Query

**Tootsiebella** · 09-02-2004, 12:34 PM

I have been using my bread maker alot lately, which my husband and I really enjoy. However, despite trying different recipes, I notice the bread is quite a bit heavier than other breads. I have also noticed that it goes harder much quicker- therefore, I don't think I am going to save much money continuing to make it in this way. I have considered starting to do it by hand, if I can use a recipe that will give me a little softer, or lighter loaf..
Will my home-made load yield a better, lighter loaf then a bread-maker, and if so- can anyone recommend a good white loaf recipe I can try for my first time?

**homesteadmamma** · 09-02-2004, 01:22 PM

Yes you will find your bread much lighter doing it the old fashioned way as long as you knead it for approx. 10 minutes.

There are two ways you can do this. Let your bread maker do the work for you in kneading the dough. Then let it rise in a bread pan. Once risen, bake it.

Or you can do the old fashioned way, Kneading it yourself for approx. 10 minutes, letting it rise once, punch down and let it rise again.

You'll find a huge difference. The heaviness of the bread was the reason I got rid of my bread maker a number of years ago.

**DaisyLady** · 09-02-2004, 03:56 PM

My bread maker makes quite a light loaf if I use skim milk powder and margarine or oil instead of shortening or lard. I also set it to bake on the setting for sweet breads so that it bakes for a shorter time. I find the crust does not get so tough that way. I usually make bread the old fashioned way as it is much more cost effective and energy efficient that my bread machine.

**sunshine** · 09-02-2004, 04:56 PM

I only use my bread maker for making things like pizza dough or cinnamon roll dough.

I bake my bread the old fashioned way-- gotta take my frustions out somehow

Plus I generally bake 6-8 loaves at a time.

**slowtypinwoman** · 09-02-2004, 05:58 PM

I found the main thing getting heavier when I used my bread maker was ME! I quit and make it by hand. I don't do it nearly as much so it is more of a treat when I do make it. I, like Sunshine, like taking out my aggressions on my bread dough.

**forestdale** · 09-02-2004, 07:36 PM

Tootsie, I agree with the ladies, hand kneading is better. If you want to continue with your bread machine do so but knead the dough yourself for 3 - 4 minutes before you let it rise the second time.

Another thing you could try is to make your bread using smaller pans. A 300 gram bread pan will make a loaf that should do two people for one day. Make enough dough for 4 loaves using these smaller pans and freeze the loaves you don't use. This will give you fresh bread every day (while baking every four days) and it won't have a chance to harden.

Another tip for lighter bread is to use a teaspoon of gluten flour to each cup of bread flour, but only try this option if you and your husband don't have a gluten problem. Gluten is a protein that some people develop a sensitivity to.

Having said all that, nothing beats hand kneaded bread. Kneading is necessary to develop the gluten in the dough until is becomes smooth and springy. Bread machines tend to mix the dough but the paddles seem to be developed so that a good kneading is never achieved. Do an experienment yourself. Hand knead your next loaf for 10 minutes and see what a difference it makes.

Good luck.

**canadian gardener** · 09-02-2004, 10:43 PM

I had trouble with my joints when I was doing my own bread so I'd use 2 of the 2 lb bread machines in tandem on the dough cycle only so all they did was mix and knead it for me.

When the dinger dinged I shaped them and set them to rise in loaf tins, then baked them when risen enough.

that worked well for a light loaf, and kept that nasty over yeasted smell and taste out of the loaves.

**Tootsiebella** · 09-03-2004, 10:22 AM

Thank you all very much for your helpful tips and opinions..
I started using the breadmaker because I thought it would be so easy and cheap for my bread, but actually found it is more expensive because of the waste I have when the bread goes so hard.
I will be trying my hand at it next week, and will be using the bread making tutorial I found that looks terrific.
I will let you know how I do!

Thanks again!

**santoria** · 09-07-2004, 12:50 AM

I had the same thing with my bread machine. so I would just make it the dough and finish in the oven. But I would put a pan of water in with the bread.

I haven;t used my machine in the longest time. Since I got my kitchen aid actually.....LOL

**blueknitter** · 09-07-2004, 09:48 AM

I wanted a bread machine sooooo badly when I started baking all our bread, but no one cared for it all that much, and it seemed like such a waste of time to wait 8 hours for the bread to get finished when I could make it up start to finish in a couple. It also gets eaten better when I make it up by hand, makes better sandwiches, too.