Bread machines -- pros and cons

[Kting]

We love bread but I've never had a bread machine. Good bread from the local bakery is pretty inexpensive but I'm sort of lusting after a bread machine. Are they easy to use, easy to clean, worth the expense??? Do you have to use yeast a lot. For some reason i'm afraid of yeast. Thanks.

[riffraff]

I too have a fear of yeast and have never made a HANDMADE bread. I do however have a bread machine and use it. It is very very easy to use with simple instructions and you have to use yeast most of the time. You just put ingredients in the machine in the order your machine instructions tell you to and turn it on. There are different setttings for how dark you want the crust and stuff. It is very very easy to clean. I love it.

[chia]

ditto what riff said-- very easy to use, very easy to clean, and excellent bread every time. i have a breadman now after going thru 2 others, i make bread in it all the time. you just add the ingredients according to the manufacturers instructions, and 3- 31/2 hrs later it's done.
i never make bread from scratch, too much work and mess.

[AKillian24]

I enjoy baking, cooking, etc - and the bread machine is my best companion. The features that mine has which I feel make it so convenient:
1. The fruit / nut add-in is automatic (I don't need to be there, the door just swings open)
2. It's got a 24 hour delay bake timer (Ex: throw the ingredients in on the way out the door in the morning and come home to fresh rolls for dinner!)
3. 2lb capacity (why would you want less?!)
4. Stainless Steel - it matches my applicances so I can leave it out w/o it becoming an eye sore. This is a biggie for me as I would hate to have to lug it in and out of the cupboard.

Just some thoughts if you're planning on buying one - I could see where they would easily go unused if not convenient.

Angela
PS- Why are we all afraid of yeast? (me too). Does excess yeast increase liklihood of celiac?...I should post in the right forum. Sorry!

[Catfish Charlie]

No, celiac is a genetic condition so yeast will not cause it (nor does yeast bother those with celiac- it is wheat, barley and rye that we must avoid).
I don't know why yeast seems scary to some, perhaps it's because it isn't quite animal and it isn't quite plant?

We have a bread machine and it is very convenient, especially for bread machine mixes. My wife uses it a lot, but since I have to cook gluten-free for myself I never do. I make my gluten-free bread by hand- and I find that it isn't really all that difficult with a good stand mixer.

[PanNan]

I use my bread machine every weekend. It's so simple to use - just dump in the ingredients, turn it on, and three hours later you remove the delicious loaf.

Occasionally, when I really have a need to "play" with bread dough, or when I want dinner rolls for a special occasion, I'll make bread by hand, but we're perfectly satisfied with the bread machine breads I've made.

[luvmybge]

I love my Breadman. I use it every day. I like to set it for 'dough' cycle and then finish off the loaves by hand for the second rising and then bake on unglazed quarry tiles in my oven. Beautiful loaves every time.
The recipe I use is 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 4 cups bread flour and 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast.
I always give a loaf of bread to mom and dad.. and have taken them in to work.. and the neighbors enjoy a warm loaf now and then. Today, I have one big loaf done already and another in the Breadman rising... that I'll do in two loaves and take them with me to dinner at a friend's house tonight.

[Dib's]

[quote="luvmybge"] I like to set it for 'dough' cycle and then finish off the loaves by hand for the second rising and then bake[/ quote]

Me too-got 2 loaves rising right now-one round and one loaf style. I use mine so I can control not only the ingredients but the cost as well.

Di

[ThatBobbieGirl]

Are You Really a Bread Machine Person?


Size Does Matter

[Dorel]

I use the dough cycle most of the time and make hot dog and hamburger buns and cinnamon buns with the dough.
recipe #96475

[Morti]

I have one, but don't use it that often. The bread seems very dense and often dry if you don't eat it right away and it doesn't keep well. Any suggestions?

[LonghornMama]

Once you get a bread machine, you'll be buying yeast in bulk! They are well worth the money. I bought my Welbilt in 1990 when bread machines were just becoming popular. The thing won't die. The delay bake is a nice feature..coming home to fresh baked bread is wonderful. Most of the time, I use the dough feature and rise and bake in the regular oven. Really valuable for making pizza dough, too. Homemade pizza is our easy dinner for busy nights and the kids love it.
I'd read some reviews of machines on amazon or ask for suggestions here, there is a wide range of models and prices.
Here are some yummy recipes once you get one:
Failproof French Bread (Bread Machine) recipe #81211
Bread Machine Spinach and Feta Bread recipe #19529
Soft Italian Bread Sticks (ABM) recipe #104628
Buttery Pan Rolls (for the Bread Machine) recipe #105177

[Tracy K]

If anyone wants a nearly-free bread machine, I'd be happy to send mine to you for the price of postage. It works just fine, makes good bread, but I just got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer as a Christmas gift and I don't think I'll be using the bread machine much now!

Respond here or send me a private message, first come first serve.

I'd have to double-check the brand from home tonight, but I think it's a Breadman... 2 lb capacity (but I will double-check).

[TCookie]

I love my bread machine... usually I just use the dough cycle and pull it out for shaping and the final rise. I use a couple of excellent recipes that start with a "biga", or sponge... which I also make in the machine. (See the Bread Forum for my favorite cookbook recommendation, which is a truly wonderful investment if you have a machine.)
Breads made with a starter taste the best (to me, anyway) and have the advantage of staying good a couple of days longer.
This a.m. I have a two loaves of Pain de Campagna shaped and rising, and a sponge for Chinese steamed buns currently in the machine fermenting for an hour.
For truly minimal effort and low cost, I will have artisan quality loaves for the week (freezing one), and my kids' favorite Chinese snack... char siu bao.

[ThatBobbieGirl]

Tracy K wrote:
If anyone wants a nearly-free bread machine, I'd be happy to send mine to you for the price of postage. It works just fine, makes good bread, but I just got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer as a Christmas gift and I don't think I'll be using the bread machine much now!

Respond here or send me a private message, first come first serve.

I'd have to double-check the brand from home tonight, but I think it's a Breadman... 2 lb capacity (but I will double-check).

I hope someone takes you up on this offer -- very generous of you, too! I have a Breadman Ultimate which I received as a gift, and I love it.