The quietest bread machine in the world is the one in the store. Still, these machines don’t make as much noise as most of us think.
Here’s a question that those of you who are thinking about buying your first bread maker will sometimes email us, and our answer is always the same.
It’s also a question we get from those among you who do have a bread-making machine and who can’t figure out if there’s something wrong with it because it’s being too loud.
So… What’s the question? Well, let’s just say there are no prizes for guessing! It’s the same question you asked Google before coming across this site: “Are bread makers loud?”
And how about the answer?
It’s a clear, resounding “No, bread machines are not loud. In fact, they are usually quieter than most first-time owners expect them to be.”
Bread makers only make noise when they’re kneading the dough. The flour, water, and yeast turn into a heavy, uniform mass that takes the shape of a ball. The dough paddle then throws that ball from side to side for 15-20 minutes.
This means that during the kneading cycle, you can hear the work of the bread maker when the motor turns the paddle and the dough bounces against the walls of the pan.
The sound of your bread maker is an important clue—sometimes subtle, other times not so—to determine if you’re using the appliance properly and if it needs service. So let’s talk about what you can expect and how you can tell something is wrong.
How Noisy Should Bread Makers Be?
This question is kind of tough to answer because not all bread machine manufacturers advertise the noise level of their appliances. (Perhaps because the cheaper ones are a little louder than they should be, and that’s nothing to brag about.)
As a general rule, most bread-making machines are a little louder than a brand new washing machine and somewhat quieter than a stand mixer. They make these very distinctive whirring and thumping noises from the motor and paddle.
These noises are not annoying or overwhelming, but they won’t be unheard in the house either.
What to Do If Your Bread Maker Is Too Noisy
If you got a new bread maker as a housewarming or wedding gift and you’re wondering why it’s so noisy during kneading, the first thing you should do is check that you’re using it properly.
Make sure you’re locking the bread pan properly:
With the bread machine off, the pan clean and empty, and the owner’s manual by your side, look at the instructions for locking the pan and try to get it right until you’re confident you’re there.
Usually, you have to clip it in place and/or push it down a little until it’s nice and tight—and you have to try really hard to get it to wobble.
Check that you’re using the right amount of ingredients for the dough:
If you add too little water to the bread pan, the dough will be too stiff, and your bread maker will have trouble kneading it. On the other hand, if you add too much water, the dough will be too wet and won’t be able to hold its shape.
In both cases, the sound of your bread maker is your cue. By the sound of the motor, you can hear when it is struggling (stiff dough) and when it isn’t getting the required amount of resistance from the dough (wet dough).
Always measure the ingredients twice; if you make a mistake, you can’t always go back and correct it, especially if you discover it after the kneading and rise.
If your bread maker is of age, the culprit could also be wear and tear.
Of course, as your bread machine ages, it’s more likely for it to get louder and louder.
For example, owners of various makes and models of bread makers report that, over time, the clips that hold the baking pan in place will get loose. As a result, the pan will start to wobble during the kneading cycle and bang against the baking chamber.
Yikes!
If and when something like this happens to your bread maker, it’s a great cue to dust off the warranty and call the manufacturer’s support line to see if the defect is covered.
The bearings can also go dry on older machines and need lubrication. When that’s the case, the bread machine starts to make this really specific squeaking and/or rattling sound that can’t be mistaken for anything else.
Final Words
Are bread machines loud?
When they knead, they sure aren’t quiet! But you won’t hear them working the rest of the time when they basically turn into mini-ovens with bread-shaped pans.
The older your bread machine, the louder it will get. Loud noises are generally a sign that something’s wrong, be it loose clips that no longer hold the pan in place or bearings that need lubrication.
Related: How to Use a Bread Machine
