Does anyone really think that breadmaker bread is as nice as bought?

[BroccoliSpears]

Now that the novelty is starting to wear off, I can't help but notice that breadmaker bread is dry and heavy and samey and a bit like chewing a brick.

Oh for a Sainsburys tiger loaf.

Errm, are you doing it right?

Mine is lovely & better than bought

What is your recipe?

& what make of breadmaker?

MUCH nicer than shop bought!!

We found it was a bit heavy at first but try varying the amounts of water/oil you put in. We didn't use olive oil at first but its amazing the difference it makes.

Experiment a bit-what yeast are you using?

Far nicer than shop bought. I have stopped making it because I eat too much of it .

Hmmm. Obviously I need to improve. This is good as it means I'm not stuck with brick bread.

It's a Panasonic with nut dispencer and I use the recipes in the booklet it came with.

Use butter, not oil. Supermarket dry yeast. Supermarket bread flour.

Give me tips!

Try a different flour &/or olive oil

I have the same breadmaker as you Broccoli and use the recipe book.

Hmm, the only thing I do differently is to use Carr's flours.

Ooh my bread from my breadmaker is still rather lovely several years in.

It's never been dry and heavy. My DC love it!

i make bread like you broccolispears. (and hence buy sainsburys tiger loaf. )

which flour is good?

Better flour

Use olive Oil

Dump the milk (if you use any) - discovered this just this week - makes a much nicer loaf

Mmmm. Mine's a Panasonic. It doesn't have the same smell as Sainsbury's bakery bread.

Hmmm I found using butter instead of olive oil kept it moister for longer. Says so in the instruction booklet too..... I most often use a mixture of the two and it seems to work.

The thing that bugs me is that it's always the same square, squat shape, I'd live to whip the dough out at the last minute and bung it in the oven but have never dared. Has anyone ever done this?

Now, are you lot really making nice bread, or do you like dense bread?

Much nicer than bought, but then I do like a nice doughy loaf. Home made bread toasted is the nicest thing on earth.

Mmmm. Got me going now.

< ponders spending DS's naptime making bread rather than working/cleaning house/etc etc >

I use stone ground organic (but then I have easy access to it as it is done locally) but a nice bread flour makes a difference tbh

Yes, never use milk. I made that mistake once and it was minging.

You just chose a different program and take it out then bake it in the oven - lovely rolls, plaits, pizza bases - the children adore pulling at bread dough

Wholemeal is. White isn't unless you actually bake it in the oven as rolls. And it doesn't keep long at all. 24hrs tops.

Mine is light & fluffy (since I lost the milk anyway)

My friend thought I had bought it

No, I find it damp and too sweet. I use mine to make dough from the Delia recipe but then bake the bread in the oven.. much nicer.

Milk powder is gopping!

I used to use milk - the bread was dense - lovely toasted & lasted 1 day

Now I don't it is light, open, lasts at least 3 days (never manged to not eat it longer) and lovely

Never used milk powder - just milk (full-fat)

Water is much better imo

Then you are doing something wrong OP. My mum and my dad both make bread maker bread and it is FAB.
I don't of course, know anything about the making of it, but I do know that it is my biggest downfall because it is sooo good, far, far nicer than Sainsbury's Tiger loaf.

I don't use milk or milk powder.

Yes, white is better.

Ours keeps okay.

Maybe it's the flour.

Is live yeast worth doing?