A surprising number of websites and blogs are devoted to bread making -- and according to many, bread machines are the most wonderful invention since, well, sliced bread. Editors at Breadmachinedigest.com, maintain that unlike other small appliances that sit on a shelf collecting dust, bread machines are versatile and fun, will get lots of use, and can save you money over time. Yet, Mason Currey reports a different sentiment for Slate.com. After testing five popular bread makers, he ultimately concluded that the loaves were not that good, and the effort was just not worth it. Bread machines can be pricey, and users say there is a learning curve. So, we had to ask, could baking in a plain old loaf pan better "rise" to the occasion? The modern appliance and baking mainstay go head-to-head in this kitchen showdown. Here's what we found:read more