I want a bread maker but do I NEED one?

[ComradeJing]

As in title. I'm thinking about getting a bread maker and have my eye on the new Panasonic.

I want one but do I NEED one. Am a sahm with toddler and we eat bread/ toast every day.

[MrsJamin]

Definitely do it! I use mine at least once a week and have done for past 5 years. I love being able to make bread quickly on a timer the night before so we wake up to the smell of bread in the morning. It also makes great pizza dough so we have our favourite family meal homemade pizza once a fortnight, beats any bought shop brand IMHO! There's often people getting rid of theirs on freecycle/freegle if you want to try one out.

[4merlyknownasSHD]

You don't NEED one, as making bread by hand is not difficult and also very satisfying; kneading is a great stress-buster. That said, if you have a toddler, it is not helpful if you have hands covered in sticky dough just when he/she falls down the stairs or traps their fingers in the door, so a bread maker could have its uses for times like that.

I made a loaf yesterday, basically started at 6.30pm, spent 15 minutes on it then, 5 minutes on it at about 8.30pm and then popped it in the oven at 10.40, before taking it out at 11.30pm. That was with a fairly cold kitchen. With a warmer kitchen I could have had it finished by 9.30pm as it would have risen quicker. So, you see, it could be possible to do it by hand so long as you don't leave them by the stairs or doors from 6.30 to 6.45!

[TunipTheVegedude]

We use ours every day. You don't NEED one but they can improve your quality of life greatly if you like fresh bread. When ours breaks we will go straight out and get another.
Also with the price of bread having gone up more than the price of flour, they save you a fair bit of money.

[Jins]

I used to use mine every couple of days but I realised I was using it to make dough more often than to bake a loaf. I'm now trialling doing without it with a view to ebaying it in the new year

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

We use ours every day. It's great always have fresh bread, and you can get some flours with yummy extras.

[ComradeJing]

Thanks everyone.

My hand made bread is always great for toast but too heavy for sandwiches so was hoping a bread maker would help.

I may hold off until after Christmas and see how I go.

[lolalotta]

We have a Panasonic and LOVE it!!! It does make great pizza dough too! I can make bread by hand but didn't do it often enough...since we have bought the bread maker we don't buy shop bread any more. I love making the 50/50 wholemeal to white loaves. I hate to think of all the preservatives in shop bread.
It is fantastic for picnics, if you are in for a sunny weekend it's nice to know you can just get a loaf on regardless of how busy you are for done yummy fresh sandwiches!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

dunno yet.

we've just bought the panasonic one that has extra fab reviews everywhere.
2501wxc as our present from santa.

we haven't used it yet.

google reviews and you'll see what i mean.

[noisytoys]

I had one a few years ago. It was fab. I think it's about time I got another one

[Roseformeplease]

Love, love,love mine. You have to, in my opinion, make a commitment not to buy bread. We have lots of space so it is out all the time and not in a cupboard which helps as well.

[lolalotta]

We keep our on the worktop too and always make sure we have flour/ sachets of yeast in stock!!! Makes great bread for toasties too!!!!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

i know what you mean - when my kenwood chef was in a cupboard, i hardly ever used it.
it lives on the counter nowadays and we use it all the time (at least 2ce a week for various things)

[TunipTheVegedude]

Ours has a special shelf with all the ingredients to hand, so when you're making it you're not looking for things.
Also, when you do it daily you remember the recipes so you don't have to look anything up.

[lolalotta]

Just put a loaf on now for toast in the morning... I literally takes 3 minutes to weight the ingredients out and programme the machine!
BTW, we use the Waitrose extra-strong Canadian flour, it makes extra big loaves!!!!

[axure]

Mine has been sitting in the cupboard for a fair few years, I keep thinking I'll start making lovely home made bread to go with home made soup, but it never happens. Reading about you ladies who regularly use yours has encouraged me to stop being such a lazy mare.

[Dollydowser]

We had a Panasonic for christmas last year, my husband makes bread in it every day or 2, the children love it and its great for sandwiches.