Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker Review

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker is next on our list of contenders for ‘best breadmaker.’

Does it live up to the title?

Well, among its features, this bread maker can make 15 different kinds of bread and offers a 13-hour delay timer, allowing you to bake loaves even when you’re not at home. You’ll love that it’s also so easy to use and effortless to clean.

However, not everyone is after the same thing when it comes to kitchen appliances. Budgets will differ, and the features available may not suit all types of bakers.

So is this the right breadmaker for you? And does it fit into our line-up of best breadmakers? Let’s take a closer look at the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus and find out!

Introducing the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker

In a Nutshell

• Weight: 24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5 x 18 x 12.9 inches
• Loaf Capacity: 2 lb. loaf
• Settings: 15 different settings
• Timer: 13-hour delay timer
• Stand-Out Feature: 15 settings
• Cord Length: 1 meter
• Electricity Consumption: 100-watt motor, 600-watt main heater, 40-watt lid heater
• Crust Control Settings: Light, medium, and dark
• Warranty: 1-year

The Setup Process

The setup process for the Zojirushi bread maker is incredibly easy and straightforward. Before baking, rinse and dry the bread baking pan. Next, fill the machine with the ingredients you need for your recipe, plug in the machine, and select the course settings you want based on whatever recipe you are using.

The entire process, from taking the machine out of the box to adding in the ingredients for baking your first loaf, is about 15 minutes. Most of the time you spend initially will be measuring out your ingredients. The machine is very intuitive.

Once set, the machine will tell you the approximate time your loaf will be ready. Once done, remove the baking pan carefully by the handles, using oven mitts.

Features

Now, let’s look at the features that make Virtuoso Plus stand out from the competition. With the included recipe book, you can make various recipes, including basic white, rapid white, Italian herb, honey, chocolate, light and sourdough breads. You can also make pizza dough and pound cake.

Large Capacity and Crust Settings

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus lets you develop a two-pound loaf of whatever bread type you choose.

Unlike other breadmakers, you won’t be able to pick other size options and will be restricted to the two-pound loaf. However, this isn’t necessarily a downside, as that quantity is excellent for making large batches to suit a big family or to freeze for later.

As a bonus, you do have full control over the crust; go for light, medium, or dark as you please.

Settings

This Zojirushi bread machine comes with 15 different settings, allowing you to test your taste buds with new flavors or accommodate dietary restrictions.

Among the line-up of options are multigrain, white, European, whole wheat, gluten free, salt free, sugar free, and even vegan.

While a decent number of bread machines offer a gluten free bread option, it’s rare to see models with choices for vegan or low-sodium diets. You can also enjoy cake, jam, or pizza dough, all in one machine.

Timer

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus timer goes up to 12 hours. However, there is also a 13-hour delay timer for when you need the breadmaker to start working when you’re not present.

For example, if you need to hold dinner, work late, or just want to wake up to fresh bread, this machine has you covered.

Set it to 13 hours or lower, go about your day (or night), and enjoy the tasty result when you’re ready.

Memory

This bread machine also can remember three different bread recipes. Just input the bread setting you like and then store the recipe in the device’s memory.

Next time you want to tackle that fresh bread recipe, you need only press a single button and let it take over.

Kneading Blades

Bread dough is a sticky, gummy creation that tastes amazing once baked – but it can be a nightmare to knead.

With this in mind, the Virtuoso Plus comes with double kneading blades, so there’s no danger of ingredients failing to get thoroughly incorporated.

Gluten won’t struggle to develop properly, and flour will be mixed in without clumps. The double blades cover every inch of the bread pan and knead until the job is done right.

LCD Display

This Zojirushi breadmaker also has an LCD display on top of the lid. This lists the time, the setting you’ve chosen, the darkness of the crust you’ve selected, and how much time remains on the timer.

As you scroll through the different settings, the cycles, and the courses, you can glance at the display to ensure you choose the right options.

Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Review

The Positives

Super Easy to Set Up

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is very easy to set up and use. After plugging the machine in, just add the necessary ingredients for your recipe and shut the lid.

Next, visit the LCD display and choose the type of bread you want, the crust darkness, and set the timer. Press “start,” and the machine will begin mixing, kneading, and baking your bread. It’s that simple!

You won’t need the expertise of a star baker to get this bread machine up and running. No matter your skill level, you’ll be making fresh loaves in no time.

Once this breadmaker is set up, it’s just as easy to use. This is great for newer bakers since it will be easy to get accustomed to using a bread machine. And thanks to its small learning curve, experts won’t be left confused, and bakers of all levels can get in on the action.

Very Versatile

Based on our observations, this machine is incredibly versatile, and we loved that about the Zojirushi Home Bakery. With 15 different settings, crust options, and lengthy timers, it’s not difficult to see why.

You can make everything from white bread to whole wheat to gluten free and vegan. While most breadmakers require you to personally adjust a recipe to minimize the amount of sugar or salt included, this one handles that entire process first-hand.

You can also make cake, jam, or pizza dough as a final bonus. You won’t be limited to the usual bread loaves when it comes to putting together recipes and meals. It doesn’t get more versatile than that!

A versatile machine makes it easy to limit the number of appliances on the counter or in your kitchen altogether. You won’t be tempted to upgrade sooner than later either.

Incredibly Convenient

Versatility isn’t the only thing going for this breadmaker. You may have guessed by now, but the Zojirushi is highly convenient.

With the delay timer, you don’t even have to be present to bake delicious bread! Just have your ingredients ready to go and set it to bake so you can have fresh bread just in time for breakfast. This is great for busy bakers, large families, or general foodies.

This bread machine also means no more adjusting recipes to fit your diet, no more hand-making jam or cake, and no more remembering recipes personally; the machine even stores favorites for later. And the included large LCD screen makes everything easy to read, so it’s a breeze to program and follow.

This is a great option if you’re looking for an all-in-one breadmaker to enhance your kitchen ventures.

Real Easy to Clean

Thankfully, we’re happy to report that you don’t have to worry about cleaning the Virtuoso Plus. We all know cleaning up at the end of a bake can be daunting and time-consuming. No need to fret!

This machine’s kneading blades and the bread pan are coated in nonstick material, ensuring your bread won’t refuse to let go. As a plus, any crumbs left behind can be easily wiped away.

Just wash the accessories with a little soap and water and make another loaf right away. You won’t be forced to spend time scrubbing out a messy pan or hard-to-clean utensils. With this breadmaker, you can get on with your day and other recipes easily.

Surprisingly Quiet

Some breadmakers can be an added distraction to your home due to how noisy they can get. This limits when you can use it, where you can place it, or if you can even own one in your home at all.

Fortunately, the Zojirushi Home Bakery takes a different approach. We loved how quiet this breadmaker is. In fact, it’s one of the major points most customers make about this device.

You won’t have to worry about setting your breadmaker to get to work in the morning. You’ll have no worries about it waking you up before it’s time. This is great for those with sensitive ears or housemates.

The Negatives

Long Bake Time

If you’re looking to whip up a super-quick batch of bread, you may be disappointed by the bake time on this breadmaker. Depending on the recipe, some loaves of bread will take over two hours to complete, which is longer than some other breadmakers on the market.

While it’s not an unbearable amount of time, you should account for this before starting dinner or setting the delay timer. Don’t expect to have bread in a flash, but the loaves will be so worth it.

On the Pricey Side

If you’re on a budget or watching your bank account, you may be underwhelmed by the higher price of the Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus.

Priced at under $300 on Amazon, it isn’t the most expensive breadmaker on the market, but it is priced higher than some other similar models. While this model does the job well and offers several unique features, the price can be a bit high for those looking for a cheap bread machine.

If it doesn’t fit your budget, don’t worry. A wide range of great breadmakers is available with similar features, but with a more affordable price range.

Here’s a video showing what the Zojirushi Home Bakery looks like out of the box.

The Design of the Virtuoso Plus

The Virtuoso Plus is a large bread machine. Its large size allows it to accommodate larger rectangular bread loaves. The included baking pan of this machine features two paddles for more efficient and thorough kneading as well, and the entire machine overall is strong and durable.

When you lift the machine’s lid, the kneading process stops, so you can judge the dough’s texture.

Since this machine is on the larger and heavier side, it may be a good option if you have a place it can live on your countertop, especially if you will use it often. If not, you will find that moving this heavy appliance around when you need it can prove to be quite cumbersome.

Performance Rating

Overall, we found that the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus did everything quite well. It is an impressive bread machine that is versatile and easy to use. Zojirushi offers their suggested order to use when adding ingredients to the machine, and from there, you can make a variety of recipes. You can choose to bake whole wheat bread on the wheat setting or an herb bread using its European setting.

Tired of bread and want something else? With this machine, you can also make jam and pizza dough and find the same great results you would achieve when making bread.

Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus vs Supreme – Which Breadmaker Is Better?

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes down to Virtuoso Plus and the Supreme.

Loaf Capacity

Both breadmakers have a two-pound loaf capacity. Each loaf can yield approximately 16 slices. Both breadmaker options also come with a full color recipe book you can use for inspiration for new bread recipes.

Dual Kneading Blades

Both breadmakers also have dual kneading blades, a feature that is not common with other breadmaker models. The kneading blades help ensure better results each time. Both also come with a nonstick baking pan and are removable, making cleanup easy.

Programmable Memory Settings

Both also have multiple preprogrammed course settings. This means you can set your own bread settings for kneading, rise, and bake times. Each breadmaker allows you to store up to three different settings in its memory.

Viewing Window

Another similarity between the Virtuoso Plus and Supreme is the large viewing window. This way, you can keep tabs on each stage of the bread making process. It also makes baking more fun!

Now that we have covered the similarities between the two, let’s take a look at some of the differences between the two kitchen appliances.

Dual Heater

The Virtuoso Plus has a slight advantage over the Supreme because it features an additional heater in the appliance’s lid. This additional heater allows for more baking and browning. The Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme doesn’t have this dual heater option.

Bread Settings

The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus has 15 preprogrammed settings, depending on the type of bread you are baking. The Home Bakery Supreme, on the other hand, only has 10 setting options, and it does not include options for salt free, sugar free, and vegan courses.

Included Accessories

Both of these machines come with a recipe book you can use to start baking right away.

With your Virtuoso Plus, you will also find measuring utensils, including a liquid measuring cup, a nested measuring cup for your dry ingredients, and a measuring spoon to help you measure out your salt and yeast. The Supreme also has these accessories, with the exception of the nested measuring cup.

After reviewing the differences between the two bread machines, you can see that the Virtuoso Plus wins.

See more: How do Zojirushi vs Breville machines compare?

Overall Verdict

After looking through all the positives and negatives, we recommend the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus.

With the number of different settings, the convenience of the 13-hour delay timer, and the easy cleanup, many bakers will find it difficult to find negative aspects in this Home Bakery Virtuoso breadmaker.

So long as you can afford the price tag and don’t mind waiting a little bit longer for your bread to finish (at least compared to some other machines on the market), this is definitely worth checking out. It may just become your new favorite kitchen appliance!

Where to Buy the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus

Zojirushi may not be a household name, but they have a large line of home appliances and devices with great feedback from their growing customer base.

Thanks to this company’s rising popularity, getting their items into your home won’t be too hard. The Zojirushi BB-PFC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is available both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check home department and appliance stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Walmart (from $395)
• Sears (from $403)
• Pleasant Hill Grain (from $377)

And of course, you can also find this breadmaker on Amazon.