Bread maker vs baking in oven

[Greenring]

I am preparing for Brexit and considering bread. I have seen quite a few threads which mention a bread maker - is there a reason people buy these rather than making bread the normal way? I have bread ingredients but have never made it and am not a particularly great baker so would consider a bread maker if it's likely to be inedible! But I don't really want to spend on something I won't otherwise use... Any advice?

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MNHQ

Nigel Slater has a dead easy bread method that I've never had go wrong OP.

Another Panasonic fan here - really reliable results. We have both made bread in the oven but the ease of using a bread machine is worth it if you want to meet all your bread needs. Bread slicing is a skill but it comes with practice!

I used to have a bread maker but didn't like the bread (I tried lots of recipes).
So now I make it by dumping all the ingredients in my bowl mixer(with dough hooks) & letting the mixer start it off,then I knead it.Leave it to rise for an hour or so,in a warm place (usually the oven after its been used or near the radiator,then knock it back & leave it to rise for a second time (not as long as first) then bake.
Absolutely delicious bread,especially warm from the oven with lots of real butter!

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse can I ask your recipe. I've just discovered how easy Ciabattais to make and am eating more than i should of that. I would love to learn how to make an equally simple loaf.

I love my breadmaker. Super easy. Lovely bread.

Another Panasonic fan here. It's reliable, makes loads of different breads in 3 different sizes. Pan is a doddle to clean. Handmade bread is nice, but I can't be bothered. Breadmaker is more efficient, minimal effort, no mess, no kneading. Perfect every time.

I used to have a bread maker but didn't like the bread

That's how I got my breadmaker. My dad couldn't bear the loaves from it or the smell whilst it was cooking and preferred to hand make his. His was quite a different texture to the breadmaker bread.

I use the bread maker to make the dough then bake in the oven - convenient and it's heated to the perfect temperature for yeast

Hoolahoophop
Mix 500gr flour (I use 1/3 wholemeal and 2/3 white) and 5 gr salt (recipe says 10 gr)

Mix 330 gr warm water with 5 gr fresh yeast. Add to the flour mixture and mix well. Cover (oiled cling film or damp tea towel) and leave to rise in the fridge. Sometimes i leave it overnight in my cold kitchen and it's fine. I usually make it in the evening and take it out of the fridge in the afternoon the next day, to be baked in the evening.

Leave it to come to room temperature for 2 hours at least. Tip onto a baking rack covered with baking paper, shape and add toppings as desired. You can leave to rise again, I usually don't.

Bake for 15 mins in a hot oven (240-250 degrees) with a baking tray filled with water underneath. Then take the tray out of the oven and bake for 10 mins at 180 degrees.

That's it

I've seen the Panasonic mentioned a few times but I don't want to spend that much in case I don't use it frequently. I'm looking at this much cheaper one www.amazon.co.uk/Morphy-Richards-Fastbake-Breadmaker-48281/dp/B00275FV5K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ref=plSrch&keywords=bread+maker&dpPl=1&dpID=418LPMM4-jL&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1548960098&sr=8-3

Do you think it will still work well enough? Anybody here got one? The reviews look decent.

I got my panasonic second hand for a tenner. It's worth looking on facebook marketplace.

And has anybody made jam in one? Did it work well?

I've got the Morphy Richards one @Greenring I've only had it six weeks but it's been brilliant so far. I've used it for both baked bread (I prefer the standard loaf setting rather than the fastbake but the fastbake stuff is still very nice) and the dough setting.

Thanks very much AndhowcouldIeverrefuse I'll try it at the weekend.

Hmm, if you're worried about how much you'll use it I'd definitely see if you can get a second hand Panasonic - because the quality is better you're more likely to use it!

Mine doesn't have a jam setting.

I've just bought that one @greenring
Only made one white loaf so far, but it's very nice! I've had a morphy Richards in the past, a daily loaf one that was very small, but it had no delay timer, which was quite annoying. I got a bread maker again partially for brexit preparedness, and partially because we're trying to stop buying products containing palm oil. I'm going to make some granary bread next. Exciting!

Ooh interesting thread - I haven’t used my bread maker in a while but thought that, with snowmageddon upon us, I might buy the ingredients

I use mine mine mostly in the dough setting and bake in the oven as I prefer rolls to loaves.

Thanks to this thread and all the fantastically helpful comments, we've used our vouchers towards buying a Panasonic. Dh loves cooking and wants to conquer bread making by hand but has been kind of over thinking it. I suggested we get a bread maker to get us started.
I've made bits before- bagels and focaccia (to underline my evil metropolitan elite ness) but I haven't done either for ages . Baby followed by illness followed by not being arsed.
Thank you everyone for spurring me on.

oven has the advantage that you could bake 3/4 loaves at the same time, saving evergy.
I usually bake 2 per week, sponge method (saves on yeast and tastes great). no need to preheat the oven.
you could then use the rest heat of the oven to make yoghurt.

I have had a quick look on marketplace but sellers are asking a lot for second hand Panasonic ones. I think I'll probably stick with the cheaper one I linked. Jam is not a priority but I've been meaning to use the fruit from the garden and never have the time when it comes to it. Let me know how your next loaf comes out, nomore

I was wondering this myself recently and did consider making bread myself in the oven but it just seemed like a faff!
I found this blog really useful: thriftyparent.co.uk/home-household/are-bread-makers-worth-it/
And as a result I ended up investing in a breadmaking. It's been really fun getting to grips with it and I love using the timer mode so we wake up to fresh bread. Yum!

Like your thinking @greenelephantscarf

I'm really not a fan of bread from a bread maker. It's very different from bakery bread - I don't think anyone would actually buy the kind of loaves that they turn out.

No knead bread OTOH is easy and tastes genuinely great. I'd recommend the Mark Bittman recipe in the NY Times.

Meh, not impressed with bread makers as I married a good one. Hand-made, every time. We hate cleaning machines!