is it cheaper to make your own bread rather than buy it?

[milkgoddessmakesthefinestmilk]

if so where do i begin!

I have a bread maker (1lb loaf size) which I bought 2nd had for £5 - only because I wanted to see how much I would use it before I invested heavily.

I don't know if it is cheaper but we eat more bread when I make it! It makes fab pizza dough and one batch makes 3 good sized pizzas - I freeze 2 and use one, DC help load it up so fun, cheap and healthy!

I saw your other post about cutting costs, don't know if it is cheaper or not.

marmaduke thats great so you even you it as an activity for you and the dcs to do.

excellent multitasking

also excelleny buy for a fiver, oh i can learn so much from you guys

i dont think it is i think it is more expensive if you add stuff but the bread is probably better for you and you have more control

i find it is a lot desner and the loaves are always smaller

Definately much cheaper if you get big bags of flour and can get a cheap breadmaker. Also much healthier (less salt).

what ingredients would i need?

and is it plain flour or strong bread flour?

Not sure if cheaper but you know what's in it. Especially good for lots of grainy type breads and inventiveness.

The only thing is - as no preservative, breadmaker bread does tend to go stale quickly so you may need to make more small loaves very often, though I suppose you could freeze too?

You'll need yeast, strong bread flour (supermarket will have a selection), powdered milk and a breadmaker recipe book!

Nothing I like more than waking up to smell of fresh bread - though we dont do it all the time or every week.

hi pv, yeast, is that powered yeast?

I use wholemeal and white plain strong bread flour mixed.

you'll need yeast - instant for machine / soak in water for hand

for machines

caster sugar, salt and milk powder, water, bit of oil and bob's your whatsername!

I also use mine to make a fab banana (good use of manky ones) date and walnut loafcake which lasts us all week too (as long as I don't eat it!) - I've adapted the recipe to use less sugar and added some blackstrap molassas for extra vits/iron etc.

thanks ill have a look on ebay for a cheap breadmaker

I have discounted a breadmaker for money saving

I worked out if you buy a good quality breadmaker and the special flour etc it works out as expensive or the same price as the delicious bread in our local deli!

however, if you make bread by hand and buy flour in bulk it does work out cheaper

Milkgoddess, the yeast in our store cupboard is fast action bread yeast (one pack of hovis, one of allinson)

Oh yes, banana and fruit loaves are FAB

We also make 'poncey bread' with dried tomato, herbs etc which is v.good

Cant find a link to recipe book - we use the one that came with the breadmaker and one given to us by parents which I think is now out of print

the ingredients are definitely cheaper than buying a loaf - well, they are now with bread being £1.56

but I don't know how much electricty costs it uses so it's swings and roundabouts

We don't bother with the milk powder. Just a dash of sugar, salt, butter, water and flour and job done. DH uses olive oil instead of butter but I think it makes it a bit flaky.

We love experimenting with different ingredients but I have put on weight since we bought it. We each far, far too much bread as a result.

I've worked out that it's not cheaper for us - it's similar (though I do buy poncy organic flour). But the advantages are that it's so lovely and fresh, and you can control the amount of salt and not have other nasty stuff - preservatives etc.

We just use Carr's flour and it does work out cheaper.

I'm saying cheaper from the perspective that I fill a basket with other crap if I am popping to the shop for a loaf

Also I have bought extra milk and frozen it and kept my fruit in the fridge to make sure it lasts as long as possible

It sounds sad I know but this is to make sure I don't need to "pop to the shop"

can you make lovely dense wholemeal loaves in a breadmaker?

Have a look on freecycle for a breadmaker - post a wanted if neccessary. LOADS of people bought them then never really used them so you may well get lucky. I got mine on there from someone who had just kept it on top of their fridge after a week of buying it. They had lost the instructions but I found them easily enough on the internet.

btw - I am impressed! Making your own bread and keeping chickens.

If nothing else I think making your own is a great idea as you don't have all the additives etc in it.

Enid - yes, definitely can in ours. I like it dense - one way is to put on lots of small, pointy seeds eg linseeds, as they seem to inhibit the growth of bubbles. Also use a bit of rye flour in the mix.

that should be put in not put on

[drools]

i use local honey instead of sugar and olive oil nuts seeds and stuff wholemeal organic flour sometimes mixed with white

ground almonds which aslo make it denser

organic milk

and any ponce stuff i feel like sund dried toms olives etc

but bread doesnt really agree with me an definitely makes me fat

but might make some today as bf is coming

so he can eat it for me

I think the best way of using a breadmaker is to put it on the dough setting, so it does all the mixing, resting, mixing, then take it out, shape into whatever shape you want, let rise for 45 mins and then bake in the oven. It seems to be better baked, and is less 'fluffy'.

thanks bbm

well even if its not cheaper its certinaly going to be better! tastier and healthier