breadmakers...TOP TIP

[Seasider]

Do not leave the kneading blade out of the machine when making bread.

I did yesterday and ended up with a half baked unmixed cake

I won't do that again!!

[oggsfrog]

I've done that twice now.
Another top tip is to not forget to put the water in .

[StealthPolarBear]

Another top tip is it doesn't bake much bread when it's in a bin bag in the spare room

[Seasider]

Thank you. I feel less of an imbecile now!

[jalopy]

Remember to add the salt.

[mogs0]

My kneading blade is stuck to the bottom of mine so no chance of me forgetting to put it in!!

[Seasider]

Mogs! I have that joy to come no doubt.

Made some with blade yesterday (and water and salt)!

Is delicious.

[alexw]

Try half and half white/brown flour on brown recipe - it's really light.

[finknottle]

My kneading blade is in our kitchen compost bin in the garden. Haven't used breadmaker for months as had a run of flat rock-hard square-frisby "loaves". Dodgy yeast/wrong temp/dunno. Kept throwing them out, went to start again this week & found I must have thrown last one out with kneading blade still inside...

[mogs0]

Ooops!! The bread definitely turns out better with the blade!!

[Caz10]

i have on various occasions:

-forgotten the water = very hard baked dough

• forgotten the yeast = very flat hard brick type thing
  
  
• forgotten to press start = congealed mess 14hrs later when I remember
  
  On other occasions my bread is LOVELY!

[Seasider]

I will try the half and half loaf soon. Sounds good.

Finkn, can you get the manufacturer's to send you another blade?

[finknottle]

Prompted by this thread, I had a look at their website & they only charge a few euros for a replacement but I was distinctly underwhelmed by my efforts, even the successful ones before frisby time. So shall return for help

[stealthsquiggle]

Our old (very old) one kneaded itself off the worksurface onto the floor thereby committing suicide (hinges smashed).

I fished the dough out of it and stuck it in the oven

New one is safely installed at the back of the worksurface, and is far better in all possible ways.

[Seasider]

Moving back breadmaker next time I make bread, thanks for that!!

[hotmama]

I have found putting a bit of flour in first before putting the yeast in seems to give better loaves than putting the yeast in first and all the flour on top!

Have found that half and half loaves seem the best.

[Anchovy]

My "top tips for breadmakers book" actually says that all wholemeal is too heavy and recommends you only ever do half and half.

Have to say we love ours. Was given to us by my mother who had been given it and had it hanging around unused for months. We now use it 2-3 times a week - all bread for toast is homemade (I use bought stuff for sandwiches); we make a brioche bread at the weekends and also dough for pizza bases, pittas or naan bread.

Once you get used to it it takes about 6 mins to load. We do it on timer so we have fresh bread smells in the morning - yum.

DH forgot the water once and the smell was a bit alarming! My top tip also is that some on the larger recipes may be too big for your particular breadmaker .