ALDI's New $50 Appliance Is Life-Changing—I Wish I Had Bought It Sooner

For years before the trend started during the pandemic, I had a dedicated sourdough starter on the counter that I tended to nightly, practically scheduling my life around when I'd bake my next loaf. I got so good at it that I started developing recipes for clients and had requests from friends to sell my bread.

I love baking sourdough and still do it pretty regularly, but my schedule isn't as predictable in the thick of this particular life stage as a mom. As a result, my starter doesn't always get the attention it deserves.

Still, fresh bread is a must in our house. There's something special about that warm, yeasty aroma that feels like a cozy hug. But turning out fresh bread also makes me feel accomplished. And I have to admit, I love knowing what's going into our loaves.

So, when I saw that ALDI was selling the Ambiano Bread Maker for $50, I knew this might be the answer to having fresh bread in my kitchen at all times. While not a one-to-one dupe, its features are comparable to this Breville model, which makes it feel like a steal.

After using this affordable ALDI find for several days, I'm officially back on the bread train. I've already made six loaves and am convinced it couldn't be more perfect for cozy season! Although it doesn't compare to a loaf of hand-crafted artisan sourdough, it's easily the next best thing.

Why I Love the Ambiano Bread Maker

To say that this bread maker is simple is an understatement. I add my ingredients, press a few buttons, and let the magic happen. The machine does all the kneading, rising, and baking for me. There's a handy little viewing window on top so you can peek at your dough rising like a proud parent, but most of the time, I've turned it on and gone to bed or left the house. It has a delay timer that allows you to set the machine to start later and a keep warm function. So, I can time it to wake up (or come home to) a delicious-smelling kitchen and a loaf of freshly baked, warm bread. 

This machine has 19 programmable settings, which theoretically means I can make anything from classic white bread to whole wheat, French bread, soda bread, and more. It also has settings for pizza dough, jam, yogurt, and a simple kneading option to prepare my dough for dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls through the divide and shape action. With three adjustable crust settings and multiple loaf size options, it's perfect for feeding a family. From now on, I'll always be ready for a last-minute dinner party or just feeding my carb-loving kids. 

One minor drawback is that the recipe booklet only includes recipes for some settings, so you have to look online for recipes to suit settings like “oatmeal” and “gluten-free.” However, the manual provides a basic bread recipe with tips on adjusting it to make the best loaf. Once I'd made a couple of loaves from the Ambiano recipe booklet, I felt comfortable branching out online. And I'm so glad that I did.

Countless great recipes on sites like King Arthur make it foolproof to use. And they are exponentially better than what's in the Ambiano recipe booklet, anyway! It's so easy to use that I plan to try and adjust Carolina Gelen's cottage cheese bread recipe to fit in it. We'll see what happens! Overall, the machine is solid, makes delicious bread, and it's easy to clean. What more could I ask for?

What I Like to Make in My Bread Maker

I've already baked a loaf of white bread, sesame bread, and two batches of whole wheat bread. The white bread was soft and fluffy, perfect for grilled cheese or French toast. But my favorite loaf so far was the whole wheat seeded loaf from King Arthur, which was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, with a subtle sweetness from the honey. 

Bread makers aren't just one-trick ponies, either! I love using mine to prep pizza dough because the machine does the work of mixing and kneading. Once it's ready, I only have to roll it out, toss on some toppings, and bake. This might come as a surprise, but one of my favorite uses is to prepare the dough for hand-pulled noodles. I've been making this recipe for over a decade and can confidently say it works perfectly in the bread maker. One of the things I'm most excited about trying is the yogurt setting. I often make yogurt on my stovetop, which requires a lot of tending, so I appreciate that I can "set it and forget it" with the bread maker—cozy season just got a lot more delicious.

If you also love the idea of fresh bread without the effort, this is the appliance for you. The Ambiano Bread Maker has already become a staple in my kitchen, and I can't wait to see what else I can make with it as the weather gets colder.