I scored a bread machine @ the thrift store today!

**bunnys** · 12-31-2011, 04:51 PM

For $7.! And it looks like it's never been used. Or hardly at all.

Westinghouse. It makes 1 & 1.5 pound loaves. But no owner's manual. I guess I can look it up online...

So excited about making my own bread for only pennies a loaf. Have been spending nearly $3. per loaf for Arnold's whole wheat every single week. Just think what I'll save in a year (provided I can find a manual so I can figure out how to use the thing.)

And coming home to fresh baked bread? Ahhhhhh....

**Spirit Deer** · 12-31-2011, 07:29 PM

Congrats! Gotta love secondhand shopping.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 12-31-2011, 08:02 PM

I looooooooooove me some hot bread with butter on it... it's so tasty!

And with a bread machine, you can make all sorts of neat breads. You can add your own spices to it.

I would love to have one of my own, but I need a good slicer in order to make sandwiches with it. Otherwise, I just cut large pieces and toast them.

Good score!

**oheoh's momma** · 12-31-2011, 08:28 PM

Yummy score ... Homemade bread and butter....

**Debbie-cat** · 12-31-2011, 08:35 PM

Great price!!! Enjoy!!

**tripleb** · 12-31-2011, 10:21 PM

WTG! What a steal that was. No doubt you will get the manual for it on line. Enjoy all that fresh bread!!

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-31-2011, 10:24 PM

Good luck. nice find. Unfortunately the manuals are costly online. Try the actual company first.

**bunnys** · 01-01-2012, 07:24 AM

I did find a website that gives basics for new bakers that work for most bread machines. Just reading the "beginners" page has taught me A LOT. If I'd tried to just wing it without the manual it would have been a disaster. But this page has all kinds of good info, specifically directed at people who get a machine second hand without a manual.

Looked for a manual online. Can't find it--even to pay for it.

I'm going to keep reading the site first and then try and just plug it in and play around with the buttons to get it going on a cycle and then try a standard loaf.

Thanks all!

**hmcart** · 01-01-2012, 07:50 AM

awesome! Im a bit jealous!

**Cricketlegs** · 01-01-2012, 12:43 PM

When I got mine-no manual- I typed up the name and model number and put PDF in the search and it came right up for printing.

I have done this more than once and always hit pay dirt.

Model, model number from back, and pdf manual.

**shoiji** · 01-01-2012, 03:58 PM

Momtotwoboys try using an electric knife. It really cuts homemade bread easily.

**Wendy99** · 01-01-2012, 04:47 PM

Post the brand and model of your bread machine, maybe somone hear can help you find a manual. I have a large bread machine, but a few years back I saw a small one that makes a small loaf in 45 min for $5.29 at the Good Will. I was able to find a manual and recipes online for it. I use it more than the big one & love it

It's great to find deals like that - congratulations & enjoy!!

**bunnys** · 01-01-2012, 05:30 PM

Thanks for the good ideas. It's a White-Westinghouse WTR4400.

I found the manual online using Cricket's idea of searching with +pdf. But all those I found start @ like $5.

This is the website I found that has an entire page devoted to what to do if you inherited a bread machine with no manual--how to figure out what type of bread machine it is and how to make the bread and also the "test loaf" recipe to try.

Bread Machine Digest Beginners

I have started reading all the info and will continue to read it all then I'm going to do the "test" loaf. If it doesn't work, I'll buy the manual. But I don't want to shell out the $5. if I don't need to.

Wendy--gotta say I'm thinking this small one will be perfect for me bc I live alone and I don't want some massive loaf that doesn't have any preservatives in it.

Anyone who makes bread in a bread machine should take a look at that website. It has all kinds of info including how to score yeast cheaply--usually the most expensive ingredient in the bread.

Thanks all.

**Wendy99** · 01-02-2012, 09:54 AM

The little machine we have is fail proof - the loaf is just .75 pounds - prob enough for 8 thin slices for 4 garlic bread type slices

- that's what we mainly do with it lol. I love it!! The downfall is it takes a lot of yeast for that little loaf, so may not be as frugal as a big one. It uses about 2 1/4 tsp of yeast per loaf. It's a West Bend 41077 Just for Dinner.

I did a quick search for your breadmaker. I could only find manuals you have to pay for as well - wow! If you do the test loaf and the machine actuall works well, it may be worth your while to purchase a manual - looked like there a ton of recipes in it

To be honest I have got recipes from friends for my big one and they have worked just fine. Maybe you can do that until you find one that is your favorite

Let us know how the test loaf goes.

**bunnys** · 01-07-2012, 06:48 PM

I just pulled the first loaf out. It's so beautiful I think I may cry.

Mysteriously though, the paddle has disappeared. I think it may be in the loaf...?

Wendy: Think I may try and wing it without the manual. But then I always one to live on the edge. Also, re: your issue with yeast. I just bought 2 lbs of Red Star Active Dry Yeast for like $7. @ Costco (on the advice of breadmachinedigest.com) So cheap. It's so cheap that even if I only make 5 loaves of bread and then never make another loaf with that yeast, the yeast is still cheaper than if I had bought the little packets.