[Closed] Breadmaking - First world problems

In all likelihood it will - but let it run anyway you might get lucky

You can console yourself with this little nugget though - in the supermarket - ignore the flour in the baking isle - head instead to the ethnic bit where they have sacks of basmatti rice - along side them: sacks of chapatti flour. 50p/kilo and makes really nice bread.

Shove it in the oven.

Seems to be rising again ok. And macruiskeen I'll have a shufty at that.

^ +1 for stick it in the oven. The manual should tell you how long to aim for but obviously check it through the window.

Tried a light crust on mine the other day that was not to my liking so quickly shoved it in the oven.

Which bread maker did you get? We went with the stainless Panasonic in the end over the Kenwood. Quite liked the look of the lakeland one which seems to be the Kenwood but with built in scales.

That will be a fighting bred when it's done. A Low King Special.

Breadmaking - First world problems

I got an Andrew James one. Mum chose it over the newer version of her Panasonic cos it was cheaper and had same functions. If I use it enough then I will upgrade when it dies.

gave mine away they make terrible bread
I suspect it will over rise, ruin the gluten and give a terrible loaf
I doubt you will notice compared to the normal effort 😉

😀 @ Sandwich

my advice would be to smash the breadmaking machine and do it by hand, much tastier, quicker, more beneficial, environmentally friendly, healthier

They make terrible bread??? Blasphemy. A Panasonic and a decent recipe makes a perfectly decent loaf. Granted handmade is better, but if you're pushed for time better than the rubbish in the supermarket.

I've got a bread maker and it has made some good bread. However I've been given this for Christmas "[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brilliant-Bread-James-Morton/dp/0091955602 ]Briliant Bread[/url]" so going to try making it by hand regularly instead.... but may fall back on the bread maker when needed.

I've had enough of underbaked doughy bread from supermarkets, even stuff like Hovis Granary.

You can console yourself with this little nugget though - in the supermarket - ignore the flour in the baking isle - head instead to the ethnic bit where they have sacks of basmatti rice - along side them: sacks of chapatti flour. 50p/kilo and makes really nice bread.

You'll also find fine Semolina flour for making great pizza bases in the same place. 4 parts strong bread flour (or Tipo 00) to 1 part Semolina flour

It is fresh-baked bread - it will taste nice.
When I make bread I like to let it rise overnight or longer.

tbh I think the breadmaker is a good stepping stone to making your own bread.

I would make it more if I had time and wouldn't forget to take it out of the oven so the breadmaker is useful to have there to do it all for you. I'm going to try a few different types of bread in it and will then probably get more adventurous by hand.

Main reason we got one was moving somewhere remote so it's nice to not have to go out in the car for bread. Just need a cow now for milk.

my advice would be to smash the breadmaking machine and do it by hand, much tastier, quicker, more beneficial, environmentally friendly, healthier

This is the classic smug STW response. 🙂

It is much better made by hand though IMO - and I really enjoy making it. Definitely not quicker though.

Breadmakers are ok but it's impossible to get a decent crust. I also really like adding seeds etc to the outside which you can't do with a bread maker.

Breadmakers are ok but it's impossible to get a decent crust. I also really like adding seeds etc to the outside which you can't do with a bread maker.

Those are problems, true - but a breadmaker can be programmed to fill your house with the smell of freshly baked bread just before the alarm goes off, and that's a great way to start the day.

The loaf turned out surprisingly well. Bacon and cheese. Very tasty it was too. I've not got the time to make it all by hand. I also like the crust the machine gives.

but a breadmaker can be programmed to fill your house with the smell of freshly baked bread just before the alarm goes off, and that's a great way to start the day.

Yup that is definitely an advantage.

I get to play around with a peel and a baking stone though and feel like some kind of smug Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall type. 🙂

The loaf turned out surprisingly well. Bacon and cheese. Very tasty it was too. I've not got the time to make it all by hand.

Glad to hear it turned out well. The total time spent doing stuff is not that much when doing it by hand, but you do have to be around. It's quite convenient if you work from home and can do stuff in between leaving it to prove etc. I find it quite therapeutic. 🙂

I also really like adding seeds etc to the outside which you can't do with a bread maker.

I've had bread makers and have done it by hand in the past.

Kenwood chef + dough hook FTW.

The best possible balance of speed and taste and with the final knead by hand, clean fingernails 😉

spchantler - Member

quicker

You can't really believe that though? You might feel it's a better return on time, but it takes about 90 seconds to prepare a run for my machine. Measure, pour, quick stir, press button, take it out when it's done.

maybe not quicker, but i bet there's not much in it when you've cleaned it. i wouldn't know to be honest, i've never used one. and no its not meant to be smug, i've always made bread, and watched my mum do it growing up, now my kids do it. its just something we do, like making a pot of tea. everything doesn't have to be faster, spending a bit of time is a good thing. i'm doing sourdough these days, takes 5-10 minutes a day, spread over 2-3 days. you can have 2 different batches going at different stages so you always have fresh bread. would recommend to anyone

Kenwood chef + dough hook FTW.

head instead to the ethnic bit where they have sacks of basmatti rice - along side them: sacks of chapatti flour. 50p/kilo and makes really nice bread.

You'll also find fine Semolina flour for making great pizza bases in the same place. 4 parts strong bread flour (or Tipo 00) to 1 part Semolina flour

I'm liking this thread a lot!

Keep meaning to order a dough hook for my kenwood too!

Edit: Had to stop using the bread maker as I was getting even fatter than normal...MMMMM waking up to the aroma of warm fresh bread...

my advice would be to smash the breadmaking machine and do it by hand, much tastier, quicker, more beneficial, environmentally friendly, healthier

It takes me two minutes to tip the ingredients in the pan and I have fresh bread waiting for me when I wake up. That's less preparation time than it takes me to pop to the corner shop and buy a loaf.

spchantler - Member

maybe not quicker, but i bet there's not much in it when you've cleaned it

Only if you don't clean the stuff you use to handbake

but i bet there's not much in it when you've cleaned it.

cleaned what - what part of a bread maker ever needs cleaning?

I'm liking this thread a lot!

You'll like this too then. Beremeal (grown and milled on orkney at the Barony Mill - and available online) on its own its far too hardcore but swap about 10% of your flour for beremeal when you're making a loaf (when weighing out I put a couple of tbs of the beremeal in the bowl make up the balance with flour - and with a bread maker add about 20ml more water) and OMactualG its lovely.

okey dokey

*thread added to favorites*

If bread wasn't very very easy to make by hand, homo sapiens would have died out long ago 😀

You simply add the ingredients, and the Zojirushi Virtuoso does the rest.

More beneficial to whom or what when made by hand?

Why did the baker have smelly fingers?

He kneaded a poo.

my advice would be to smash the breadmaking machine and do it by hand, much tastier, quicker, more beneficial, environmentally friendly, healthier

i wouldn't know to be honest, i've never used one.

So you've not tasted it, timed it, have no idea if it is more environmentally friendly, "beneficial" or "healthier" ?

Well done.

Well after nearly a month of owning it. It's been used nearly everyday. Some days twice. It makes much nicer bread than shop bought and all I need to do is plonk the ingredients in and press a button. Free's up 2-3 hours of not having to make bread.

I use ours to make pizza dough loads. Homemade pizza has become a bit of an event in our house 🙂

We havent bought any bread for 4 months. All is homemade with this my favourite recipe.

300 ml Buttermilk
1 egg
1 Tablespoon of honey
450 gms strong flour or 300 gms strong + 150 gms self raising [gives slightly different texture]
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda.
1 Teaspoon Salt.
Make a good liquid mix of the milk egg and honey add to the dry ingredients and short knead on floured surface make a 18" sausage like "Thing" bake on a baking tray dusted with flour to stop it sticking bake for 40 minutes in a 180 c oven.

If you dont have butter milk, make a substitute [which is what I use] 300ml milk add 2 tablespoons of either Lemon juice/white wine vinegar/cider vinegar to sour it.

have had a bread maker since - IIRC - 1995 or so, original Panasonic one.

Been great - been through several models in that time, but keep getting another as use it for pizza dough, cakes, fancy bread and plain everyday bread.

Family enjoy it; kids really disappointed with infrequent shop bought bread. Cheaper? dunno. Better? subjectively yes, and can control ingredients (salt)..

and can control ingredients (salt)..

We havent bought any bread for 4 months. All is homemade with this my favourite recipe.

300 ml Buttermilk
1 egg
1 Tablespoon of honey
450 gms strong flour or 300 gms strong + 150 gms self raising [gives slightly different texture]
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda.
1 Teaspoon Salt.
Make a good liquid mix of the milk egg and honey add to the dry ingredients and short knead on floured surface make a 18" sausage like "Thing" bake on a baking tray dusted with flour to stop it sticking bake for 40 minutes in a 180 c oven.

If you dont have butter milk, make a substitute [which is what I use] 300ml milk add 2 tablespoons of either Lemon juice/white wine vinegar/cider vinegar to sour it.

Sounds nice Dales_rider but part of the reason behind buying a machine is because our youngest is allergic to egg and dairy 🙁
Next on the list is a Pasta machine so I can make egg free pasta 🙂

I use ours to make pizza dough loads. Homemade pizza has become a bit of an event in our house

Fajita wraps make really good pizza bases too 🙂

Cut out the egg and use almond milk, I use that as an alternative ever 2 or 3 loaves

I accidentally forgot to put any salt in my last loaf.

Hmmmm. It's a good way to make whatever you put in your sandwich EXTREMELY tasty - because while the bread works, it just tastes bland and grey...

Note to self: pay attention next time!

(I forgot to put the water in once. It really spoiled my morning, coming down to a freshly baked, erm, bucket of slightly singed flour. Bah!)

Panasonic has just finished baking a loaf behind me in the kitchen. Smells great but I have to admit it's still no where near as good as proper home made. I am very sensitive to smells and tastes and there is a certain taste off breadmaker bread from the machine.

But it's still better than anything shop bought and the reason we got it is we are too busy to make it properly most of the time and if we run out we have to get in the car and drive 10-15 minutes to buy a crappy loaf.

Keep meaning to try the dough only function when I have more time at weekends. Saves the messy first stage.

Did one the other day with 50:50 wholemeal and white with 1.5 tbsp of rape seed instead of butter which was pretty nice.