HM bread and the alternative......

[Munch]

Going for another attempt today.... at least the kids like cake!!! (cakey bread)

[Two_Sheds]

Munch, you are using STRONG bread flour, not plain flour?

[Munch]

Hi Two Sheds.

Yes I am, although it is a cheap strong bread flour. 43p from Lidl!

I am going to make a wholemeal one in a minute, with Sainsbury wholemeal bread flour, fingers crossed!

If not I am going back to hand baking, always turned out great that way. The only problem I have is no where to prove. (apart from under a radiator!)

[Two_Sheds]

100% wholemeal will be like a brick.

do 50/50

[Two_Sheds]

The only problem I have is no where to prove. (apart from under a radiator!)

Dough will rise in a fridge, given enough time. Room temp is quicker, an airing cupboard even quicker

[Munch]

Dough will rise in a fridge, given enough time. Room temp is quicker, an airing cupboard even quicker

Thank you. x

[Comfreyfan]

Why I love my breadmaker - just put a loaf on while the kettle was boiling - loaf now baking while I'm drinking my coffee and playing on here!!!

[Hilary B]

100% wholemeal will be like a brick.

do 50/50

Wholemeal BREAD flour always worked OK for me, even in the breadmaker (a bit heavier than white bread, but wholemeal SHOULD be a bit heavier), but you do need to use the wholemeal program (all the machines we've owned have had one, it allows a longer rising time) and increase the sugar content a bit so the yeast works faster.

[Newbie]

I have been given a free breadmaker by my SIL who got it origionally from her mother. The first few loaves i made were like bricks (using strong white bread flour), the last two loaves i tried packet mixes are the difference was amazing - light fluffy edible loaves! The packet mixes are 63p each so i'd prefer not to use them - where am i going wrong?

[Hilary B]

I have been given a free breadmaker by my SIL who got it origionally from her mother. The first few loaves i made were like bricks (using strong white bread flour), the last two loaves i tried packet mixes are the difference was amazing - light fluffy edible loaves! The packet mixes are 63p each so i'd prefer not to use them - where am i going wrong?

Exactly what ingredients are you using?
Is the yeast
a) the right type
b) not got stale?
I use the sachets of 'easy-blend' yeast, one sachet is about 3 teaspoonfuls (ie makes 3 loaves in my machine) but once opened it needs using within a couple of weeks (keeps ages unopened, but check 'best before' date, there is some leeway, but don't overdo it).
Make sure you measure all the ingredients accurately.

[northepaul]

Got mine the other day, and followed the instructions exactly, ie which order to put everything in & weighed it all carefully.
I used good bread flour - at the mo its doves farm, but unfortunately its shot up in price so I bought some Hovis strong bread flour for the next time.

Anyhow, coming to the point () its made some great bread - although the only down side is the loaves are quite small & therefore dont last as long as the shop bought ones. (which is good in a way because it means its not wasted.)

[Croila]

Well, thanks to having accumulated millions of nectar points over a couple of years that I've redeemed for Amazon vouchers, I've just ordered a Kenwood 450 breadmaker - I saw it good a really good write-up in "Which" which swayed me to that one.

It was this thread, though, that finally convinced me to buy one! No matter what anyone says I am just NOT going to do it by hand, and Tesco have stopped selling my favourite Hovis Granary bread, so I thought ... well ... I've got all those nectar points ..!

Should get it early next week - can't wait

[Hilary B]

You won't regret it Croila, unless you have the same problem we've got, the bread is SOOOO good we eat a lot more and we now have a serious weight problem!

[Croila]

Aw nooooooo! I'm trying to lose weight, not gain it!

On a slightly separate note, my wee boy and I made rock cakes this afternoon, using my long deceased greataunt's 1966 (or thereabouts) Kenwood Chefette. (Okay, I know I could do these things by hand, but I just don't like to.)

Anyway, as I was watching the rock cake dough birl round in the bowl I wondered: could a breadmaker make dough like this? You know, without you having to leave the dough in it to cook? Can they be used like a mixer?

Just a thought

[binley100]

You don't have to cook the dough in the breadmaker, you can just get it to do the hardwork and then cook the final dough in the oven. Useful for batches* and pizza bases.


*batches - bread rolls, buns .......cos I know someone is going to ask what is a batch