The Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW does not disappoint when it comes to performance, quality, and durability. It has set the bar very high for all other bread machines. It’s also difficult to buy one anywhere, besides Amazon. If you live in the USA, then you will barely find this model in stores as it is only available in Japan and other Asian countries. Even in Asia, the SD-BMS105-SW bread machine can be hard to come by. So, why is it such a rare find and what’s the big fuss about it? All questions will be answered in this extensive review.
Of course, Panasonic is a very popular brand among home appliances that it doesn’t need any introduction. In fact, Panasonic was the pioneer of the first bread machine way back in 1986. Today, Panasonic has extended to sound systems, digital equipment, and of course, kitchen appliances.
Product Review: Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW
First things first, you have to know that the SD-BMS105-SW is in Japanese. Because it is sold and produced in Japan, expect that everything (even the manual) is in Japanese. If you are a non-Japanese speaker, then this might be a little difficult to figure out, but a little searching online can help you figure it out. Of course, we will help as best as we can.
You might be thinking that since it’s in Japanese that it is hard to use. The truth is far from that. The SD-BMS105-SW is so user-friendly that even a beginner can use it. What’s more impressive is that Panasonic provides a lot of customer support on their website. You can check the how to’s on the recipes that you can make. However, you won’t see any English version of the manual on their website.
The Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW does not just bake bread; it also makes pasta and pastries. Because it’s made in Japan, Panasonic thought that it would be convenient to have a bread machine that is able to make different kinds of Japanese pasta and pastries. This makes perfect sense because, in Japan, there aren’t a lot of households that have ovens unlike in the United States.
The SD-BMS105-SW has a total of 32 different settings. Just by counting their instruction manual, you can see that it can make different kinds of bread, pasta, and jam. It can also make red bean bread, steamed bread, mochi, udon, and the famous melon bread of Japan. Usually, bread machines only have a maximum of 20 settings. This one has 32! No wonder it is always sold out in stores and online.
Review Summary
Although it’s a Japanese bread maker, the Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW is without a doubt the best and most complete bread machine on the market. Buy this bread maker if you love Japanese cuisine and make mochi, udon and other cool Japanese bread at home. Why limit yourself to bread when you can make mochi, udon, and cool Japanese breads? In one sentence: Try to get your hands on one, NOW.
| TOTAL SCORE: | 4.7 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Price | 4 / 5 |
| Performance | 4.9 / 5 |
| Quality of Bread | 5 / 5 |
| Features | 5 / 5 |
Pros and Cons of the Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW
Pros
- Can create Japanese bread and Pasta
- Affordable for its capacity and features
- Produces soft and fragrant bread
- Has separate dispensers for yeast, and fruit and nuts
- Has a large LCD display
- Has a fast baking time
- Has a 13-hour delay timer
- Fast delivery
Cons
- The features and instruction manual are in Japanese
- It’s made of aluminum that is not as durable as stainless steel
- It’s always sold out
- Needs the exact measurements to create high-quality bread
Bread Maker Features Overview
Large LCD Display
The LCD display is just below the lid. It’s about 3×2 inches so it’s enough space to see all the details of your settings, timer, etc. In all honesty, the SD-BMS105-SW’s display is easy to understand because it does not have a lot of information that can confuse you. This proves even further that Panasonic has made it a user-friendly appliance.
Easy-to-use Control Panel
Similar to the LCD display, the control panel is spread out on each side of the LCD. There are less than 10 buttons found and they are all in Japanese. Again, this can pose as an inconvenience because even the buttons don’t have pictures for easier understanding. Instead, they are all in Japanese characters so they’re not very intuitive.
30+ pre-programmed settings
The unique selling proposition of the SD-BMS105-SW machine is really in its many settings. As mentioned earlier, it can create jam, chocolate bread, melon bread, and many more. These settings are not set in stone as well so it leaves enough room for you to experiment. For pasta lovers, you’ll love that it can make high-quality udon.
Separate yeast and fruit/nut dispenser
Most bread machines have just one dispenser which is usually for the fruits and nuts. The Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW has two dispensers which can be found at the top of the machine (once you open the lid). The dispensers are what you call “smart” because they do all the placing of ingredients just at the right time during the baking process.
1-pound Loaf Capacity
Because the structure is tall, you can expect to have a vertically-positioned loaf of bread right after it’s been baked. While this is not unusual, it may seem weird for first-timers. Nonetheless, the SD-BMS105-SW produces high-quality bread and you can even smell it while it’s being baked. Both the bread and pasta come out with the right texture as if you bought them from a store.
Instruction Manual and Unique Japanese Recipes
The whole package comes with an instruction manual and 30 Japanese recipes. The recipes are unique and enticing that it’s hard to resist trying them all out on the SD-BMS105-SW. The Panasonic website also has more recipes for this machine. Other items included in the whole package is the removable bake pan, two kneading blades, measuring spoon, and a free pair of oven mitts!
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that the Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW is one of the best (if not the best) bread machines in the market. For only a little less than $400, you can have bread, pasta, jam, and pastry maker in one appliance. If you think about it, you will be saving lots by not needing to buy separate kitchen appliances for pasta and pastry.
Ultimately, the Panasonic SD-BMS105-SW shows that you can do away without an oven. Because of its versatility and its durability, you can make different kinds of food at an affordable price. The only difficulty here is that everything is in Japanese.
