I want to make bread. Need help

[mzpepper]

I want to make bread using a breadmaker, but I don't have one. I would like some feed back on breadmakers. Pros and cons of particular brands, models. I want to pick out one that will work for me and not get discouraged. Tell me what you like and don't like about your breadmaker.

[dadoftwo]

I have a Sunbeam (5 years old) and, quite frankly, I don't like it as much as I thought I would. First off, the texture of the end product always seems to be dry. Secondly, the little paddle at the bottom always sticks in the loaf and I hate digging it out. I've gone back to making it by hand. I imagine that there are other, higher-end machines that work better, but I'll stick to the hands-on approach!

[rainbowgc]

The best way is to try out a used one first - try thrift stores.

[2ndGenGranola]

I have had high end machines and low end machines. My cheapie from Walmart has out lasted my $$$ high end one.

Experiment with your recipes. Some you are just going to like better than others.

Keep your paddle clean and hit it with a touch of veggie oil before using your other ingredients for better release.

[kellieetter]

I have a brand new one that has never been taken out of the box and am trying to sell it! But I agree check yard sells, craigslist, thrift stores!

[MoonMommy]

I used to have one that I used once in awhile. I just didn't like how the bread turned out. I gave it to my mom. Now she has two.

I really enjoy making it the "old fashioned" way. I find it is a lot easier with my KitchenAid stand mixer.

[DJ1972]

I was going to get a bread machine just for the kneading part, then bake it in the oven.......but I got a kitchen aid mixer instead, and I love it! It does all the work of the kneading for me and I love homemade bread.

[xtena]

I don't use my bread machine anymore, either. I had a Breadman, which I thought was 'going bad' because the loaves were constantly overproofing then collapsing down on top during the bake cycle, and I couldn't trigger the bake cycle to happen earlier. So my parents gave me an Oster, which lasted less than a year (and it consistently overproofed too, so I think it has to do with my climate here, not the machines themselves). The Oster became an expensive kneading machine. Now I use the Kitchen Aid mixer and it works great. You might also check out the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day book if your library has it (and the basic recipe is free online on the authors' web site, I believe as well as having been published in Mother Earth News online).

If you don't have a mixer and are set on a bread machine, I second the above motion that you get a used one first rather than spending a ton on one that might not work for you.

[old_lady_in_the_shoe]

I have also had a bread machine in the past, and I used it alot, but it just doens't bake the bread up like an oven does. The texture seems dry for me, and I am not crazy about the shape of the loaves. I decided to use mine to mix and knead my dough and then place it in a "real" bread pan, let it rise and bake in the oven. I like it much better, my bread texture is better and it seems like the loaf is larger and lighter. With all that said, it has its good points too, it is nice to throw in everything and run off to do your cleaning, laundry, tend the children, answer the phone, or what ever and not worry about it...it beeps when you need to take it out (whether you bake it or if you set it to just knead it for you) and that is super nice and makes for an easy clean up too.

I am with everyone else, I pick them up at flea markets, garage sales or such for $5-$10. I would purchase them like that first and see what you think and then if you want a new one, you will know extactly what you are looking for. Good luck and happy baking.

[cheriede]

I picked up a breadmaker several months ago at Goodwill. I only spent 5.00 on the thing and figured that I would see how I liked it. It's an Oster and it works just fin. I agree with the pp on bread in the breadmaker being a tad bit too dry for my liking. I am very glad that I didn't spend more than 5.00 for the thing. I'll probably end up giving it away very soon.

[Grainlady]

I'm on my second Zojirushi - I wore the first one out. I use my bread machine for making dough only - never bake bread in it (although that is a nice option - especially in hot weather to keep the heat out of the kitchen). I also make ALL our breads, rolls, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, sweet rolls, English Muffins, etc. all using the Zojirushi for making the dough.

I use freshly-milled whole wheat (or other grains/seeds/beans) flour I mill at home, and not all models of ABMs (automatic bread machines) suggest using home-milled flour at all.

Not all bread machines will make 100% whole wheat bread, if you are interested in making that type of bread, but a Zojirushi does. Using all whole wheat flour can be too much stress on some small machines and can burn the motor out. I've made hundreds of recipes of 100% whole wheat bread using freshly-milled flour with my Zo.

They use Zojirushi's in the King Arthur Flour test kitchens, rather than stand mixers, or by-hand. They used to have a side-by-side picture in their catalogue of a loaf of 100% whole wheat bread made in the Zo (dough only, baked in a loaf pan in the oven), and the same recipe made in a stand mixer. The Zo loaf was at least 1-inch taller than the loaf made with the stand mixer. Mixers tend to aerate the dough, while the Zo does a great job of what it's designed to do - knead bread.

I've taught classes for Bread Machine Breads where everyone brought in their own bread machines. After dealing with all the different types of machines people had, I'd never give up my Zo, and I'd get another one if it died tomorrow. I've used two other brands of bread machines and found them nearly worthless, unless all you use them for is a loaf of white bread.

My sister went through about every brand of ABM there is. She found them at thrift stores and garage sales. When she finally found a Zo at an estate auction and used it for about a month, she got rid of her other bread machines and now is a believer in what the Zo can do.

I make a large variety of breads in the bread machine using a sponge method, sourdough, Artisan loaves, flatbreads and pizza dough, rolls, buns and pastries, sweet breads. It's a labor-saving "tool" and I still incorporate all the bread making science I teach in bread classes - I just translate them to the bread machine.

If I couldn't use the Zo, I'd use my Back to Basics Dough Maker -looks like this: http://www.cfamilyresources.com/prod...doughmixer.htm

I got mine at Tuesday Morning for $19.00.

[mzpepper]

Is that the traditional Zo or the deluxe that you use? Sounds intriguing. Everything else points to unsatisfactory results unless you make the bread the old fashioned way. LOL

[RetiredVeryEarly]

Sorry I am not at home and can't remember what kind we had, but they don't make it anymore so it probably doesn't matter. We loved our first bread machine, used it about 16 years, but a gasket part wore out and we couldn't get another one. We MADE several replacements out of wine corks, but they would last shorter and shorter periods of time (eventually you would have a piece of cork in your bread). That one was square on the bottom and could make a fairly large loaf. The paddle got stuck in the bread but always came out eventually so that was okay.

We got a bread machine from a friend that was round and large. Didn't like the shape, and it didn't have a thing in the side to help the dough flip around, just a thing on the bottom. So sometimes instead of mixing the dough it would just kind of spin it in a circle. Hated the big round bread, and the enormous size (like a space ship on the counter). It also moved a lot while kneading and eventually committed suicide off the counter. We could still use it for kneading but not baking (cover and other parts broke).

Now we have a small one on loan from a friend, it has a square bottom so we like that shape and size. It only makes smallish loaves, though, so that is the main problem when wanting to mix up a lot of pizza dough. Also it is so small the dough rises to the cover a lot. So what I would recommend, regardless of brand, is a bread machine that is squarish and not round, otherwise it is freaky for sandwiches and too large across. Also a bread machine that can make large loaves (will say up to 2 pounds or so). We are just a family of two but this one pound loaf machine is too small. Also you want a stable bread machine that doesn't walk across the counter. And not too large of a footprint or you won't want it on your counter, and then you won't use it.

We bake bread in ours a lot, it takes less energy than the whole oven I am sure. If your bread is always dry or always rises too much, adjust your mixture. Too dry, add more water. Rises too much, put in less yeast. This isn't rocket science. Follow recipes at first, but after awhile, adjust to your own conditions.

[ncarr]

I just use a kitchen aid mixer and do the rest by hand

[DJ1972]

If I couldn't use the Zo, I'd use my Back to Basics Dough Maker -looks like this: http://www.cfamilyresources.com/prod...doughmixer.htm

that is really cool. I didn't know there was such a thing.