Page 3 | It costs more to make your own bread?

soupyspoon · 2025-09-02T05:56:54+00:00

Im not sure if this is true and there are different ways of making bread which might be cheaper. I use an oven and a 'no knead' method which means putting the oven on for a very long time. I think this is costing me more than a loaf of bread might do? Or at least the same Oven goes on for 40 mins at 240 degrees, then bread goes in for about the same time, perhaps a little more. So nearly 1.5hrs of really high heat. The ingredients probably dont cost that much, I get the flour and yeast in Aldi. I think in a breadmaker it must be cheap as chips Or if you only had the oven on a shorter time for properly made bread.

Lifebeganat50 · 02/09/2025 08:15

I make 6-8 sourdough loaves a week and worked out the cost at around £1 a loaf (including electricity). I’d be at least £4 a loaf for the equivalent I.e. not from a supermarket

IDreamOfElectricSheep · 02/09/2025 08:09

CosyMintFish · 02/09/2025 07:51

If you hate kneading you can do a soda bread with just 40 mins baking. Mix flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda in one bowl. Mix milk and buttermilk in other bowl. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix with a round bladed knife, plop onto floured surface, make a ball, stick on baking tray, score, bake,

I did this yesterday as I realised we’d ran out of bread, I was wfh and had time to quickly stir this up and bake before dcs got up.
So much better than shop bought. I keep forgetting how easy it is and end up buying bread when I do the supermarket shop.

Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 08:07

myplace · 02/09/2025 07:53

You may be able to speed up the preheat by putting a kettle full of boiling water in the Dutch oven. Pour it out when the sides get warm, then into the oven already warmed.

That is a brilliant idea thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 08:06

northernballer · 02/09/2025 07:47

Mary Berry does a farmhouse loaf that only needs 45 mins in the oven, and 30 of those are on 180.

I agree fresh bread tastes so much better!

I think that is probably properly kneaded bread though isnt it. I cant do all that.

I think my OH showed me an article in the Guardian that set all this off, I didnt even realise you can make bread without kneading it unless it was soda bread, IU made that many years ago but I didnt like the texture or taste. Shame as its nice and easy

OP posts:

UK2HK · 02/09/2025 08:04

Gas
Ingredients
Travelling to purchase ingredients
Transportation costs
Potential wate of excess ingredients

Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 08:03

Oriunda · 02/09/2025 07:44

So you're using a Dutch oven, then? You definitely don't need to pre-heat for 40 minutes!!

I make my own sourdough. Ingredients just flour, water and salt (no yeast). The 'no-knead' principle just means the stretch and fold method.

My oven gets heated for 15 mins tops at 220. Then after initial 20 mins with lid on, down to 200.

No bread gets wasted. I freeze left over bits and grind them down for breadcrumbs for breaded chicken etc.

Show quote history

I might try for less time then, the woman I was watching on youtube, quite a number of different people actually, had their pots in for a long time while the oven heated up.

The bread doesnt wasted here either.

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Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 08:00

ShredderQueen · 02/09/2025 07:25

I have just started making sourdough.

Tried one loaf in the airfryer, which came out OK.

Have not tried it yet, but when reading about it down the deep obsessive rabbit warren I have found myself in you can cook it in the slow cooker..I may have to try this too, as our oven is a range (think aga) so when it is on it heats the whole house!

Edited

Oh no, what have you done to me now!!!

Im going to have to investigate that arent I, the slow cooker option

Only last night I was reading about the airfryer, I have an airfryer oven, not a tiny airfryer so I want to experiment with that because thats bound to be cheaper to run but its too small for the dutch oven, it wont fit in

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AnneLovesGilbert · 02/09/2025 07:59

I make a couple/few loaves a week. I have a dough hook in my mixer which saves time and no extra kneading. I do two loaves at a time, turn the oven on to 200 about 5 mins before putting them in and it’s on for half an hour. It’s quick, cheap, tastes better, healthier, I use the same recipe for loaves, rolls, plaits, pittas.

Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 07:58

GiantTeddyIsTired · 02/09/2025 07:24

Yes, I might just be spoiled, my oven gets up to temperature fast.

I do cook my turkeys hot and fast at Christmas and it's the best way, I'll give it a go for bread and see how different it comes out (I have teen boys, we get through a lot of bread, one of us bakes a 500g loaf most days)

And this is a stupid question, how do I check the temperature of my oven?

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Whereismyjoiedevivre · 02/09/2025 07:58

Mymiddlenameiscynic · 02/09/2025 07:14

Amazing homemade bread from breadmaker - 5/6 ingredients: flour; water; butter; yeast; salt and possibly sugar.
Now look at the ingredients list on a cheap loaf of bread…

Mine has five: flour, water, yeast, olive oil, salt. Made in breadmaker for less than a quid. Tastes delicious!

Original poster

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 07:56

ScaryM0nster · 02/09/2025 07:23

2 hours of oven time is a max of 4kWhrs and realistically probably half that. So less £1 of electricity.

Plus ingredients, you’re less than £2.

Thats reassuring

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Bikergran · 02/09/2025 07:56

Then don't use a no-knead method, so your oven isn't on as long, and make several loaves at a time, and freeze them. It tastes just as good, just I find sometimes the crust separates a bit after thawing out. Also big bread rolls freeze well. And buy better flour, say from a mill or online, the flavour difference is amazing.

WingBingo · 02/09/2025 07:54

Top tip I read on here years ago. You can usually get fresh yeast from the bakery in supermarkets, just ask.

Usually free, or a nominal charge.

myplace · 02/09/2025 07:53

You may be able to speed up the preheat by putting a kettle full of boiling water in the Dutch oven. Pour it out when the sides get warm, then into the oven already warmed.

CosyMintFish · 02/09/2025 07:51

If you hate kneading you can do a soda bread with just 40 mins baking. Mix flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda in one bowl. Mix milk and buttermilk in other bowl. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix with a round bladed knife, plop onto floured surface, make a ball, stick on baking tray, score, bake,

northernballer · 02/09/2025 07:47

Mary Berry does a farmhouse loaf that only needs 45 mins in the oven, and 30 of those are on 180.

I agree fresh bread tastes so much better!

Oriunda · 02/09/2025 07:44

soupyspoon · 02/09/2025 07:15

Its 'no knead'

No need to thank me!!!

This is what I do, not sure if this is 'right'

3 cups of flour, 1/4 tsp of aldi instant yeast, 1.5 tsp salt, 1.5 cups of water

Mix it round in a bowl, put a lid on, leave it for 12 - 18 hours

I find best results at the moment with 12 hours but that might be because its summer and slightly warmer

Then do a strange fold thing, maybe once, maybe twice during that time. I cant describe that very well, its on youtube

Then get a cast iron casserole dish with a lid. Put the oven on for 240 with the pot in it, for 40 mins. Get the pot out while roasting, be very careful. Plop your dough out of the bowl into the pot. Quickly put the lid on, get it back in the oven, say 30-40 mins. Then take the lid off, then another 5-10 mins

You get used to what sort of timings you like and what sort of colour

Ive experimented with a mixture of bread flour, plain flour, spelt flour, wholemeal bread flour. Ive added spices and nuts etc over time. Its hit and miss. The texture is not always the same but the flavour is always out of this world which apparently is due to the long rise.

Show quote history

So you're using a Dutch oven, then? You definitely don't need to pre-heat for 40 minutes!!

I make my own sourdough. Ingredients just flour, water and salt (no yeast). The 'no-knead' principle just means the stretch and fold method.

My oven gets heated for 15 mins tops at 220. Then after initial 20 mins with lid on, down to 200.

No bread gets wasted. I freeze left over bits and grind them down for breadcrumbs for breaded chicken etc.

squashyhat · 02/09/2025 07:43

My bread maker was not cheap, but the cost per use is minimal and after a year of bread making I must be breaking even when compared to buying medium quality supermarket loaves.

verycloakanddaggers · 02/09/2025 07:33

Agree with the others - you are comparing two entirely different products. The cost of a proper loaf is about £4 or £5.

Plus most people who make bread put multiple loaves in at once.

Meadowfinch · 02/09/2025 07:29

I buy a sack of flour from my local mill 16kg for £22 including postage That gives me enough for 24 large loaves so 92p/loaf.

A pinch of salt, a teaspoon of sugar, a tablespoon of oil and two teaspoons of dried yeast brings it to £1. Then 45 mins in the oven costs about 20p

£1.20 for a large loaf, compared with £2 for Waitrose Heyford before they stopped making it, or our local bakery that charges £4.50 😮

idontknowhowtodreamyourdreams · 02/09/2025 07:25

Mymiddlenameiscynic · 02/09/2025 07:14

Amazing homemade bread from breadmaker - 5/6 ingredients: flour; water; butter; yeast; salt and possibly sugar.
Now look at the ingredients list on a cheap loaf of bread…

@Mymiddlenameiscynic you have given me the nudge I need to get back into the habit of making my own bread again. You're bang on. Thanks.

GiantTeddyIsTired · 02/09/2025 07:25

I do recommend getting some fancy flour at some point - we buy buy the 20kg sack as we eat so much, but there must be places that sell smaller bags. Better flour makes a difference.

Elektra1 · 02/09/2025 07:25

I also make sourdough sometimes and that is cheap to make but a loaf from Gail’s is about £6. It does take a long time to make a sourdough loaf though as you start the day before you bake it

ShredderQueen · 02/09/2025 07:25

I have just started making sourdough.

Tried one loaf in the airfryer, which came out OK.

Have not tried it yet, but when reading about it down the deep obsessive rabbit warren I have found myself in you can cook it in the slow cooker..I may have to try this too, as our oven is a range (think aga) so when it is on it heats the whole house!

GiantTeddyIsTired · 02/09/2025 07:24

Yes, I might just be spoiled, my oven gets up to temperature fast.

I do cook my turkeys hot and fast at Christmas and it's the best way, I'll give it a go for bread and see how different it comes out (I have teen boys, we get through a lot of bread, one of us bakes a 500g loaf most days)