What about a bread maker?

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

We really don't like shop bread and make a lot of our own, in an oil-fired range which also heats the water. Trouble is, in the summer we don't use the hot water in the central heating or baths, so thinking I can't justify using the oil just to make bread. Wondering of anyone had ideas about which would be most economical; oil-fuelled oven, electric bread-maker from ebay or posh-shop good bread at up to £2 a loaf?

People often say, 'My bread cost pence for the ingredients' but does that include the fuel?

I would imagine the breadmaker works out cheaper, my panasonic is 500w or thereabouts and really only uses full power to bake for 45ish mins.

So on my tariff 500w for 45 mins would be around 5p, if electric is 11p a unit all day. Then another 2-3p for mixing and proving.

I mean one cycle on my dishwasher only uses 1kw so I dont see the breadmaker using more.

Panasonic make the best ones, homemade walnut bread is lovely. Aldi do cheap walnuts.

Can I hijack please? How much does it cost to actually make the loaf, ingredients-wise?

What about getting a mini electric oven. They aren't a lot bigger than a bread maker. A bread maker is fine if you only plan to make bread, but the oven would let you do other baking and cooking without needing to use your range.

I don't know how much the ingredients cost to make a loaf of bread (haven't worked it out) but way less than £1 a loaf, I would imagine. Problem is - it's so nice, we eat a lot more of it!

A bag of white bread flour is 60p in Lidl. Thats enough for 3 loaves.

Yeast 6 sachets for about 80p. Teaspoon and a half for each large loaf.

Water, not worth working out. Water is very cheap really and you only use 150ml max.

Then it's just veg oil or butter and salt and sugar.

But, if you want to do ciabatta 00 flour is needed and this costs more but ciabatta is so expensive it still works out cheaper.

You can buy flour in bulk but you need a bug proof container to keep it in. Amazon do flour.

Sounds worth it then. I'd love one.

You have to get the panasonic ones though, I have the previous model to this one, It's never let me down.

I love Panasonic. I have a Panasonic convection microwave. It does perfect roast chicken, and oven chips better than in the oven.

Thanks for the link

I've got a Panasonic, I would be grateful for some foolproof bread recipes (sorry to hijack)