Bread not rising in bread maker

[BobJim89]

I've had a Panasonic bread maker (SD-2511) for about 3 years and most of the time I get perfect loaves.
But the last 3 loaves have gone wrong. I've tried new yeast and changing the flour but it hasn't worked.
Does anyone know what else it could be?
Thanks

Are you putting the ingredients in in the correct order? For our bread maker, the yeast and sugar has to be put into the loaf tin inside the bread maker in a certain order, to make sure that the yeast does its thing and reacts as required.

Other than that, is it mixing properly? Looks like you have a lot of flour mixture at the bottom of that loaf?

old yeast? Open a new pack to check

Also, I did have to replace the mixing paddle on mine once as it wore away and wasn’t turning properly

Thanks for the replies. I've tried new yeast.

How can I tell whether it's a problem with the machine mixing properly, and what would cause that? It's worked fine before and I haven't noticed any damage to the tin or paddle, or signs of leaking. But yes, all that unmixed flour is strange.

My loaves are always perfect, DH’s loaves often come out like yours. I follow the instructions to the letter, the exact, measured amounts of ingredients added in the specified order. He doesn’t because he thinks it doesn’t matter 🤷‍♀️. QED.

I'd set a loaf going and take a peek at different points in the cycle especially at the point if mixing and kneading. At this point, it's not as if you're going yo ruin the loaf by doing this.

I'd also try a little more water. I sometimes get floury corners if the mix is a little dry, though not that extreme.

It's definitely not mixing properly. Anything on or around the stem that the paddle fits on to that's stopping it fitting correctly? Any strange noises during the mixing phase?
Any chance you might have got the water measurement wrong?

We had exactly this problem with our Panasonic. I never did get to the bottom of it. It was perfect for ages then they came out unmixed and floury like that. I hope it's something straightforward you can fix.

Either not enough water or insufficient kneading. I'd make a loaf when you can watch it - have a look after an hour to make sure you have a sticky ball of dough that has picked up all flour. If not add some more water. Keep watching/listening to make sure it starts mixing. If it does, then you need more water.

If it doesn't start mixing, not sure ... blade not put in properly?

Do you use the timer feature?

In my instruction manual it says to not let the yeast and water touch if not being made right away.

But there is way too much flour at the bottom. Do you take the mixer blade out to wash it? It gets a bit crusty (😊) if not taken apart and can sometimes be stuck solid.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful.

I'm not sure what the root cause is so as some of you suggested, I will try to observe the mixing stage the next time I bake a loaf. I'm hoping it's not a problem with the machine but maybe it is.

Have you tried mixing it in the bread maker then cooking it in the oven? Then you will be able to identify if it is the mixing or the cooking that is the problem. I always do our that way as I think it tastes a much nicer and gives a lighter but more crusty loaf.

We get this sometimes if the weather is different. I know it sounds stupid but if it's stormy or humid the bread doesn't rise as well 😂

We also had to add more water than the recipe said to avoid unmixed flour round the bottom.

Try sitting the flour before it goes in.

In the summer I make bread by hand as it proves in no time in the greenhouse.

*sifting not sitting

Have you taken the paddle out and given it a good rinse? I do that after every bake as it's gets crusty

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.
As suggested by some of you, I tried increasing the amount of water by about 20-30ml and that worked!
Very glad that it wasn't a problem with the machine.

Glad you got it sorted. Both flour and yeast can be very variable.

I rember when yeast finally became available, again, 4.or 5 months I to the pandemic, it was so poor that every loaf i made with that batch was mediocre, at best. Then I got a batch that made great wholemeal but the white was always like a brick. I thought that might be the white flour but started a new pack of yeast half way through a bag and the white loaf I made was enormous!