Bread machines - question from total novice

[TwoInTheMourning]

I have never made my own bread, manually or with a maker. I am now thinking of getting my 10 YO DS his own bread machine. I have had a quick look online for recipes and they all have sugar. Is this normal?

[wowfudge]

Hi there - yes it is: you need something to feed the yeast. If you make bread by hand, you normally need sugar or honey or something else to feed the yeast and get it going.

[dexter73]

You don't have to put sugar in your bread. I have left it out before and it has turned out fine.

[SassyCandyCane]

Whats wrong with sugar?

[comeagainforbigfudge]

I don't think I've ever put sugar in bread. Unless it was banana bread!

I guess it depends on the quantity used. If it's a teaspoon full with 500g flour it's a tiny amount really. Iyswim

I have a bread machine that's I've yet to use (donated to me by mil) might do that tomorrow ??

A quick bread to try with your ds is a soda bread. I use Paul Hollywood's recipe. It's on BBC food. So quick and easy and a wee bitty messy (hands in and stir) if that appeals to your ds but no kneading. And always tastes good imo

[woodychip]

Yes, but it's only one teaspoon in a whole loaf. Flour, yeast, marg or butter, salt and sugar. Why your ds? Does he like making bread?

[TwoInTheMourning]

Thank you all. Why my DS? Well, he's a bread eating machine. I'd thought he'd like to experiment with different ingredients. Silly idea you think? I guess the sugar content is not that bad really.

[wowfudge]

You need more salt than sugar - and don't be tempted to leave the salt out either as the bread has a weird, empty flavour if it's missing. Again, with the volume of flour it isn't much.

[comeagainforbigfudge]

Not silly at all! But I would maybe start just baking bread with him first then if he's interested get a bm machine for his birthday. And I say that because I've had the bm machine for a couple of months and not used it yet!! Wouldn't want you to waste money!

I've been off baking since I fell pregnant but I find it so therapeutic and fresh bread is addictive!! Good luck x

[PacificDogwood]

No, you don't need sugar.

Or milk powder as I found in a lot of recipes.

The simplest of recipes is:
500g strong flour
350ml warm water (my bread machine demands the water goes in first)
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of yeast

That's all.

I add a bit of olive oil and some seeds etc, but you don't need to at all.
And I keep changing what flours I use so results can be interesting . But I am about 6 years in to making my own bread and have never looked back.

[TwoInTheMourning]

Thank you again everyone. Pacific, what is 'strong flour'?

[Hakluyt]

I wouldn't get him a bread machine. I would get him a book called Brilliant Bread by James Morton instead. The bread is soooo much better and it's just as simple.

Absolutely bomb proof, really easy recipes -and some really tricky ones for when he gets confident- and very engagingly written. And some very pretty pictures of the author to cheer up mum as well!

[Rascalls3]

Strong flour is a type of flour used in bread making. It is with all the other flours in the supermarket.

[wowfudge]

Strong flour has a higher gluten content so gives better results when making bread. Don't use it for things like pastry though - it will be tough as old boots.

[Cedar03]

I have a bread maker and sugar is normally used in the recipes. I use the recipes that come with the maker and am nervous about changing the recipes because you can't see what the bread is doing as you're making it.

When I make bread by hand some recipes use it, others don't.

Breadmakers are useful things but making by hand is more fun for children. My daughter (7) likes to help to knead the dough and to see the bread rise. You miss all that out when it's made it in the breadmaker.

[Hakluyt]

But I do think worrying about a teaspoon of sugar in a whole loaf of bread is a liiiiiiiiiitle, how can I put this? precious..........

[PacificDogwood]

Here's some useful information on different flour types

My experience is that it is really easy to mix and match different flours and always get a good result except when you forget to put the yeast in

Making bread by hand is very easy but involves more 'looking after' the rising dough and then the oven, than bunging all ingredients in to the bread machine, switching it on and walking away .

It all depends what you want for your DS.

[PacificDogwood]

I agree a little bit of sugar will not do anybody any harm, but it is not required at all.
The yeast needs carbohydrates to work with and they are supplied in the flour.

[goshhhhhh]

Never use sugar unless for enriched dough. Also prefer making by hand. Do have a bread machine but never use it. Lost a mini paddle I think & never replaced as the results weren't as good. I wouldn't buy a machine if he wants to learn. Do by hand. My small people are starting to make bread & love it.

[cookiefiend]

Also look in the packets of bread you buy- loads of sugar, fat and salt. Also weird sounding chemically ingredients. If you make it yourself you need a little sugar, but you can reduce fat and self and eliminate the weird shit that makes bread stay soft and not go mouldy for a week.

We use our BM regularly- yes making bread by hand is even better, but we don't always have time, BM takes about three minutes to weigh out the ingredients and you are done.