Economy of using a breadmaker

[GothMummy]

Hi there
Does anyone know how much electricity it costs to use a bread maker, or is it more economical to bake in the oven (gas oven)?

I am making all our bread and yes, we are saving money, but its taking up every evening after work and sometimes I would long to sling everything in the breadmaker and walk away from it. Not, however, if it defeats the object of making the bread in the first place (economy).

thanks!

Break-making novices here. The ILs have kindly bought us one for Christmas. Where does everyone get their supplies from? Is it possible buy in bulk from anywhere? And does anyone use the prepared bread mixes from the supermarket? Are they any good.

As previously mentioned the Dove's farm yeast is good (Lakeland) or decent supermarket. If you have cash and carry access you could probably get bulk bag of flour, I get mine in 16kg bag from nearest independent mill that sell at local farmers market (order beforehand and pick up at mkt). Needs to be kept sealed in cool dark place though.

Never had a decent result from bread mix (think "brick") but I could be jinxed as others have no problems! You can only try happy baking.

Thank you Darkbeforedawn, I you your farmers' market but will seek out bulk bags.

I put the electricity meter on my Panasonic last night. Took 0.45kWh on the wholemeal cycle. Typically a unit of electricity is 10-16p so it's say 6p to bake each loaf. And no freezer space needed as with batch baking.

Heated, the miller (really) was very concerned I should store the flour properly, I got a 25kg bag the first time (was about £20 for organic wholemeal). She insisted I get a new, clean, dustbin with a tightfitting lid (mouseproof) and keep it in the shed - if you think about it, it's about 4months supply of flour.

"It must be more efficient than heating up an entire oven"

I'm not sure about this. It may well be, but remember it runs on electricity which costs more per kWh than gas and that the breadmaker is on for a longer time (so maybe greater heat loss?) and it is kneading and warming the dough during 'prooving' as well as providing heat to cook the loaf (which is all the oven will do). Additionally an oven may be used to cook more than one loaf at a time and/or other things as well at the same time for little additional cost. My gas costs 3.675p per kWh which is more than 4x cheaper than electricity for the same amount of 'heating'.

I think the only way of checking is to read the gas meter before and after baking a loaf (be sure there is no other demand on the gas in that time) and converting the reading to kWh using the same formula they use on your gas bill.

Would be an interesting result re the gas oven.

Gothmummy do you want a s/h breadmaker? I have just upgraded mine as birthday present to myself, but it has been v reliable for last 5 years (kenwood BM200). TBH the wholemeal bread was sometimes a bit heavy but I should probably have used 25% white.

It is just getting noisy and I suspect the pan has slight leak. I reckon you could get over it by putting water on top of flour rather than underneath, or not using delay timer. Would be FFP unless you are E. Midlands could probably pickup/drop-off. CAT me if you are interested, it was only destined for Freecycle!

Dark before Dawn- thank you very much for your kind offer - I have just been offered one by someone at work but thank you very much.

And no... have never made marmalade but I do make Jam and chutney!

I did decide finally to get a breadmaker as last night we ended up paying over £1 for bread from our "corner shop". White sliced, disgusting bread... which DH said smelled of petrol and DS refused to eat. All because I ran out of time yesterday to bake bread.. (was clearing up after massive halloween party!).

Snorkie - thank you for the info on how much energy it uses etc. I really had no idea. If you had told me it cost a £1 to bake a loaf I would have believed you! I do appreciate the time you took to work that out and come back here to post.

Thanks again everyone

I think you can save quite a bit, and it also always smells great when you bake your own bread

I have used a breadmaker for years-bung ingredients in and go and do something else!
I use a french bread setting on mine -gives it a lovely chewy crust.

My DC love it and I also use it to make pizza dough,hotcross buns and sweet rolls which my DC have for breakfast.

The cost of this versus using oven is irrelevant to me its the convenience of being able to chuck it all in and do something else . I did do it by hand at one time but all that kneading really makes your arms ache !

I understand that the top bread makers are the Panasonic 254/255. Head and shoulders over anything else. Thinking of getting one myself as I've got a whack of Amazon credit available.

This thread goes back for months. Mil has breadmaker but their homemade bread is not too nice, lacking in substance really airy!

Is this normal because if it is I don't think any point in buying one cos DH doesn't like it!

I saw a digital bread maker today in Asda on sale for Easter from 49 pound to 12.20 I bought it straight baway don't know how to use them but I'm goin to try making a loaf on weekend
😀