Abstract: A rapid cycle household automatic breadmaker for producing bread has a total cycle time in the order of about one hour, including a kneading cycle of 10 minutes, a rise time cycle of twenty minutes and a baking cycle of thirty minutes. In producing a loaf of bread, the bread ingredients are preheated by hot water to a preheat temperature of about 49.degree. C. to 54.degree. C. and maintained at the preheat temperature for the duration of the kneading cycle and for at least a portion of the rise time. The bread dough is baked at a temperature of about 216.degree. C. to 232.degree. C. during the baking cycle.