Bread machine

**bunnys** · 12-28-2011, 06:04 PM

I don't know what I"m going to do.

I tried to make whole wheat bread today. It was a disaster. It was like trying to knead a piece of leather--so tough, I knew it wasn't going to work and tossed it. That was my SECOND attempt. First time I killed the yeast.

Then I thought I'd comfort myself (cooking successfully is comforting to me) by making Peanut Butter Swirl Bars from my childhood. Couldn't find the recipe and had to get it off the internet. It only called for 1 cup of flour and I'm thinking "this can't be" but I did it anyway and it was an inedible disaster. Gooey, sloppy, sugary inedible mass that I'm going to have to throw away.

I hate days like that!

**mndtrp** · 12-28-2011, 06:07 PM

I was just talking to my boss today about making bread. He does it by hand, and says the kneading takes about 10 minutes. He compared it to people spending all day making lasagne, but everyone thinks making bread at home sounds like too much work.

I've never found making bread at home, without a breadmaker, all that difficult. I suppose if you have health issues, especially related to hands or wrists, there could be some problems.

**brenda67** · 12-28-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Pemberleyan

We have a Zojirushi, which was kind of expensive, but we wanted it because the motor is strong enough to use home-ground wheat. We've been very pleased.

I have this machine..granted you will pay over $200 for it but it will pay for itself in less than a year for what you are paying per loaf now..But if you made it by hand you wouldn't pay for anything but your labor & of coarse ingredients.

p.s. remember practice makes perfect.

**Saule** · 01-01-2012, 09:27 PM

The CompUSA advertisement insert in my Sunday paper showed the refurbished Cuisinart breadmaker for $45. I bought one earlier this year, and it is great. I have had not a minute's trouble with it. I did not see it in their online store, but if you have one of these stores near you, it's worth checking out.

**Saule** · 01-01-2012, 09:33 PM

Bunny, if you are using a recipe that calls for all-purpose flour or bread flour, but substituted whole wheat, you probably did not have enough liquid - whole wheat needs more liquid - the bran simply requires more liquid to hydrate fully. Whatever flour you use, it is very important to lightly spoon the flour into the cup - do not scoop. That compacts the flour. You can end up with 25% more flour than you think you have.

Too much flour is the principal reason for dough being tough and dense. I don't sprinkle my work surface with flour anymore, I spray with oil, simply to minimize the amount of flour to be added.

**Cricketlegs** · 01-06-2012, 11:39 AM

I have an Oster. A real work horse and $7 at the resale shop!

**Gonefishin** · 03-21-2012, 05:23 PM

I got our bread machine, a Williams-Sonoma, on Craigslist for $25. I really like it. Ages ago, I had a Sunbeam (purchased at Walmart, I think), which I also liked. I use mine a *lot*, usually for at least 2 different breads/doughs daily.

FWIW, I also got my KitchenAid mixer (the cute pink one) on Craigslist for $75, and a Cuisenart 7-cup food processor for $30. You can find some serious deals out there if you're patient & willing to keep watching the local deals.