7 x 13 x 13 inches.

One unique design feature of the Hamilton Beach 29987 is the collapsible kneading paddles. When the baking cycle is complete, the paddles fold down so you can easily remove the loaf of bread without having to dig around the corners of the pan.

This bread maker also has a large LCD screen and control panel on top with options for different cycles. The viewing window in the lid is a bit smaller than the Panasonic's but still allows you to monitor the bread as it bakes.

The Hamilton Beach model can make loaves up to 2 pounds in capacity. It has a similar nonstick, removable bread pan and kneading blade for simple cleanup. The more compact shape takes up minimal counter space.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 29987 has a sleek, user-friendly design with helpful features like the collapsing kneading paddles. Its rounded shape gives it a different look than the rectangular Panasonic model. Both bread makers have attractive, compact sizes that are ideal for small kitchens.

Ease of Use

The Panasonic Croustina bread maker is very easy to use thanks to its intuitive interface and controls. The LCD display is clear and simple, allowing you to easily select from the various preset programs or create custom recipes.

Programming your own recipes is straightforward - simply add the ingredients as prompted on the screen. You can adjust settings like crust color, loaf size, and bake time to customize each loaf. There are several express cycles for quick breads that are ready in under an hour.

The machine prompts you to add ingredients in the proper order and beeps to indicate each step. All you have to do is follow the directions. The non-stick interior and kneading blade make it easy to mix dough and remove baked loaves when finished. The viewing window lets you monitor the baking process without opening the lid.

Overall, the programming options and user-friendly interface of the Croustina make it very easy for anyone to bake a perfect loaf of bread every time. Even novice bakers will find this machine simple to operate.

The intuitive controls and preset programs make breadmaking a breeze with the Croustina. You don't have to be an expert baker to make delicious homemade loaves. The machine guides you through every step. All you have to do is measure ingredients and follow the prompts. Other bread makers like the West Bend 47413 also offer easy to use controls, but may have fewer preset options than the Croustina.

With 12 preset menus, 3 crust color settings, and 3 loaf sizes to choose from, you can easily customize every loaf to suit your preferences. The LCD screen clearly displays each setting and program option. The express cycles allow busy home bakers to whip up quick breads in under an hour. There's no complicated programming required.

The intuitive interface makes the Croustina accessible for beginners. But advanced users will also appreciate the customization options and ability to create their own recipes. The delay start timer lets you schedule baking up to 13 hours in advance. So you can wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread or have a loaf ready for dinner.

From mixing and kneading to baking and beeping when your bread is ready, the Croustina does the work for you. Just add ingredients as prompted and let the machine work its magic. The non-stick pan ensures your loaf slides right out when finished. With the viewing window, you can check progress without interrupting the cycle.

Making homemade bread has never been simpler thanks to the easy-to-use controls on the Croustina bread machine. Even if you've never used a bread maker before, you'll find this model very intuitive. The preset menus provide foolproof results while more advanced bakers will love the customization.

Baking Performance

The SD-ZP2000 delivers exceptional baking performance across a wide variety of breads thanks to its unique steam injection system and powerful kneading blade.

The breads come out with a beautifully browned crust that provides a satisfying crunch without being overly thick or burnt. The crust browning is even and consistent regardless of which loaf program you use.

The interior crumb texture is soft and airy with lots of large holes, giving breads like sandwich loaves and French bread a light feel in your mouth. Even whole wheat and multigrain breads achieve a pleasantly chewy yet tender crumb.

Kneading is thorough and gluten development is superb, allowing bread doughs to rise high with an airier structure. The horizontal kneading blade mixes ingredients efficiently while still being gentle enough for wet doughs. You get well-risen breads with excellent volume.

Yeast breads, quick breads, sweet breads, and gluten-free breads all achieve excellent results in terms of nicely domed shape, ideal height, symmetrical form, and consistent bake. Performance is reliable and repeatable, so you can count on uniform quality every time.

Programs and Settings

The SD-ZP2000 comes with 13 preset programs, including Basic, French, Whole Wheat, Sweet, Ultra-Fast, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, and Dough. You can easily select the appropriate program for the type of bread you want to bake.

The custom settings allow you to fully customize the baking process. You can adjust settings like crust color, loaf size, and baking time. There is also a rapid baking cycle that can bake bread in under an hour. An integrated sensor monitors the internal temperature and humidity to ensure optimal conditions.

The LCD control panel is very intuitive. It displays the selected program, bake time remaining, and any alerts or notifications. You can easily make adjustments mid-cycle if needed. Overall, the broad range of presets and customizable options makes it simple to achieve the perfect loaf for any recipe or preference.

Gluten-Free Performance

The Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 bread maker excels at making delicious gluten-free loaves. Its specialized gluten-free program is optimized for gluten-free recipes, with ideal kneading, rising, and baking cycles. This allows the bread maker to properly hydrate and develop gluten-free doughs, which is tricky compared to normal wheat doughs. The result is light and airy gluten-free bread with an even, fine crumb texture.

I've had great success using the Croustina to make gluten-free sandwich bread, brioche loaves, and even pizza dough. It handles a variety of gluten-free flours like sorghum, millet, and cassava. The non-stick pan also helps prevent sticking with sticky gluten-free dough. Clean-up is easy since there's minimal residue. Overall, the Croustina's gluten-free program takes the guesswork and hassle out of making gluten-free bread. It's an invaluable tool for anyone with dietary restrictions looking to enjoy homemade bread.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Panasonic Croustina is very easy to clean and maintain. The non-stick baking pan slides out smoothly for washing by hand or in the dishwasher. All the accessories like the kneading blade and measuring cup are also dishwasher safe.

The touch screen and exterior of the bread maker can be wiped clean with a damp cloth if any flour or spills get on it. There are no awkward crevices or hard to reach areas that trap crumbs or dough.

One of the best features for easy cleaning is the quick release for the kneading blade. There is a simple button to press that allows the blade to pop out for fast removal before washing. Other bread makers have a more tedious process of digging and prying to get the blade out.

Overall, the quick release parts, removable pan, and dishwasher safe accessories make this one of the simplest bread makers to clean after use. Just a quick wipe down and wash keeps it looking new every time.

Noise Level

The Panasonic Croustina is impressively quiet while operating, especially compared to many other bread machines. The noise level stays relatively low and unobtrusive even during kneading and baking cycles.

According to several customer reviews, the Croustina operates at around 60 decibels. For comparison, normal conversation is about 60 dB, so the bread maker is no louder than someone talking. Some users mention you can barely hear it running in an adjacent room.

There are no loud beeping sounds or disruptive noise while using the machine. It has a subtle, gentle hum that blends right into the background. The motor and mechanics seem very smooth and quiet.

The quiet performance sets the Croustina apart from cheaper bread makers that have loud, buzzing motors. You can run it anytime without disturbing others. It won't wake up sleeping family members if used early in the morning.

Overall, the quiet operation makes the Croustina a great choice if you want fresh bread without the noise. It can run in the background of your kitchen without being a nuisance.

Value for Money

The Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 offers excellent value for money for several reasons.

First, its price is very competitive compared to other bread makers in the same class. At around £150, it's priced similarly to other mid-range models from brands like Morphy Richards, Lakeland, and Russell Hobbs. However, the Croustina outperforms many of those models in terms of features and performance.

Second, the build quality and durability justify the price tag. The stainless steel body feels sturdy and robust. Owners report the machine lasting for years of frequent use without any major issues. This suggests a good return on investment.

Third, the wide range of programs and settings adds value. Having 12 automatic programs - like French, whole wheat, gluten-free, jam, and compote settings - increases the functionality and versatility. You're essentially getting a 2-in-1 bread maker and jam maker.

Finally, the consistent baking performance and ability to handle gluten-free recipes make this reasonably priced machine a great value purchase. It can produce quality loaves and meet the needs of gluten intolerant households.

In summary, compared to other models in its price bracket, the Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 delivers excellent bang for your buck. The combination of features, versatility, durability, and performance make this a worthwhile investment for most homes.

Conclusion

The Panasonic SD-ZP2000 Breadmaker is an excellent choice for those looking for a versatile and high-performance bread machine. Its stylish design and intuitive controls make it easy to use even for beginners.

The SD-ZP2000 excels at baking a variety of bread styles, from basic white loaves to more artisanal breads with crispy crusts. Its multiple settings allow you to customize the bake cycles to achieve your ideal loaf. Gluten-free performance is also impressive with this model.

On the downside, the bread pan capacity is on the smaller size. Noise level during kneading cycles can be loud as well.

Overall, the Panasonic SD-ZP2000 delivers exceptional bread-making abilities and quality loaves for its price point. If you don't mind the smaller loaf size and noise level, it's a great option for home bakers looking for consistent and customizable results. The intuitive interface, stellar baking performance, and versatility make it a bread machine worth considering.