HM bread and the alternative......

[Munch]

I started to make my bread by hand, then my mum bought me a breadmaker for a wedding present.

I find the the bottom half of the loaf is 'cakey' and heavy every time..... I have tried adjusting several things in the recipes but nowt works.

Is it because it is not a good breadmaker or am I doing something wrong?

[OverWyreGrower]

We've got a Panasonic SD55, and I love it!! I like making bread by hand (usually naan bread, baguettes etc) but only have time to do this at a weekend.

I put the breadmaker on overnight and it means I have lovely fresh bread in a morning. I leave it to cool whilst I walk the dogs and feed the hens etc, then eat it...yum!

I've never bothered too much over the economics of it, for me, it's more the knowledge of what is in the bread, and where it has come from, and the taste; than the price.

[Two_Sheds]

Is it because it is not a good breadmaker or am I doing something wrong?

Dunno: what is it, and what are you doing?

[Munch]

Dunno: what is it, and what are you doing?

its a Charlton Stainless steal Bread Maker!!! (crap probably, but how do I ditch it for better when my mum thinks it was a great pressy? lol )
I follow recipes accurately. I just dont get it.
I tried adding more yeast and it helped, but dont want to add more!

[Two_Sheds]

Do you mean Carlton? Like this one? Honest review of the Carlton C90BMS09 Breadmaker

Do you follow the recipes that came with it? because they differ between breadmakers

[Munch]

Thats the one

[annacruachan]

I have had my Cookworks breadmaker from Argos (£30 approx) for 3 months now and I'm delighted with it. I always made bread by hand but had to give up when no longer able to knead. Despite not being expensive it makes excellent bread, though I didn't find the recipes that came with it much use. I stick to my usual hand made recipe - 1 1/2lb flour to 3/4 pint water plus all the usual other bits - and it's perfect.
The only disaster I've had was entirely my own fault as I didn't check that the kneading blade was properly in situ. This produced a tiny loaf which was soggy though cooked on the outside but completely composed of flour inside!
I too use a Kitchen Devil knife and, yes, it makes crumbs, but so what? The birds love them.

[Alison]

If we make a basic white loaf in our cheapie breadmaker (£79 Kenwood) from 'ingredients' it costs about 45p (that allows a bit for the electricity).

£79 isn't a cheapie one! That's about the same price as my Panasonic cost and that was one of the most expensive ones about at the time. I think the cheapie ones are the supermarket own ones on the whole but I also think that price isn't necessarily a guide of quality on this and if anybody is buying one then recomendations are always key

[Caro]

I started to make my bread by hand, then my mum bought me a breadmaker for a wedding present.

I find the the bottom half of the loaf is 'cakey' and heavy every time..... I have tried adjusting several things in the recipes but nowt works.

Is it because it is not a good breadmaker or am I doing something wrong?

Given that the top half of the loaf is fine, I would suspect that it is the breadmaker, Perhaps you have a duff one where the heating element underneath isn't working properly? Can you return it on warranty and get a replacement?

Or, have you looked at the dough just before the baking section of the programme kicks in? Does the dough look good, and even? Is it something going wrong in the mixing/rising programme?

[Munch]

Given that the top half of the loaf is fine, I would suspect that it is the breadmaker, Perhaps you have a duff one where the heating element underneath isn't working properly? Can you return it on warranty and get a replacement?

Or, have you looked at the dough just before the baking section of the programme kicks in? Does the dough look good, and even? Is it something going wrong in the mixing/rising programme?

The dough always seems to look fine. Not sure about the warranty

I havent made a loaf in it for ages, but thought I might give it a go again today. Going to use a really basic recipe and not the one in the breadmaker book to see if that makes a difference.

Can anyone recommend the best setting? What do people generally use? Maybe that might help.

Thanks for the advice

[Caro]

Hi Munch,

Don't use the speed baking setting (if that model has one). The longer baking settings are always more reliable.

As you've said you're going to do, try the basic white mix, and basic white loaf programme.

Make sure you've set the right loaf size (weight) and if the bottom hasn't been cooking properly, maybe the darker crust setting?

Not familiar with your machine, so sorry if some of that doesn't apply!

Good luck anyway, hope today's loaf is great!

[Munch]

Hi Munch,

Don't use the speed baking setting (if that model has one). The longer baking settings are always more reliable.

As you've said you're going to do, try the basic white mix, and basic white loaf programme.

Make sure you've set the right loaf size (weight) and if the bottom hasn't been cooking properly, maybe the darker crust setting?

Not familiar with your machine, so sorry if some of that doesn't apply!

Good luck anyway, hope today's loaf is great!

Thanks Caro, however I have just made the worst loaf ever!

Half the size, really heavy and dark brown on the bottom, the top looks nice tho.

Used all the correct setting, sizes and crust control!

I give up........ must my machine

[Two_Sheds]

Take the darn machine back to the shop then, warranty or no warranty: Consumer Law gives you 6 years to return a faulty item.

[Rhona]

Don't use the speed baking setting (if that model has one). The longer baking settings are always more reliable.!

I only ever use the speedbake one! I used to use different settings, but found that the speedbake one was just fine, and well...quicker.

Just checked what ours is (use it every day but didn't have a clue) - Morphy Richards Fastbake. My sisters bought it for us as a pressie about four years ago, think it's mid-priced at around £70 ish?

I use a local organic flour, or Dove Farm. I put in a combination of white and brown, little salt, sugar, yeast and oil. I then flavour it with whatever seeds or herbs we have. Fresh marjoram and cheddar is a fave at the moment. Never priced it out, but suspect that after 4 years, it's paid for itself!

Most importantly, the bread tastes fab, it smells divine and I know exactly what's in it!

Totally recommend getting one.

[Hilary B]

£79 isn't a cheapie one! That's about the same price as my Panasonic cost and that was one of the most expensive ones about at the time. I think the cheapie ones are the supermarket own ones on the whole but I also think that price isn't necessarily a guide of quality on this and if anybody is buying one then recomendations are always key

I got it wrong, £79 was the one OH wouldn't pay the extra for, ours was £49, from Comet, because that was the easiest place to get one. I still hope to get a better one (at the very least, one with twin paddles rather than a central one in a pan that is just a bit too long for one) next time, but wouldn't you know, this one is going to last longer than either of the previous ones!