Do you use a Breadmaker?Any recommendations and tips?

[MrsHoolie]

Hello.
I am thinking of buying a Breadmaker.

Not sure what features to look for or what make.

Also,do you use the 'all in one' packet mixes?

I used a really old one which was my Grandads but you had to use all the ingredients and it was hit and miss how it came out.

Any tips greatfully received!

[lindyshelly]

Yes, I have a bread maker named - Panasonic SD YD250. I have been using it since 3 years. It works brilliantly. It features, durability, are excellent. It makes the process very easy, fast, convenient, and effortless. I got this device review from foodgear.org/best-bread-maker-reviews/, this site. I got a great help from this link. If you want you can check this before you buy a new one.

[leggylolao9]

i made a cake in my bread maker and the cake got stuck in the tin how do you stop this x

[leggylolao9]

yes u can use the packet mixes just follow the instuctions on the back

[Parmigiano]

I have just bought a Panasonic SD2501 after reading all the rave reviews. I have made two loaves today from a ready mixed packet, one brown and one white. I measured the water exactly. Both are a disaster - lumpy and uneven - they look more like a mountain than an even loaf. What am I doing wrong or could it be the machine? I thought a packet would be fool proof to start with!

[JamNan]

Got my bread maker on eBay for £12 and I use it all the time. My machine is a cheap-as-chips Hinari, I don't think you need all the fancy gadgets and add-ons. I reckon I have saved quite a lot of money by not buying artisan bread from the baker's.

If I use the dough and rise programme I can make pizza, naans, rolls, baguettes, french stick, hot cross buns. I also do rye bread, granary, Greek sesame and sourdough. You can also make cakes and pasta dough in it too. If you want to avoid the indentation where the paddle goes let the bread rise in a loaf tin (or on a baking sheet covered with oiled cling film) and cook the bread in your oven.

Always use good flour - I like Allinson's and Doves and make sure flour is fresh and not past its sell-by date otherwise the results will be poor. Another tip don't let the yeast and salt come into contact when you place them in the bucket.

Treat yourself to a nice recipe book. Happy baking

[KatBond]

i have just brought a panasonic breadmaker and really happy with although the long time to bake is a hassle but i guess when we want fresh bed then we must wait.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

And the rapid loaf is just fine btw. Sure as hell better than no loaf!:o

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Panasonic SD255 with raisin dispenser. Had about 4 years and love it, it's never failed. The only bread mix I use sometimes is granary. Otherwise just chuck in ingredients. Th fruit bread is delish and I made pizza dough for the first time on Sat. Was a great success. Definitely worth the extra money.

[NigellaPleaseComeDineWithMe]

Have had a couple of basic type machines (current is a Morphy Richards) - both seemd to have doen well - the paddle thing being left in is a bit of a pain at times - not a problem when knocking up a batch if dough.

Can HIGHLY recommend this book found in a cahrity shop;
The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Jennie Shapter, published by Ted Smart ISBN 1-84309-184-4

Can honestly say 100% of whats been made has been good to great (boys words not mine) - milk loaf this weekend went in one sitting..

[mummycbear]

Theres a good guide to choosing and buying a bread maker on the MYFamilyClub website.

www.myfamilyclub.co.uk/shopping/weeks-deals/bread-maker-where-to-get-the-cheapest-deals-and-offers-15417

[MrsHoolie]

There do seem to be quite a few Panasonic models don't there?

I'm surprised that there is not a time delay feature for bread first thing though.

I still haven't bought one yet and may hold off a while yet.

I have looked at Which.co.uk but that just made me more confused!

And I haven't managed to find any models with a retractable paddle

[berri]

Are all the Panasonic models much the same then?

[cambridgeferret]

Yet another vote for Panasonic. We have an SD-254 which works beautifully.
Yes it's big but ours is on the worktop by the sink and doesn't really take up excessive room.
I mainly do two white and one wholemeal a week, sometimes use bread mix for making dough for pizza bases, rolls. It makes incredibly good pizza bases..

I've been faithfully making bread with my existing yeast until I read the tin and it said that it shouldn't be used for breadmaking unless activating first.
oops..... the bread is still perfectly OK though.

Our paddle also sticks a bit (knife damage) but TBH doesn't bother me. You end up with a small slit in the slice but we just use that as the cutting line.

If I have one tip to pass on.... don't throw the stale bread gleefully in the compost without removing the paddle first. One rummage in the compost bin with a torch is more than enough.

[SpacegirlRevisited]

Dont get a Morphy Richards.Recipe suggestions in the accompanying leaflet have an awful taste and despite messing around with other recipes it always comes out weird. And I dont want oil milk powder and lots of sugar in it anyway.

[berri]

Does anyone have the Panasonic SD-RD250?

I have seen it on offer over here in the USA and it seems like a good deal...any happy users out there?

[mumat39]

I ordered a Panasonic breadmaker SD-2501WXC from Amazon. It arrived today and I was really surprised by how big it is. I ordered the one with the raisin and nut dispenser only to discover that this bit can't be used with the Gluten Free bake option. I was also surprised that I can't set the timer for freshly baked bread first thing. I completely missed that on my research

Can I ask, where do you all keep your breadmakers? I tried to slide it onto the worktop under the wall cabinets but I don't think I'd be able to use it there as there isn't much room between the top of the machine which has a steam vent and the bottom of the wall cupboard.

I went for panasonic after reading all the reviews on both here and on other websites. I'm thinking of sending it back as I've paid for features that I can't use :( that the amazon details didn't mention. I'd still like one as I'm sure in the long run it'll save me loads of money on shop bought gluten free bread. Does anyone know of a more compact machine that is good and has a GF option but that doesn't take up quite so much room? Or are they all as big as the panasonic?

TIA

[NothingTraLaLa]

I've had lots of success with the recipes in this book but judging by some of the reviews not everybody gets on with it. No unnecessary sugar, butter, milk powder, etc. The recipes don't specify which size loaf they make, because different models make different sizes, but they make a large loaf in my Panasonic. The buttermilk bread is divine.

[MoreBeta]

FruitShoots - sounds like it didnt rise enough. From bitter experience I would advise checking the following.

Are you using the right sort of yeast?

You need yeast designed for breadmakers. Ordinary yeast won't work unless you activate it first.

Also make sure you put the yeast and liquid in the breadmaker first, then flour on top, then salt on top of that and any other ingredients. Mixing salt direct with yeast inhibits/stops it working.

[slug]

The recipe books tend to be based on American recipes. They have sweeter tastes than us. I never use sugar and generally halve the amount of salt suggested. I have forgotten the salt in the past and, while it's noticeable, the bread still gets scoffed

[FruitShootsAreALittleHorrit]

bit disappointing my last night loaf after all the excitement!

stodgy and rather small

now trying again with new yeast

we will get edible bread sometime this week!

[MrsHoolie]

Crust control?Yes I would love that one.
Better start saving up then.

[MrsHoolie]

Thanks all.
Seems like Panasonic is the way to go!They are about £100 though which I wasn't expecting

[BettyBathroom]

Don't use milk and never use the bake option anymore either, although we were happy to use the bake option for the first few years, we got more ambitious...now we dump the dough out and stick it in a traditional shaped bread pan for it's final slow rise - we get a lovely loaf.