Breadmaker advice please...

[milk]

I've just bought a Panasonic SD2502 Stainless Steel Bread Maker. I have never used it, or any breadmaker. I want to use it on Monday. Any advice please...

TIA :)

Buy the strong white flour from Lidl or Aldi, much cheaper than Tesco etc and it makes a great loaf. And stick to the instructions.

Follow the instructions to the letter and it works every time.

Therefore it's DH's job, because he is anal about instructions and I'm not.

yes,
strong bread flour from lidl
make sure you put the yeast in 1st
Have all your breadmaking ingredients together in a box...if it's easy, you'll use it more often.

(oh and the panasonic pizza recipe might be too wet...ubless they have changed it in the last few years)

It takes a little while to get your head around setting the timer for the number of hours between setting it and the time you want it to be ready.

So for example, I wanted my bread to be ready at 8.30 this morning, so when I set it at 10.30 last night I set the timer to 10 hours.

The newer models may be different, but it is all explained. Just follow the instructions. And do use strong flour.

Once you are used t it, you can measure out the ingredients and programme it in seconds and also start to improvise a bit. For example I slosh in a bit of olive oil instead of using butter.

Sometimes it is hard to get the bread out. I usually run a plastic palette knife round the pan before turning it out. Sometimes the paddle comes out in the loaf rather than remaining in the pan- just extract it before you wreck your bread knife on it.

They do make a bit of a racket in the kneading stage so you might not want to set it going overnight if your bedroom is next to the kitchen in a small flat.

I love our breadmaker and use it all the time.

Best tips.... use the best quality 'extra strong' bread flour you can get. Add a good knob of butter or slug of oil as this helps keep home-made bread fresh a little longer (although not like commercially produced stuff with preservative). The swing capacity is the liquid. Flour varies quite a bit in absorbency so, if your loaf comes out too dense first time, try a little more liquid the next time.

Thank you very much for all your replies :) I shall tell you how it goes :)

It is so easy, even I can make perfect bread. It takes me 4 minutes to load (which includes getting it out) a wee bit longer if I have to do timer-maths. Doing that if an evening is always so much easier than having to dash out for bread in the morning. Every single time even if you're tipsy after a night out

I've had mine since march and have only just realised how much easier it would be if I kept all the ingredients together

if you are setting it going straight away, make sure the water is at room temperature and not chilly out of the tap : )

Using it now Although how do I know if it is doing something...

I am praying in x amount of hours I will have a lovely brioche loaf

I know you probably want to learn to make bread from scratch but just thought it worth mentioning that Wrights bread mixes are fab. Some you just add water and some you add water and oil. They also do a good variety of cake mixes that you cook in the bread maker and they are lovely too. Especially the Madeira cake.

My aim was to accomplish something with little effort needed... using a breadmaker seemed to be the easiest option. It also makes a nice conversation piece for someone with few interests.

My interests are now:

• Sleeping/napping/meditating while lying down and my eyes are closed.
• Watching TV/cinema
• Using Mumsnet
• Bread-making :)

lol...similar to mine..i would add keeping an eye on dds fish to the list

hope ypu can use ypur loaf op

My brioche was a success, however I believe Panasonic tell you to put far too much sugar in it :( It was edible though :)

Next on my list: Onion bread!

pollywollydoodle I like the idea of having a fish, but then I'd have to keep buying new ones as I would be too lazy to wash the bowl :(

Never thought to make brioche... I think I have the recipe in the little booklet that came with mine. How much sugar do you think it might need milk? Did you make it for your dc?

Those bread mixes are fab... We had the granary one at the weekend. 99p aldi so works out more expensive than normal but well worth it!

I never use milk or sugar when making bread in my bread maker.

(Talking object ordinary breads, not brioche)

I recommend a book called Fresh Bread in the Morning. Great recipes.

I can't see the value in bread mixes: the only thing you have to add to flour is yeast, salt, sugar and butter or oil, so by the sounds of it you are paying double the price of the flour for them to have mixed in a couple of pence worth if yeast!

Mostly I just make whole meal , with half and half whole meal and white.

OP: as you are clearly not one to squander your energy, it may interest you to know that I almost never wash the pan.

milk http://www.play.com/Toys/Toys/4-/50415635/Robo-Fish-Play-Set/Product.html this may help...

try first but there is is too much sugar and not enough salt in all of their savoury loaves

not tried brioche or onion loaf. cinnamon and sultana loaf is a favourite here. toasted...am drooling now..

the bread rolls may be too much work for what is, after all, just a hobby, but they are great

i was given a dove farm packet mix...it worked...it was nice...it wasn't worth actually spending my own money on

www.play.com/Toys/Toys/4-/50415635/Robo-Fish-Play-Set/Product.html
try again...

DragOn do loaves still rise much without any sugar for the yeast to feed on?

Yes - no problems at all :)

useful to know, thanks