Breadmakers

[Nicos]

Just bought one for my OH's birthday and looking forward to plastering thick slices with home-made jams (ooops- sorry LJ!! )
Any one got one? And any tips??? Can't wait to watch OH use it for the 1st time....am SOOO tempted to try it out first!!!!

[Lesley Jay]

Nicos you are a devil !! But I am happy!

[Nicos]

I aim to be both!!

[Alison]

Which one have you bought? Keep thinking about getting one but don't want another white elephant in the kitchen and feel that I should be more organised and use kneading as a means of stress relief!

[HappyMouffe]

My tip is always remember to put the paddle in the bottom, coz if you don't it all goes a bit wrong !

[Birdie Wife]

I make bread by hand most weekends and it's so easy! Mind you, waking up to the smell of fresh bread in the morning must be nice. I love watching the dough change from a lump of flour and water into something living. It's like nurturing something living and growing. Which it is, I suppose. And then you kill it with high heat in an oven . Not that I'm any kind of domestic goddess though!

[nick the grief]

my tip is don't drop it cos it will land jam side down on your carpet

Mrs Grief used to make bread when we were first married (I guees the novelty has worn off after 21 years ) she did it on a saturday morning & it was all gone by the night time !!

[Nicos]

I got the Panasonic SD 253 as it had good write-ups.
Have read through the instructions a few times but it doesn't mention whether to use salted or unsalted butter.
OH has made bread on and off for years , but we had to keep nipping back to thump it/put in oven/take out of oven/ eat it!! Hopefully this will be easier although we'll probably still make some by hand too.
Nice smell to come back from lottie too
Self igniting woodburning stove would be nice too! ( or do you call that central heating? - just not the same smell somehow!!)

[Nicos]

Did I read somewhere else that you can make jam in them too?? Not quite sure how that would work.

[Birdie Wife]

Wouldn't worry, every bread recipe I've seen has added salt as well as butter. If you were watching your salt intake you could cut it out and use unsalted butter but it does make the bread taste better!

[Nicos]

No- I just watch my waistline......grow n grow!!!

[kentish girl]

Well done Nicos I was gived a SD253 last xmas & make 3 - 5 loaves a week, although I do cheat & use the 500g bread mixes that you can buy around
50p a bag.

Tescos & Wrights come up the best & if you have a sainsburys & can get hold a Wrights organic stoneground wholemeal its great but not seen it sold anywhere else.

[JennieAtkinson]

We make bread in our machine every other day - its great. One tip I would suggest is make sure you get yeast for bread machines. We didn't at first as I was used to making my own bread and it came out pretty heavy.
We don't use butter, but veg oil instead. It makes a very moist loaf. I'll try and post the recipe.

Good luck Nicos - I'm sure your OH will think its a great birthday present.

[Alison]

Have heard that one gets the best write ups but it is very expensive to buy. Is it really that much better than ones a third of the price.

[kentish girl]

I had a cheaper one about £35 before, the 253 is definately a far superior machine & produces a much nice & lighter loaf.