Bread

[SlugLobber]

Most do only produce small loaves, but for small families it's ok. No preservatives mean that the bread would go off quicker, so I make approx one loaf per week (for just me) and if any is left when it's going stale, it gets frozen for 'emergency toast' slices!

That honey and walnut one sounds yum!

[Capsid]

My breadmaker (Panasonic) makes a 600g loaf, that's not what I would call small.

[lynda66]

mine makes 1lb(453.59g) 1 1/2lb(680.39g) and 2lb(907.18g) loaves, wouldn't call them small either

[zazen999]

I've used mine today to make pizza dough for 3 - and with the leftovers we are having garlic doughballs.

[gojiberry]

I think there are several peeps who make courgette bread without a bread maker. Keep meaning to have a go myself.

Ian

[diana]

I also love my bread maker but why am i getting this funny taint to it is it the flour i am using?

[piskieinboots]

there is some excellent reading on the following threads re bread-makers, I am a convert to my machine and love it to bits - I use it maybe 4 - 5 times a week for two of us.

Take a read through this and this and this

that'll keep ya quiet for a fair while

[Mikey]

I tend to use my panasonic on large rather than extra large, which is a 500g loaf, as I find the extra size is in height and I have to cut a bit off to go into the toaster, which is a waste IMHO.

I had friends down over the weekend and we got through 5 loaves, from friday night to sunday teatime. I personally cut the slices at approx 8mm thickness (guessing here!), and a loaf was feeding 7 for sandwiches, which seems ok to me.

I do understand what headfry means though, I never manage to freeze one of my loaves as they come out about 1/2 the width of a shop bought loaf, and get gobbled up far too quickly.

I do like the way the manufacturers have cottoned on to bread makers though, as most strong flour is sold in 1.5kg bags (3 loaves), fast action yeast is 7g sachets (2 loaves), if you're making a 500g loaf. Very practical for me. Now all I need is for them to have a clear strip down the side marking the 1/3 proportions and I wouldn't need a scales.

[Mikey]

I also love my bread maker but why am i getting this funny taint to it is it the flour i am using?

what are you washing the machine out with, I never use anything but warm water, and take the paddle out so nothing gets left around it. It might also be the yeast you are using, they don't last that long.

[piskieinboots]

same here as Mikey - I only ever put warm water in mine and having soaked it for a while then remove the paddle to ensure all is sparkling for next time - which is never very far away