Wanted...idiots guide to bread makers!! Please help!!

[simpson]

My 11mth old DD is severely intolerant to all dairy and soy products so this means she can't have bread as it has soy flour in it

I have a bread maker gathering dust never used Is it possible to make my own bread without soy flour in it?

If so how do I start?

A RL friend told me you can buy all the ingredients in a pack ready to bung in machine...is it as simple as this?

TIA

Bread machines are very simple. I haven't actually bought the pre prepared dough mixes.

With my bread machine (Panasonic SD254) I put in yeast, flour, sugar then add water, select the program, set the timer and press start. It really is that simple.

The main thing is to make sure that the yeast does not come into contact with the water before the mixing starts.

Some bread machines have the dry ingredients going in first, others the water. I suspect it makes no difference.

No need to buy a ready prepared pack (which may contain soy or milk powder). As long as you can weigh out some bread flour, a spoon to measure out yeast, salt (and sugar) and something to measure out liquid (you usually get a measuring cup and a spoon with the breadmaker) and can then add a slurp of oil - then you can make bread. Follow the instructions in your breadmaker book - it is very easy and you can bake over night with a delay timer to get a fresh loaf for breakfast.

I put in 250ml of water, 1 tea spoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 tablespoons marge (use dairy free), sachet of yeast (put this in last) and 400g stong white flour. Chuck it all in, press go and that's it!

Yes, I've made it without the salt and it was fine too. DOes half a sachet of yeast work? I shall try that.
What does the oil do?

Our breadmaker takes 3hrs 45m. Do you reckon it'd be worth trying half a sachet?
Defo going to use oil from now on! Does it have to be olive oil?

why is yeast not good for you?

mine only calls for 1 teaspoon of yeast for white bread and 1.5 for wholemeal for a middle sized loaf.

I never thought of using tepid water either! God, am I glad I saw this thread!

my sachets have 7 or 8g in them (depending where I am shopping) - that's about 2 teapsoons, isn't it?

Very easy - do you still have the instructions book, that probably contains at least a basic white recipe.

Apart from putting in the amounts given in the specified order, theres really nothing to it. As someone mentioned, you can omit salt - I always do because DH needs low sodium, but probably a good idea to omit for
a child under a year old (and reduce amount for toddlers).

Also worth mentioning - you do need to get strong bread flour, not normal plain and def not self-raising!

If recipe says melted butter, much easier to put in that amount of oil instead.

yes, i've just been mentally working it out - there are more than 2 teaspoons in a sachet but less than 3!

Thanks, advocate

Thanks for all your help

Not sure if we have the book that goes with bread maker, I got it for Christmas 2yrs ago and it has been in attic so will have to get DH to get it down.

If recipe says butter can I use sunflower marg instead?

I definately won't put much salt in the bread...

Also once the bread has been made, how long does it keep for??

it keeps fine for a day or so but as the loaf is smaller so it doesn't physically last as long as a shop bought loaf.

I wouldn't buy yeast in sachets, it's shockingly expensive. Doves Farm do a 125g packet. It's available from Lakeland, Waitrose and Ocado. It may also be available from Tesco?

yeah, you can get pots of yeast at most supermarkets. my recipe that came with the bread maker says to put in ppwdered milk, but there's no need for it