Should I buy a bread maker?
Discussion
Having a breadmaker reduces the "mess" of breadmaking considerably. It takes just a couple of minutes to measure and throw in the ingredients, and then you just leave it for four hours. Very little washing up, no flour all over your kitchen, etc. The timer also means you can wake up to warm, freshly baked bread.
If you do get one go for a Panasonic. They are excellent.
If you do get one go for a Panasonic. They are excellent.
buzzer said:
Opinions please... And if the answer is yes, which one and why.
Panasonic, always seems to win any comparison. Not sure what the latest model is but it's about £100 and has a seed/nut dispenser. Very happy with ours and whilst making bread by hand is easy, this way you can go off and do something more interesting/have no mess/time it so it's ready in morning. Good for pizza dough too.Our breadmaker has been used to make two or three loaves of wholemeal bread every week for the best part of three years.
It's far more convenient than hand breadmaking - just load the ingredients into it in the evening, set the timer, and get fresh bread for breakfast. The bread tastes much better than shop-bought bread, and I know exactly what's going into it (no mystery additives). It's cheaper than shop bread; by a rough calculation the breadmaker saved enough to pay for itself in about a year.
The bread doesn't keep as well as the factory stuff (no preservatives) - it's pretty much only good for toast after two days - but that's not a problem for us since it doesn't hang around long enough to get stale. The only other downside is that I have just had to get a replacement bread pan and paddle - wholemeal flour is more abrasive than white, and the non-stick coating was wearing off.
The breadmaker is a Panasonic SD255. It's got the automatic raisin/nut dispenser, but after the novelty of trying out a few fruited and seeded bread recipes we haven't bothered with it.
It's far more convenient than hand breadmaking - just load the ingredients into it in the evening, set the timer, and get fresh bread for breakfast. The bread tastes much better than shop-bought bread, and I know exactly what's going into it (no mystery additives). It's cheaper than shop bread; by a rough calculation the breadmaker saved enough to pay for itself in about a year.
The bread doesn't keep as well as the factory stuff (no preservatives) - it's pretty much only good for toast after two days - but that's not a problem for us since it doesn't hang around long enough to get stale. The only other downside is that I have just had to get a replacement bread pan and paddle - wholemeal flour is more abrasive than white, and the non-stick coating was wearing off.
The breadmaker is a Panasonic SD255. It's got the automatic raisin/nut dispenser, but after the novelty of trying out a few fruited and seeded bread recipes we haven't bothered with it.
If you want an indication of use, think how often you swap between different brands of bought bread. In our house we might buy one brand for a few months and then swap to another, then go back to the same brand later. This mirrors the use of the bread maker. Use it for a few months, go back to bought bread, then back to the bread maker. You'll always need a space for it though.
Panasonic for the win.
Panasonic for the win.
buzzer said:
Thanks guys, looks like I may buy one...
Any more comments before I take the plunge?
Anyone bought one and it's now at the back of the cupboard?
Next time you're down the pub, casually mention that you've started making your own bread at home. Any more comments before I take the plunge?
Anyone bought one and it's now at the back of the cupboard?
You'll be inundated with offers to 'borrow' a breadmaker from people who got it as a wedding present, used it once or twice then never again.
Get a copy of Dan Lepard's The Handmade Loaf, then decide if you really want a machine.
I bought a Tesco breadmaker last year with 2 x £5 vouchers doubled up to £10 offer. Think the thing cost £38, so I got it for £18.
Have used it approx every 3 days since then to make a small loaf. It has it's own space on a small work counter ( I had to move the kettle and toaster to another position). I have Economy7 so it is programmed to have a fresh loaf at the end of the Economy7 period - just to wake up to the smell of freshly bahed bread is worth it
The taste is far superior, as previously mentioned doesn't last long as there's no preservatives in it. Works out at about 40p a loaf if you use basic ingredients. Takes 3 hours, but that's mainly waiting time ie kneading then rest, knead again then rest, knead again small rest then bake.
Wouldn't be without mine - although when it breaks I'll upgrade to the Panasonic
Have used it approx every 3 days since then to make a small loaf. It has it's own space on a small work counter ( I had to move the kettle and toaster to another position). I have Economy7 so it is programmed to have a fresh loaf at the end of the Economy7 period - just to wake up to the smell of freshly bahed bread is worth it
The taste is far superior, as previously mentioned doesn't last long as there's no preservatives in it. Works out at about 40p a loaf if you use basic ingredients. Takes 3 hours, but that's mainly waiting time ie kneading then rest, knead again then rest, knead again small rest then bake.
Wouldn't be without mine - although when it breaks I'll upgrade to the Panasonic
Mobile Chicane said:
Making bread by hand is so easy, it's embarassing.
I agree, it is easy! After all, it's only four ingredients. My main problem is the mess it creates, which is enough to put me off doing it at all. Added to that my kitchen does not have a suitably large surface to properly roll and work dough etc, whereas the breadmaker sits happily in a corner that cant be used for much else, so it's out of the way.Totally recommend them, we have a loaf baking right now!
I almost always use Wrights bread mix as they are perfect for bread makers, just throw in water and a perfect loaf 2-3 hours later
http://www.wrightsflour.co.uk
I almost always use Wrights bread mix as they are perfect for bread makers, just throw in water and a perfect loaf 2-3 hours later
http://www.wrightsflour.co.uk
Mobile Chicane said:
Get a copy of Dan Lepard's The Handmade Loaf, then decide if you really want a machine.
This. Making bread by hand is much easier than you think. You don't need to knead it for hours (unless you want to) and this book is a bloody sight cheaper than a breadmaker.I've made bread by hand in the past, but the breadmaker makes the entire process trivial - it takes me 45 seconds to make a loaf, it won't be ready for a while, obviously, but that's the end of my involvement in the process. No mess and no cleaning up beyond chucking the measuring cup and the baking vessel in the dishwasher when the loaf is done.
When me and the new Mrs UTI move into our own place (13 days and counting!) the bread maker and the coffee maker are the only things coming from my old house. I feel like I've not had a decent breakfast in a year
Even the cheapest, most poorly measured out bread mix beats shop bought sliced bread, and well made stuff will be up there with your local bakers finest.
Panasonic, BTW.
Even the cheapest, most poorly measured out bread mix beats shop bought sliced bread, and well made stuff will be up there with your local bakers finest.
Panasonic, BTW.
calibrax said:
It's a massive time saver. And you can't wake up to fresh bread if it's hand made
Oh yes you can 100% sourdough (the main premise of Dan Lepard's book) rises slowly and is incredibly forgiving.
I get mine to rise overnight, bung the loaf in the oven in the morning, and go back to bed. An hour later, it's ready!
The other advantage of 100% sourdough is that it stays fresh for days and never tastes 'stale'. However, I have yet to test this theory since it invariably doesn't hang about.
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