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Original poster

bread makers

53 replies

cheesesarnie · 19/02/2009 13:59

talk to me about bread makers!
for family of 5 would it work out cheaper or more expensive than buying bread.also is it hard?new or seconhand?etc etc!

OP posts:
Flier · 23/02/2009 14:35

cheesesarnie,
I got a second hand breadmaker at the weekend; when putting the ingredients in did you put liquids in first, then the yeast at the end? apparently the yeast activates too quickly if allowed to mix with the water.

Also, what recipe are you using? is it one that you got with the breadmaker? I read that you have to stick to recipes specific to your machine.

FriarKewcumber · 23/02/2009 15:46

I put yeast in frstthen flour then water on top - but same idea really.

Tangle · 23/02/2009 17:46

What machine did you get? Did it come with instructions (if not you can sometimes find them online)? Each machine will tell you differently and its probably best to follow the specific instructions if you can, but in general you want to keep the yeast away from the water and the salt as you add the ingredients (salt will kill yeast).

You shouldn't have to stick religiously to your machine's recipe book, although its a good starting point (in theory - mine aren't and probably takin git back for that reason)

Just a daft question, but did your DH get strong/bread flour or plain flour?

Original poster
cheesesarnie · 23/02/2009 20:53

recipe came with machine-think its cookware(cant be arsed to move).i put liquids first,then flour,salt,sugar,dried milk etc,then yeast.i'll try again tomorrow with water straight from tap!

when i cut it looked really rubbery and tasted(i was brave-i got the dc to try first!lol)really chewy.it went straight in the bin!the birds would be ill if they ate that!

OP posts:
Flier · 25/02/2009 15:58

did you try making any more bread yet, cheesesarnie?

Loopymumsy · 25/02/2009 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
cheesesarnie · 25/02/2009 21:24

flier no!!!
my friend who is bread queen is coming to help tomorrow.

OP posts:
giddykipper · 25/02/2009 21:27

DON'T LET THE YEAST TOUCH THE SALT

It will stop the yeast working hence will stop the loaf rising.

Tip from my mother.

Original poster
cheesesarnie · 25/02/2009 21:34

ok

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 25/02/2009 21:39

You don' t need the milk powder.

tigerdriver · 25/02/2009 21:40

I have bought (well actually it was a birthday present) a Panasonic 255 today. Is this good or bad? I am dieing to try it out but that might be next week as I need a few hours to see it working.

Original poster
cheesesarnie · 25/02/2009 21:46

dont i?why?do i use something else instead?

OP posts:
Tangle · 25/02/2009 23:14

cheesearnie - a basic bread recipe will include:

  • strong flour
  • water
  • sugar
  • salt
  • yeast

That's it - anything beyond that is to modify the flavour or texture. BUT, the balance of ingredients can be quite important - if the recipe that came with the machine calls for milk powder then I'd stick with it for now, get it working, and THEN start to make changes. Hope your friend gets your machine to behave

tigerdriver - the Panasonic 255 has pretty good reviews. If we take ours back that's probably what we're going to get (so please let me know how it goes )

Tangle · 25/02/2009 23:15

Sorry - most bread will also have some form of fat in it, either oil or butter. Improves texture, flavour and helps it to keep.

tigerdriver · 25/02/2009 23:16

thanks, Tangle. It looked like the best bet and as it was a pressie, well I couldn't say no could I?

I will definitely report back with results.

SoupDragon · 26/02/2009 08:06

You can just leave the milk powder out. It is completely unnecessary - as proved by the fact that the book for the Panasonic 255 doesn't call for milk powder at all whereas my older 253 version does yet states that it is just to "improve the nutritional content" or some such nonsense.

I've never put it in because the book couldn't give me a good reason to include it and no hand made bread I've (or my dad) ever made included it. Oh, and I didn't have any!

SoupDragon · 26/02/2009 08:08

the Panasonic-with-nut-dispenser has always had good reviews. That's what mine is, albeit an older version.

SoupDragon · 26/02/2009 08:08

Which reminds me... I need to put another loaf on

FriarKewcumber · 26/02/2009 09:28

IOnever use milk powder either - originally becasue I kept forgetting to buy some and then becasue it didn;t seem to make any difference.

Flier · 26/02/2009 15:58

well cheesesarnie I hope your friend teaches you well I've had a great time making bread this week, wholemeal from last night was lovely. I also made some pizza dough this morning for tonights dinner, we'll see how that turns out........

Original poster
cheesesarnie · 27/02/2009 16:19

yay!my friend is so clever!we tried a recipe for her bread maker and it turned out very well!!!yummy!so shes going to copy it out for me!

OP posts:
Flier · 27/02/2009 16:56

please share there is always room for improvement

Glad you got it working.

NorbertDentressangle · 27/02/2009 17:05

We inherited a Morphy Richards one when someone up-graded and its been great.

We've probably baked 5 loaves a week for last 5/6 months and only had one dodgy one which was 2 days ago (I used a new flour for the first time and also suspect I may have selected the wrong setting).

I also use it for baking apple cake, carrot cake and preparing dough for rolls and pizza bases.

Interesting about the milk powder -I've always used it but only because it was in the recipe so presumed it was needed.

Does anyone here use flour improver? MIL uses it but I don't think its needed TBH

akhems · 27/02/2009 17:40

tesco have one at the moment for £29. I didn'tlook closely at it because it's somethng I woudn't use but maybe good for some of you?

Katerina75 · 27/02/2009 17:44

Loopy - if you're still about - I got a Morphy Richards compact something-or-other just after Christmas and it did exactly as you describe. After a couple of weeks it then just stopped working altogether.

I called the Morphy Richards helpline who talked me through resetting it but that didn't work. They said it was obviously faulty and they would send me another - which they did. The new one has been absolutely fine.

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