Any bread makers out there?

[Qwaszx]

I have a bread machine. I follow the recipe/ instructions. It fails 25% of the time: doesn't rise and hard like a brick.

I've tried all new fresh ingredients, new yeast (dried). I can only assume it's the water temp that's the problem.

When it works, it's lovely, when it fails, it's an expensive mistake.

Any suggestions, please?

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Salt is a yeast inhibitor so don't let them touch when you're adding ingredients together. I usually put the salt at the bottom of the pan, then add flour and yeast on top. Add the room temp/warm water last to activate the yeast.

I don't use a bread maker, but if the crust is too hard I cover with a damp tea towel while the bread is hot and the steam softens the crust.

Try another recipe, seems like the one you are using is a bit hit and miss? Not enough yeast if it's not rising? If you're not sure about the yeast try starting it before adding, mix it with warm water (you can add a dash of sugar to help feed the yeast if you like) it should get bubbly after 10 minutes or so, when you're sure it's going then add it to the mix.

As above not too much salt and keep away from the yeast, hand making I usually put the yeast on one side of the bowl and the salt on the other, I usually put much less salt than the recipes say, but that's personal taste.

Water should be lukewarm, too hot will kill the yeast, too cold it will be very slow to rise.

I assume you are using strong bread flour, and not plain flour? These are the quantities for my Panasonic bm
500gm bread flour
1 tsp dried yeast (I often use 1.5 tsp)
1.5 tsp sugar
1.25 tsp salt
350 ml water
2 tablespoon oil
perfect every time. Do my measurements equate to yours?

Do you use quick yeast?

I used to use my breadmaker to do the kneading and for the first prove. Then I'd tip it out, shape and reprove in my own tray [I use a casserole dish these days] and then I can choose to put the oven on when it is nearly fully risen, and then slash and cook it.

I got rid of the breadmaker years ago, and now just use a mixer to knead the dough.

I've changed the yeast. In that I now buy the tub instead of individual sachets.

Apparently it should be kept in the fridge after opening.... User error may be the problem here😂

I have a Panasonic bread machine. This method has worked 99% of the time.
In a bowl...
450g strong bread flour
1 sachet of Tesco own brand yeast.
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of table salt.
Mix thoroughly.

In the baking tin...
450ml of tepid water (cold plus a little boiled water from the kettle)
3 generous tablespoons spoons of olive oil.
Pour the flour mix into the tin and then run recipe 2 xl (1.55 hours)

ive had a Panasonic bread machine for around 17 years ish.It was recommend on here and I saved up and got a machine.

The previous machine I had would only make decent bread if I put in warm/tepid water - it wouldn't woke if I used cold water and like you found it was a mistake and rubbish.

I have a Panasonic, about 18 years old now, which I only use on the basic white flour 4 hour setting because it became a bit unreliable on the other settings.

I follow the instructions to the letter, apart from using vegetable oil instead of butter, and that includes using only 1 tsp of yeast and not mixing the ingredients.

It works about 99% of the time and the main problem I have with it is that it nearly always has a sort of dip in it along one side and sometimes large holes that go through large sections of the loaf. I would love to get rid of that dip and wonder if using warm water would make a difference.

Interesting about the water temp. If I'm making bread straightaway then I would use tepid. However I mostly load the machine in the evening, I measure the water from the tap and leave it in the kitchen (which is cold), then add it to the machine when I go to bed and set the time for around 9.00am. No problems. My booklet say the temperature of the room can make a difference,if it's cold or warm. I Vaguely remember Paul Hollywood saying he doesn't use tepid water 🤷🏼‍♀️. I think you just need to experiment and find out what works in your particular machine.