Bread Machines

After a visit to my mom and dad, and eating their fabulous homemade pizza, DH and I have decided to buy a bread machine to mix dough easily so we can make our own! My mom insists that the cheapest ones are enough for that function, but we're looking at some decent ones that do a bit more. We saw that some have a timer so that you can come home to freshly baked bread - awesome!

Anyway, any suggestions on a particular make? Do you find that the inexpensive ones are just as good? Or is it worth it to go for a pricier one?

I really want a breadmaker and have been reading for ages about them. I'm pretty convinced that the panasonic range is the only way to go, people that have them are evangelical about them, people that don't have them think they're overpriced, I'm a bit of a quality buyer for stuff like this so I've just been waiting for the right time to shell out the £120.

ZOMG! Whilst I was typing this up I went to amazon and the breadmaker I wanted (panasonic) was half price, so I bought it. Thanks M! I've bought the SD-250, it doesn't have the raisin dispenser but I hate raisins anyway!

 

I make all my bread by hand and it takes no time at all! I've been on a kick lately and have made a loaf or some rolls nearly every day for the past week. No help with pizza dough, I'm afraid (ask Mrs Robinson for advice there ... well, MR Robinson really), but bread is SO MUCH nicer not in a bread machine. A lot of bread machine bread is too quick (like shop bought bread) so you wind up with bread-tummy. Homemade is the way to go!

we've had much nicer bread with a recipe from River Cottage's book on cooking for babies and toddlers.  It makes 2 loaves and you can do all kinds of stuff with the second half of the dough - rolls, pitta bread, breadsticks, pizza etc.  It's fairly straightforward.  We do use our breadmaker but not nearly as much as we used to.

I'm in the States, and have a bread machine.  I mainly use it for pizza dough, and love it.  I bought a Hamilton Beach around Christmas, to replace my 12-year-old Oster that wasn't working right anymore.  I had to slightly adjust the flour amount in my favorite pizza crust recipe, but the results are fantastic.  The Hamilton Beach is usually $100, but I got it for $50. 

I'd love to be able to make bread without it, but I have a back problem that (when it flares up) reduces the function of my left arm and hand.  Add in the partial numbness in two fingers on that hand (due to said back issue), and kneading is out for me.  My bread machine enables me to have tasty pizza and bread whenever I want it.   

I used to have a bread machine...LOOONG time ago. It sat on my counter collecting dust after the initial newness of it wore off. Fast forward 20 years and now I love making my own dough. Its messy, its fun, and I find kneading the dough to be very therapeutic. Its one of the only things I enjoy baking.

I had thought of getting a bread machine as well! But now I'm more interested in trying to make my own! Anybody got some good tips and recipes for a newbie bread maker? 

ZOMG! Whilst I was typing this up I went to amazon and the breadmaker I wanted (panasonic) was half price, so I bought it. Thanks M! I've bought the SD-250, it doesn't have the raisin dispenser but I hate raisins anyway!
 

Woo! I'm glad I posted this. I might wind up getting this one as well - looking into it.

I'd love to be able to make bread without it, but I have a back problem that (when it flares up) reduces the function of my left arm and hand.  Add in the partial numbness in two fingers on that hand (due to said back issue), and kneading is out for me.  My bread machine enables me to have tasty pizza and bread whenever I want it.   

This. Because of my MS I can't justify using the energy it takes to knead dough by hand. I would simply never do it. When I'm baking I find just stirring becomes difficult and DH has to come and do it for me.

But my mom told me that her Paska bread (a Slovak Easter tradition) comes out better making the dough in the breadmaker and then baking it in the oven. So, it sounds like a good way for me!

 

I'd love to be able to make bread without it, but I have a back problem that (when it flares up) reduces the function of my left arm and hand.  Add in the partial numbness in two fingers on that hand (due to said back issue), and kneading is out for me.  My bread machine enables me to have tasty pizza and bread whenever I want it.   

Completely understand this. My RA, when its flaring, makes even basic every day tasks impossible.

I've also used the dough setting and put it in the oven.  It was great!  My favorite pizza crust recipe is Jay's Signature Pizza Crust at AllRecipes.com:
http://tinyurl.com/8sj3fo8

I'd never used a bread/crust recipe with brown sugar before, but this is great!  

After Hurricane Ike, bread-making supplies became part of my hurricane kit.  Even after we had power restored, it took weeks for many perishables to come into the area.  With the ingredients on hand, I can crank up the bread machine and have a loaf in as little as 1 hour.

Woo! I'm glad I posted this. I might wind up getting this one as well - looking into it.
This. Because of my MS I can't justify using the energy it takes to knead dough by hand. I would simply never do it. When I'm baking I find just stirring becomes difficult and DH has to come and do it for me.

But my mom told me that her Paska bread (a Slovak Easter tradition) comes out better making the dough in the breadmaker and then baking it in the oven. So, it sounds like a good way for me!

I have no such excuses, but I do work until 10-11pm most nights, and I'm out before 8am. I still want homemade bread that I can control what goes into it. I'm not so concerned about the nuances of the bread itself, I'll sacrifice some taste for time, as usual in my life.

Each to their own, in their own circumstance I guess

Hi PL!!! :*  It's me. We've had our bread machine for something like 5-6 years now - got it for DH at Christmas years ago (Panasonic is the way to go, ours would be an older model, obviously, & it's still going strong & we've used it a lot).

We hardly ever buy storebought bread. I make about two granary loaves a week (overnight, fresh bread in the morn, mmmm - you can put it on delayed timer), which is our bread for sandwiches & toast. I don't remember ever having breadtummy, whatever that may be, unless it's just the same tummy I carry around all the time (Pooh pot belly) in which case yes, lol!

DH uses the machine frequently to make pizza dough (later can post my BIL's Perfect Pizza Dough recipe which is what we use, with 0 or 00 flour). He also uses it for making other dough - naan, breadrolls, French stick & forget what all he's done before.

We use it a lot! It doesn't sit idle. Do it. You won't regret it - we love that we have homemade bread & at great time & effort savings, cos that's how we roll.

I don't remember ever having breadtummy, whatever that may be, unless it's just the same tummy I carry around all the time (Pooh pot belly) in which case yes, lol!

Haha! This elicited a giggle, and a strange look from the dog I'm petsitting.

Thanks for your input Mrs. R. I think we are probably going to order the same one CB did tonight! I think we would get a lot of use out of it... I love granary bread, so I'm glad that comes out well in the machine. And I'd love any recipes that you have.  

Here is the BIL's Perfect Pizza Crust:

350g OO Flour
2 tbsp semolina flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 packet instant yeast
1 tsp salt
1tsp honey
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
7ml of water

Place all the ingredients in the bread machine, using the order of ingredients generally recommended by the model you have (the Panasonic we have, it's yeast first on the bottom, then dry ingredients starting with flour, then the wet ingredients).  Use the dough or pizza setting which is usually about 45 minutes.

His recipe states it's for two pizzas, but we usually just roll it out & make one ginormous one --- can be thicker or thinner crust depending on how big you slap it out.

Oh & we use a pizza stone, so you get it really hot while you slap the dough out (put some more semolina on the work surface) & let it rest a few minutes.  Have your sauce & toppings all ready to go - then quickly slap that dough onto the hot stone, smear your sauce & toppings & cheese on...bake at a high temp for not very long.

**********************************

Our model Panasonic came with a booklet including recipes!  I'm not sure if they still do or not, but that's mostly what we use.  (If you don't get one, could make you a copy?)  My granary bread I usually do 1/2 granary flour and 1/2 wholemeal (roughly), and it turns out every time - provided we've carefully weighed & measured all the other ingredients.  I've done it so many times that the recipe is in my head, and it takes me only 5 minutes to chuck it all in the breadmaker & set it to be ready when we get up in the morn.

I have a couple other fancy-dancy breadmaker cookbooks that I've had since I lived in the US - but they are US recipes (cups & all) rather than UK, so we hardly ever use them.  Oh ours does have the raisin dispenser - which can be used for adding other stuff, like nuts or other additions (choc chips?) but those are easy enough to chuck in by hand if you're awake & can keep your eye on the machine if you're wanting to make a special loaf.  We're kinda boring though & tend to make the same go-to recipes most of the time, such that using our breakmaker is routine for us & we do use it a lot!

Haha! This elicited a giggle, and a strange look from the dog I'm petsitting.

I definitely have a big breadbelly!  or is it the wine...?