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Original poster

Bread Makers

39 replies

Sonnet · 04/09/2003 09:36

I have longed for a bread maker for a while...and I've finally decided to treat myself.
The problem? - well I'm totally confused by all the makes on the market and the differing prices - Can any mumsnetters recommend one??
Many thanks..

This thread is very old now, but if you’re here looking for info on the latest bread machines, we’ve recently updated our best bread maker page with plenty of high-quality options recommended by Mumsnet users and industry experts. We hope it’s useful.
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OP posts:
Janstar · 04/09/2003 09:40

I've had one for two years and use it every day. It's getting a bit worn out now. We particularly like the results when you make the dough in the machine and bake it in the traditional way.

When I get my next one I will go for one that bakes in the traditional shape (the one I have bakes upright loaves) and with a larger capacity.

I don't know if there are any makes with pans you can put in the dishwasher, but if there are I would go for that too.

Bobsmum · 04/09/2003 09:56

Sonnet - they are fab!! i bought dh one for his 30th birthday in April and we've not bought a loaf since.

We have the Panasonic SD 253 which was recommended by a friend. It's got an automatic dispenser for nuts/raisins etc. and various other gadgets. It comes with a pretty comprehensive recipe book for bread/ciabatta/pizza dough/fruit loaves etc etc. We're working our way through it slowly and every loaf has been delicious.

The best bit is the timer. You literally throw everything into the machine last thing at night, set the timer for when you want your loaf and you wake up to the smell of fresh bread - it's amazing - best gadget we've ever owned and we are the gadget family

There are 3 sizes of loaves in ours and it looks pretty slimline from the outside. I got mine on a special internet only deal from Currys which was really good.

Once you've decided on a model, do a search on Kelkoo for the cheapest deal - I found the prices varied enormously - up to £50 difference.

TalkingTree · 04/09/2003 10:08

I've had one for years, a Panansonic, and it is great. I use it most days for bread and once or twice a week for things like banana bread or maltloaf.

Like Janstar's, it does upright loaves, but I just slice them sideways. Also, it came with a warning that the pan does not go in the dishwasher, but mine has been in daily for about 5 years, with no ill effects.

If there was one improvement I'd make it would be that you didn't have to add raisins, chocolate chips etc after an hour or so (for raisin bread etc). I'm often out of the room at the time, forget, and we end up with raisin bread without the raisins. You should be able to put everything in at the beginning. Maybe newer models already do this, mine is rather old.

oliveoil · 04/09/2003 10:10

This is making me very hungry, hmmmmmmmm fresh bread ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

TalkingTree · 04/09/2003 10:10

Our posts crossed, Bobsmum. Autumatic raisin dispensers are here, Hurray!

Original poster
Sonnet · 04/09/2003 10:19

Thanks everyone....( deff look for the automatic rasin dispenser thingy as LOL at Talkingtrees Rasin Bread without rasins.

I knew all you mumsnetters wouldn't let me down!!

OP posts:
spikeycat · 05/09/2003 08:06

I've got one but never been able to make nice bread in it - the stirer thing that does the dough isn't removable and therefore you have a big hole in the bottom when you take the loaf out.

I was wondering if I using the wrong yeast or flour? Any tips appreciated as it is sitting in a cupboard gathering dust and has been for the past 6 months

Janstar · 05/09/2003 08:59

Mine makes a hole in the loaf too - I don't know if all models do or not. But it doesn't really matter, does it? It's only cosmetic. What goes wrong with your bread? If I knew that I might be able to suggest a possible solution.

Bobsmum · 05/09/2003 09:21

The paddle will definitely make a bit of a mark on the bottom of the loaf, but I really don't think there's any alternative.
As for flour and yeast, we use the ones that actually say "ideal for bread machines" on the pack. We weren't too impressed with Allinson; it was a bit dry. Hovis is good, but Carrs are the best by miles. We use Hovis fast acting yeast -little sachets in green box.
Lakeland do ready made mixes of more exotic breads - here

TalkingTree · 05/09/2003 09:24

So does mine, but its quite a little hole, and the children like the slice with the hole in! The stirrer thing is removable, though.

spikeycat · 05/09/2003 10:33

it just tastes wierd I have got instant dired milk, allinson traditional dried active yeast and allinson bread flour. Maybe is the allinsons?

spikeycat · 05/09/2003 10:36

Can anyone give me a recipee and telling me what to buy to make a nice loaf? prett please, I promise to report back how it goes. For now I am going to the bakery up the road...

Janstar · 05/09/2003 10:38

It does taste different from shop bought bread - so do most homemade things. I experimented with different recipes and found the recipe for French bread the best.

Have you tried making dough in the machine then baking it in the oven? Then you can watch it rise and judge the moment when it should be baked. It comes out crisper-crusted but much lighter than machine-baked.

SamboM · 05/09/2003 10:40

I tried making it on holiday in Wales this year, the cottage we were staying in had one. I didn't think much of the bread really. The texture was a bit odd and it was too chewy.

Janstar · 05/09/2003 10:42

French Bread

1 1/2 cups water
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 cups strong flour
2 tsp yeast

I use 1/2 white and 1/2 brown flour but all white is delicious too.

Janstar · 05/09/2003 10:47

SamboM, ours was like that when we first used it, but like any new kitchen gadget you faff around with it until you work out how to get the result you want. I use the recipe below and get the machine to mix it, then bake it in the oven. It makes beautiful bread, in a loaf or in rolls. We also use our machine to make pizza dough, plain cakes and all sorts of special breads when we have parties.

It's great for school fetes and stuff. It takes most of the effort out of making your contribution. A couple of loaves of raisin bread (preferably with raisins ) always sells well.

SamboM · 05/09/2003 10:48

Janstar I guessed that that would be the case. Have thought about getting one but have nowhere to put it in already gadget infested kitchen!

Twink · 05/09/2003 12:16

I love my Kenwood BM200, although I've seen appalling reviews of it. It's used about 10 times a week and once I started measuring accurately it's never let me down (except when I forget the yeast..)

Spikeycat, my everyday recipe is:

1 egg broken into the measuring cup, which is then topped up with water to 210ml line

1 tbsp olive oil
350g Doves Farm Malthouse flour
1.5 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp yeast (I use Dove's Farm, comes in orange pack)

I bake it on the regular white bread setting NOT wholemeal and it's fab.

PS Pattern arrived yet ?

spikeycat · 05/09/2003 12:40

yes twink, thank you so so much. I am moving next week so have not started making it yet. I will maek sure i return it to you.

I am making janstars bread as we speak!! Had to get the breadmaker off of the top of the fridge, I am such a domestic slut is was covered in sticky dust - yuk!

spikeycat · 05/09/2003 17:47

Janstar, same result - it looked like it had risen and then sunk again as there was a higher crust that was soooo thin it snapped off. I think it must be the flour and the yeast.

House smells nice but no bread

Original poster
Sonnet · 05/09/2003 18:16

I've just borrowed one form a friend who has never used it. It is a couple of years old. The manugfacturer is LG ( Never heard of it!)
Anyway I'm going to read up about it tonight and am all set for tomorrow....
I'll let you know how it goes - hole as well!

OP posts:
Janstar · 05/09/2003 18:50

It sounds to me as if it's not mixing correctly.

Oakmaiden · 06/09/2003 12:26

My breadmaker has sadly broken recently - the non stick pan is no longer strictly speaking non stick - and a new pan will cost pretty much as much as the whole thing cost me originally (it was a budget buy!). So, I have decided to buy a new one, and upgrade, and having spent a long time searching the internet, decided that the advice given here seems to be generally agreed with - that the Panasonic SD253 is currently by far the best breadmaker around.

So I thought, damn the expense, and I have ordered one. But found quite a bargain, so thought I would share it with sonnet, if she is still looking to buy. EmpireDirect have the Panasonic for £80-87, plus £7-99 p&p. Delivery is estimated to take 3 working days (so roll on Wednesday and my new Breadmaker!)

wibblewobble · 06/09/2003 13:55

Have often wondered apart from taste what are the advantages to having a breadmaker could you enlighten me?
Isn't it more expensive than shop bought bread?
Aren't the mixes you have to buy pricey and have things in like shop bought bread?

Oakmaiden · 06/09/2003 14:17

Well, you don't need to buy mixes - just flour and yeast and stuff. The mixes are expensive. I'm not sure how much money it saves - but it does save some. One of the reviews I read on the Panasonic estimated that it cost about 30p to make a loaf of bread in it. to be honest the reasons i use it are that I think it saves me money, even though it is not a lot cheaper than supermarket bread, because I get fresh bread every day without having to go to the shops - and I find once I go to the supermarket I buy all sorts of things I don't need to buy, whereas our local bakery is very expensive (£1-20 a loaf). So I think it saves me money - and it tastes and smells yummy too!