Bread Making

[Nessie]

Hallo
Is it better to bake or use a bread maker? My dad swears by his bread maker but as we have a really nice stove would like to do it the traditional way. If anyone has advice/recipes that would be great!
Thank u, Nessie

[madmax]

Problem with a bread maker is that you get that stupid whisk/blender thing stuck in the bottom of the loaf. One good compromise is to use the bread maker to mix the dough up and then place it in a traditional tin and bake it in the oven.

Shirls knows more than I do about this as she often makes our bread. Dunno if it's any cheaper than buying the stuff, but at least you know what ingredients go into it!

Ever tried Dutch sugar bread (suiker brood)? Yummmmmmmmmm.....

[zazen999]

Hi
I do as Madmax says; use the BM to knead and then pop it out, let it rise and bake it in the oven.

Current recipe:
12oz wholemeal bread flour
4oz white bread flour
1 teaspoon each dried yeast, sugar and salt
1 tablespoon of veg oil [olive oil makes the bread more panini-ish, if you get my drift]
half a pint of water

Set to dough and use the BM to knead this. The last 1/2 hour of my BM on this setting is just letting it rise; so I take it out when I can, shape it and leave to rise.

Then cook on 200 for about 20 mins.

The last 2 loaves i have added a vit c tablet crushed up, and the bread is fab. Just adds that extra something. Acts as improver [read it somewhere, tried it, love it].

If really pushed for time, I do the full BM thing; but don't like the hole in the bottom; nor the shape.

[lainey lou]

Problem with a bread maker is that you get that stupid whisk/blender thing stuck in the bottom of the loaf.

Yep that is a pain in the bum although you can get them now where the paddles retract during the baking part which resolves this problem. I think morphy richards does one like this at quite reasonable price.

[redadmiral]

i enjoy making bread by hand. i've tried breadmakers and they are really good because they save time and still produce tasty homemade bread, but i always feel a little removed from the process!
i think if you have the time and inclination, there is nothing like feeling the warm dough under your hands as you knead it. bread is such an important and symbolic food anyway, i always feel there is something respectful and satisfying about making it from scratch using your own time and stamina.
of course, practically i wouldn't know whether the results are better. except that once you start trying out different recipes, i feel perhaps you have more control over the process - you can decide for yourself by the texture of the dough how long you need to knead for, and how long to let it rise for.
plus kneading is good for building up those arm muscles

[Nessie]

That's great thank u!
Well, I don't have my own breadmaker yet, so will have a go by hand and see how I get on with the recipe from zazen999... I can almost smell it already!

[spud57]

I agree with red admiral - breadmakers are ok but the product is a totally different animal to hand made bread! You really cant beat doing the whole process yourself - very fundamentally satisfying

[zazen999]

My BM was a freebie; and I do have problems kneading my bread due to elbow injury [can pull stuff ok, but pushing is a different matter], long term injury - will never get better so the BM is my saviour. I have to say I did try kneading bread for ages before I got the BM; much pain ensued and whilst I don' t mind suffering for my art...if there's an easier way then I'll take it.

Having said that; if this BM goes kaput then I'll be buying the Panasonic one; 253 I think the number is. There's loads of posts about the wonderous BM on the MSE forums; the first slice of a home baked crusty bread is just a natural wonder of the world [IMHO].

[Alison]

I have the Panasonic and it is fab - although the blade leaves it's mark in the bottom of the bread, I've never had any problems turning the loaf out whilst leaving the blade in the tin. Personally , if I didn't work full time, I'd probably make it by hand but seeing as I'm short on time when I'm in the house, I like the fact that I woke up this morning to the smell of freshly made bread and am now eating it as sandwiches on the day it was made - believe me I wouldn't have been willing to get up early enough to have done that by hand!!!!!! Started making my own as most of the supermarket stuff is plastic rubbish and I can't get to a decent bakery often enough. This way I know exactly what's in my bread and that is worth the price of the maker.

[TPeers]

I suppose cost wise there is precious lillte in it - one does have to buy the flour etc after all...

But the fun, the smell and the taste..... can't be beat.

I have an excellent cibatta recipe - takes a day and a half!

Terry

[madmax]

I have an excellent cibatta recipe - takes a day and a half!Terry

Can we blagg it from you?

[bluemoon]

I used to make it by hand when the kids were little, then technology caught up and bread makers became available just at a time when I didn't really need one any longer. I bought one anyway and love it, I'm attempting to cut back on my appliances and I'm not replacing anything which is unnecessary, but I'm afraid I can't live without my bread-machine.

[tootles]

I had a panasonic before we moved - it is in storage now and I MISS IT!!!! (along with my sewing machine...) They are the best, get the one which automatically drops in the raisins/nuts etc when it is time.
I can't wait to get it back when we have a proper electricity supply.

[Alison]

get the one which automatically drops in the raisins/nuts etc when it is time.

That's the one I've got but have only used the auto thing once or twice as prefer basic wholemeal loaves, for me I wish I'd bought the model below that's the same but without that feature.

[shirley]

I have been experimenting with my bread maker and have found that

400g white strong flour
230 ml water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sachet yeast

in whatever order your machine instructions say....a nice loaf and good for pizza bases.