Bread machine - madness to buy?

[rockpoolingtogether]

I am considering buying a bread machine but would like to hear from others with one. Is it something that's going to be stuck in a cupboard and not used? What functions are must have? Trying to be less upf in my life

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I’ve just got one second hand and haven’t used it yet. Any tips gratefully received!

Greycloud, I have an excellent book called Bread machine by Jennie Shapter, but it is quite old. It has all the basics, plus loads of brilliant recipes. She has other books on Amazon, this one might be similar, but you can't look inside
https://www.amazon.co.uk/150-Recipes-Your-Bread-Machine/dp/1780193408/ref=sr_1_3?crid=5VAQRT2SJM2X&keywords=bread+machine%2C+Jennie+shapter&qid=1692864223&s=books&sprefix=bread+machine+jennie+shapter%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-3
i also have a book called Baking by Martha Day, which has a bread section at the back with a lot of the very same recipes.
you will get a booklet with your machine, I expect, that will get you started, but there are so many excellent bread from around the world it's great to experiment.
i just had a spin around Amazon, and there are so many books now, I would hesitate to recommend one without seeing it. (Don't forget to read the reviews!). Have you got a library near you? They usually have a good cookbook section, or a decent bookshop?

Good yeast and good strong flour - both can also lose their oomph over time.

If your loaves are a little dense use a little less water.

Thanks @FizzingAda I'll get the one you recommend! I have one already but the measurements don't work with the ones in my machine and they're not straightforward to scale up/down (but maybe this doesn't matter?) So I've stuck to the ones in the booklet with my machine so far but want to branch out!

Just seem this, would love your vegan naan recipe please? Thank you

Panasonic. Wouldn't use any other

Yes please!

I have a bread maker machine recipe book which works with my Panasonic

I have a Tower one. I love it. I used my old breadmaker till it fell apart. We have allergies so I use it to make gf and df bread - tomato bread, garlic bread, pizza base, etc.

+10 for the Panasonic. Many years ago had another brand which had bad recipes and results. Very occasionally we get a brick if the yeast is a bit old but it's mostly reliable. The 70% wholemeal is our everyday loaf, plus pizza base. If you like fresh crusty bread you will be sorted. Hint, buy yourself a nice sharp bread knife and remember you can't slice it straight from the machine, it needs to cool first.

@Daftasabroom Yes please! (vegan naan).

My mother in law gave me a bread machine that was unwanted in her cupboard and I love it so much! The recipe book that came with it occasionally has wildly wrong quantities - my first attempt at focaccia went very astray - but there are loads of recipes on google.

1 tsp or 5g of yeast
1 tsp or 5g of baking powder
300g of strong white bread flour
100ml of water
80ml of light coconut milk

Mix on program 22 pizza

Leave to at least double in size

Roll out into 4 naan

Cook on med to high heat in a dry frying pan with lid

@QueenBitch666 see above.

I tried all sorts to replace eggs and yoghurt but I suspect it's the fat content in the coconut milk. Full on coconut milk is too thick.

Oh and leave them for ten to fifteen minutes once rolled out.

The real key is the dry frying pan with lid to maintain the humidity.