does anyone have a breadmaker and actually use it?

[AnguaVonUberwald]

I am so fed up of shop bought bread, and its so expensive, especially if you buy anything which actually tastes of anything, that I am tempted to buy a breadmaker.

The thing is, I suspect its one of those things that you buy, use for a month and then goes in the cupboard for ever.

1. does anyone actually have a breadmaker?
2. is it any good?
3. Do you use it?
4. Does it save you any money?
5. Which one do you have and would you recommend it?

i use mine all the time, but never to make bread. it makes great dough for rolls and pizza.

BUT it was a gift so i might have chosen a better on.

i have never quite seen the point of breakmakers - i have already got an oven!

i use a kitchenaid mixer and make all our bread with it, about four different types a week. it is a second hand one from ebay, catering sort (bowl lift) and worth every penny

OK, thats interesting, Purplemonkeydishwaher, so is it because its not a great one that you don't make bread in it? Which one is it?

fishie - thats great, but I thought it was easier and quicker to make bread in a bread machine, or is that just me being stupid?

1. Yes
2. Wouldn't be without one
3. Yes - almost every other day
4. Yes and no - it's so good a loaf doesn't last long.
5. It's one my Mum got for me from Lidl about 6 years ago and has just started playing up a bit so need a new one.

I use it nearly every day - our oven is broken anyway, but it's so convenient and (I think?) cheap to run, you can just leave it to get on with it.

I'm on my 2nd breadmaker, having worn out the first! I love it but ration how often I make bread because I just end up eating loads of it and would be the size of a house. As for saving money, it depends what you compare it to, is it cheaper than the bog standard bread in Lidl? No. Is it cheaper than organic spelt loaves from the local bakery? Yes.

What I like about the breadmaker is that you just chuck the ingrediants in and leave it, takes 3 mins effort to make a loaf.

Thankyou all.

Profyaffle, thats exactly why I like the idea, shove it all in and forget about it.

Mitchying, Oggsdog, thank you very much, thats great to know.

It sounds like it might be a good investment.

I am looking at mixers, like fishie uses but I think that might be too complex for me at the moment (I have a 10 month old DS)

Those of you who make your own bread would you mind talking to me about cutting it for sandwiches? Does it not go crumbly or is is not impossible to slice it thin enough ? I remember going to school with huge doorstop sandwiches due to mum's homemade bread in the 1970's and have always therefore steered clear. However, now having a large family I would like to consider this again ( dh is very keen to buy and use a breadmaker) but the slicing part ( and therefore how much use we'd actually get out if it) is bothereing me.

I tend to make a loaf of bread in the evening, and leave it out overnight. Then it's easier to slice in the morning.

Does anyone have a Millers Choice one as I was given one of these second hand and have no instructions!My efforts without them werent very good. thanks

I am on my second breadmaker; I use it about three times a week. When I had my first one I worked out that I would recover the cost of the machine after one year - it's probably less than that now after the ridiculous price-hike in bread (flour went up in price but has come back down, bread hasn't).
Mine (like most, I think) has a timer delay so I set it before I go to bed and wake up to the smell of freshly-baked bread. You could make bread in the oven but you have all the faff of having to be around whilst it is proving and baking: in a machine it is all automatic.
I have a Durabrand (whoever they are!) from Tescos.

There's ones on freecycle all the time, just post a "wanted" email, get it, if you use it then you can always buy one if it's not very good.

I've got the Panansonic and love it. It has never made a duff loaf yet. Chuck the stuff in, wait a few hours (or overnight if I use the timer) and voila, freah bread.

It's not as cheap as plastic bread, but if you make decent loaves with unusual ingrediants, it is defo cheaper.

I'm not great at cutting fresh bread, but never underestimate a good bread knife, it can make all the difference. Also Lakeland sell some gadget that gives you even slices. Also the fresher it is, the harder it is to slice. Don't even try slicing when it is warm.

1. Yes
2. Its excellent
3. Use it loads. Make lovely white/wholemeal/mixed bread plus others (sundried tomato and parmesan is nice)

Also use it to make pizza dough and fruit loaves. Am going to attempt Hot Cross buns in it.

1. Now that bread is more expensive, it can save you money if you use some bog standard bread flour (which is fine). I think it works out under 50p a loaf incl. electricity.
2. Panasonic. Its my 3rd breadmaker and definitely worth the £80 I paid for it. Cheaper ones started to play up.

How does everyone keep their bread fresh? Machine bread is lovely when it is new-baked but does go off a lot quicker than shop-bought.

Lisalisa, I find it depends on the type of bread. I love wholemeal stoneground bread and that's a pig to slice which is why I end up with huge doorstop slices of toast. Purely white bread is much finer and easier to slice, better for sandwiches. A decent breadknife helps too.

Mrsjamin, great idea, will do that.

Its really good to know you all use them. Thats exactly what I am after, chuck all the ingredients in and then just come back to a fresh loaf!

Maddylou, re the Miller's Choice instructions: someone posted this on another site "hi ...i had the same problem and a friend gave me her kenwood instructions!!!!!!!!!!
they are nearly the same and if you follow the numbers of the kenwood instructions the numbers are exactly the same for the millers......
hope this helps"

I have one but don't use it much. Neither DH nor DS like the bread. I find it does taste 'yeasty'.

I bought my Dad one and he is the same. Stopped using it as no-one liked the taste of the bread.

Having said that I may make some today!

Buda, my father makes sourdough bread (though not with a bread maker,) have you thought of trying that? NO yeast then!

I have had one for almost two years and wouldln't be without it. I make all my bread and rolls, and have even made some hot cross buns! I can programme mine to cook overnight, as it does take about 5 hours or so, so I can come down in the morning to that lovely smell. I have a Panasonic, used to costo about £99 but but well be cheaper now. Do persevere - you'll find in time you can put the ingredients in in your sleep - only takes a few minutes.

1. Yes I am on my third
2. Fabulous
3. I use is 5 days of out 7
4. I think so - I like more expensive bread & I reckon without elec it costs me about 55p to make a loaf (with stone ground organic flour made at a nearby mill)
5. I have a kenwood & I estimate each one (I'm on my third & I expect to buy a 4th) made about about 400 loaves and as it cost £50 to buy that only adds 1.5p ish a loaf to the total cost.

I work a 50 hr plus week and my childminded children always have home-made bread. My DD has been able to put on a loaf since she was about 8 - on a weekend morning she will often come down & make a loaf for to have for lunch - she is experimenting with the flavoured loaves now (she is 11)

I slice it using an electric knife & to get thin slices you need to cut it when it is cold. It can last about 3 days (rarely does)

AND I lost 6 inches off my waist when I went on to H/M bread

M costs don't take into account making pizza dough or bread rools which we do too

Wintersun, thats good to know, many thanks

This revolutionized the way i make bread. can not recommend it highly enough. less faff and than a bread maker.

Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day.

If i could get the dam link to work its on amazon.