Is a bread machine worth it?

[mmy2grls]

I'm thinking of buying a bread machine. I see one on amazon for $40 and it also has jam and cake settings.

We love home made bread and my kids would eat a loaf a day. Currently I buy frozen bread dough in a pack of 3 for almost $5.

I'm not sure what ingredients I would have to buy for a bread machine. Do you think it would pay itself if we made our own bread 3-4 times a week?

[MomK]

Just a thought...I saw 3-4 bread machines at the Goodwill store in my area for $5 each. Have you checked into buying used?

I love mine and it's close to 15 years old. The ingredients are cheap: flour, salt, sugar, yeast, water or milk. Pretty basic ingredients, but it depends on the recipe you use.

The advantages to a new machine are: you'll get the original user's manual, usually you get a recipe booklet too, plus, there's probably a warranty.

Good luck! It's fun to try out new recipes!!

[happimommi]

I loved my bread machine but with 6 people to feed it just didn't make enough bread.

[mmy2grls]

If I find a used one i'll buy it. If not I thought $40 was reasonable plus the one I saw has a one year warranty.

I know we'd make basic white bread. Maybe we can experiment and find other kinds we like.

[dianne9106]

I can't imagine just how much weight I would gain if I had a bread machine! I gain at least 3 pounds just looking down the bread isle My husband tries to talk me into it and then I remind him that I would eat it with every single thing and most likely not get enough exercise to compensate! Good luck with whatever one you choose and keep us updated on it - yummy!

[Holly]

I got my bread machine 2 years ago at a lawn sale for $10.00. It came with the manuel and all. Don't think it was ever used.
With bread here going about $1.59 a loaf you bet its worth it.
Even my spendthrift ds said mom thats way to high I'll eat HM.
Family of 4 I make 2 loavwes a day .
I also make my own pizza crust and pizzas for only couple bucks instead of buying for $12 to $14 dollars they want around here.

[nessarowdy]

I have just within the past 2 months or so dragged my bread machine out of storage and been using the heck out of it!! I make lots of different things in it, besides bread. I do use it more for it's dough making more than the baking process, though. My cinnamon rolls are amazing! I made a batch this afternoon as a treat on this especially snowy and cold afternoon. Yum! I make a lot of pizza dough and french bread dough in it, as well. We eat this stuff all of the time, and you bet it saves money! If you can find a good deal, I say GO FOR IT!

[kaykwilts]

I have just within the past 2 months or so dragged my bread machine out of storage and been using the heck out of it!! I make lots of different things in it, besides bread. I do use it more for it's dough making more than the baking process, though. My cinnamon rolls are amazing! I made a batch this afternoon as a treat on this especially snowy and cold afternoon. Yum! I make a lot of pizza dough and french bread dough in it, as well. We eat this stuff all of the time, and you bet it saves money! If you can find a good deal, I say GO FOR IT!

Where do you live that you are still getting snow?

[bigaraycing]

I love my bread machine! next to my food processor, it is my best investment so far. 40.00 at wm. I used it twice for making bread, but now only use the dough setting. The bread comes out much bigger! And, I found out that you don't need bread machine yeast...I buy bulk at the local Co-op and throw in some wheat gluten with it sometimes. It took a long time for me to get it to come out right, but I posted my problems and got great responses! As far as recipes, you can find tons online! I found an unreal recipe for deep dish pizza dough! We eat it at least once a week! I think it is cheaper, but just the fact that now I know what we are eating, makes it worth it! Good luck!

[ImEmile]

I have a bread machine back in the States. I had trouble getting anything other than bricks from it for whole wheat bread, but loved it for cinnamon raisn bread and others (until I lost the recipe book). I liked it for pizza crust too.

Here in Kuwait I can get bread fairly cheap but prefer HM. I make sweet Italian bread with only whole wheat flour (doesn't need any white) and it's delicious. I wouldn't mind having my bread machine though since I'm working full-time again and I have make bread on the weekend or go buy it. I'd have to use it a lot (and find a really good recipe) though. Bread flour is expensive here (have only seen it in one store) so I'd have to see if I could find gluten. If I ever bring it back from the States with me, I'd have to buy some gluten to add as well.

So, for me, probably wouldn't be worth it. Unless Al Ghanim's had them for cheap and I could find a really good recipe for whole wheat bread or gluten,

[vigilant20]

I got one about a month ago. It's just me, so I make one loaf a week...either white or italian because they have the simplest ingredients. It's such a treat and a money saver.

[nessarowdy]

Where do you live that you are still getting snow?

I live in the mountains of Montana!! We're STILL getting snow flurries here and there. I'm ready for spring!

[mom2matty]

I only use my bread machine to make dough and then I bake it in the oven. I'm glad I have it but to be honest I don't use it that often!!

[ShawnaRae]

I love my bread machine. We're a family of 6 so I bake just about every day. I also use the machine to mix the dough and bake in my oven. It saves a lot of time and a lot of mess. I never buy bread, bagels, buns, rolls, pizza, etc. because it is so easy and delish making it fresh. I would never have time for all of the baking without the machine.

[Jeanna]

I would say yes it is worth it. However I am like the others in that I would look at thrift stores before I would pay full price. I see them all the time from $5 to $15 dollars around here.