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!

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I'm sorry I have hijacked this thread for my 'Live Loaf Birth'

Yeah, but at least we know when you're due, so I don't have to keep refreshing the page

I've just started using my breadmaker again after a long break. Do any of you regularly use fresh milk instead of dried. The dried milk comes in huge tubs and you don't need that much.

I don't bother with any type of milk fresh or powered in mine Eglu and it is fine. Our favourite bread is the french loaf with the panasonic which doesn't even ask for it.

I used my mums panasonic for a while when deciding if I should get one. I got a cookworks one. We tweaked the recipies to suit us and are happy with the bread it makes. We make bread about 4-5 times a week. I am on my second one now as we wore the motor out on the first one. We find that making brown bread- putting the ingredients and using the timer gives better results as the brown flour is softened more by absorbing the water before it is kneaded.

Exactly the same as Horopu :)

Thanks will try without milk.

Come on fruitshoots - how was it?

I've never used any form of milk in the breadmaker recipes I use!

I've got a Panasonic (about 3yrs old), recommended by my Dsis who has had hers for years.

It's odd how the recipes in the books are different. Mine doesn't ask for milk powder where hers does (though that's one of the things she has discovered is dispensible), and mine asks for 1tsp sugar where hers asks for 1tbsp.

They both make lovely bread, though.

I don't put any milk in although mine asks for milk powder. Hasn't made any noticeble difference.

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.

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

Are all the Panasonic models much the same then?