breadmaker

[obsessive24]

Anyone own a breadmaker? Do you use it often and feel it's good value for money? How much prep work is required?

I'm in love with the idea of constantly having fresh baked bread but I don't know if I'd ever be bothered to make bread if it requires a lot of preparation.

Comments

[mareen]

I don't own one, but my parents did. I've got two brothers and they eat too much bread...

Anyway, you have to remember that I'm German and we have different bread from yours, but from my experience all you have to do is put the bread mix (I guess that's what you have, too?) in the breadmaker and add some water. I remember that certain bread mixes needed extra yeast.
But that's all the preparation you need. Just turn on the breadmaker and wait until it's done.
The length of time the bread needs to be done is the one thing you have to keep in mind. In a worst case scenario, it takes around 3 hours to bake, so you have to do some beforehand planning or remember to program the breadmaker.

All in all though I always loved the breadmaker. And it was much, much cheaper for us back at home. Fresh bread from the bakery is pretty expensive here, around 3 Euros per bread.

I've been thinking about buying a breadmaker myself.

[obsessive24]

Hmm, I haven't looked yet, but I assume we have bread mix for sale. I was going to try and make my own from scratch, but I guess it just depends on what's available and not too expensive, etc. The timing thing sounds like a pain because the model I'm currently looking at hasn't got a timer, so I can't set it before going to bed. Decisions, decisions. I'm definitely leaning toward buying one though.

[cathexys]

I have had one for a while and when I was making my own bread it was easy. I'd put in the ingrediences (I tried out different breads, but the simplest was flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar with kernels, different flours, etc creating more complex ones).

Now I don't like the soft sides toast bread that's common in the US and that my bread maker made. So i'd make dough only and then let it rise one last time and bake it. It still saved me quite a bit of work. I'm pretty sure more sophisticated models bake better crusts too.

[cathexys]

I forgot oil :) And i remembered bc i just pulled the thing out again, and my house smells nicely of baked bread right now :)

[obsessive24]

Jealous of your house smell! :D I'm greatly heartened by this apparent ease and definitely thinking of getting one now. Sigh. I'm just such a sucker for sundried tomato bread, especially.

[morgandawn]

I'd start by trying the no mix/no kneading bread recipes to see if you like home made bread.
http://www.breadtopia.com/basic-no-knead-method/

[blacksquirrel]

I second this! If you don't have one, I'd suggest considering putting the bread machine money into a nice cast iron pan with a lid - it's much more durable and versatile than a bread machine, and doesn't take up counter or storage space, but it will also produce bread with a much nicer crust. I've been doing the no knead bread almost weekly for a couple years now because it's so easy, requires so little work or skill, and yet produces a really beautiful, tasty product.

Here's a link to the recipe I like, with the caveat that I always use 2 teaspoons of salt and add a tablespoon of sugar (or honey), and maybe some gluten if I'm doing whole wheat .. but maybe not - it's pretty foolproof, as long as you use the longer rise times. I've also been experimenting with coating the dishcloth and dough in oatmeal for the second rise, and really liking that.

[obsessive24]

Oh man, you may not think so for yourself, but that sounds totally too complicated for me! I fall much more into the "add water, turn on machine" cooking camp. ;D

[blacksquirrel]

Ah, np. In my experience the only thing you get from a bread machine that you don't get from this recipe is that the machine stirs the initial ingredients together - but it often does so poorly, leaving bits of flour in the corners. So, totally up to your comfort level, but I promise this is almost as easy as it gets! (especially after the first time)

[oschun]

It doesn’t take a lot of prep work and it’s great to have the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the house. The only thing I’m bored with is the big square shape of most breadmakers, which might sound silly, but I know a lot of other people who say the same thing. Size and shape definitely matter in a slice of bread! :)

[obsessive24]

Heeee, I sort of know what you mean, we had a friend who used to make bread and she'd make us these huge oblong sandwiches. I found them cute, but probably not if all my bread came out that way! :D

[obsessive24]

I'm looking at a small bread maker that seems to make small loaves for two people and not take up much space, which is quite an attractive notion. The texture and taste, though, I don't really have a basis of comparison. I'm almost tempted to just buy a cheaper one and test it out and see if I do end up liking it. Mostly I just like the idea of making my own food as long as it doesn't take too much work. :D