Looking at Bread Machines

rickismom

rickismom

Low Carb Home Cook
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I'm wanting to get a bread machine...I think. I've never been very talented at baking bread which is why I'm looking. Is it worth it? If so, what kind works the best? What features should I be looking for?
 
I've looked at two of them one by Wolfgang Puck which also makes jams besides breads. Emerilware also has one but both does require you buy his premade fixes if I understood it correctly. The Wolfgang Puck seems to have a bit more control though I'm not reals sure. I was thinking about getting one for Christmas for one of my son's family but haven't really done much research as of yet.

Wolfgang's is here

http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/wolfg...&prev=hp!sf!dept!181&ccm=qc|qc0010|qc0076|181

Emeril's is here
http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/emerilware-3lb-automatic-bread-maker-with-baguette-trays_p-4537088_xp.aspx?rdr=1&sourceid=googlebrand&cm_mmc=Paid%20Search%20Brand-_-Google-_-Cooking-_-emerilware%20bread%20makers&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=emerilware%20bread%20makers&utm_campaign=Cooking

Amazon as well as others sell them also but like I said these are the only two I've even paid attention to as of yet.
 
>>worth it?

imho, no.

use the money for the big KA mixer with dough hook.
with that you can make bread . . .
 
Here's a pic of mine - the Zojirushi BBCCX20.

It's very good and has tons of features. If it's out of your reach, then, like Chowderman says, get a K'Aid Stand Mixer. All of them come with a dough hook.:clap:
 

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This is the one I have.
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FZZ0VE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00009KF1B&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=158NDAGKQMP0ASZPW3QJ[/ame]

IMO it's worth it, as it will knead the dough, let it rise, punch it down, let it rise again and then bake it. All at the press of a button. Pretty convenient.
I know some internet bakers, in fact I think one is Mama, who have bread machines if only to do everything but bake the bread. They will take the dough out before the second rise and put it in their own baking vessel. Then use their oven.

Sherman's is definitely top of the line and gives you a more normal looking loaf, but I've worked around the odd shape that mine produces and have no problem making sandwiches with the loaves if I choose.
 
That was the only reason I was considering one for a gift for this son's family. They could set it and have fresh bread with their dinner. They are all so busy during the day and just don't always have time too cook in a big way.
 
chowhound said:
This is the one I have.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=158NDAGKQMP0ASZPW3QJ

IMO it's worth it, as it will knead the dough, let it rise, punch it down, let it rise again and then bake it. All at the press of a button. Pretty convenient.
I know some internet bakers, in fact I think one is Mama, who have bread machines if only to do everything but bake the bread. They will take the dough out before the second rise and put it in their own baking vessel. Then use their oven.

Sherman's is definitely top of the line and gives you a more normal looking loaf, but I've worked around the odd shape that mine produces and have no problem making sandwiches with the loaves if I choose.
Click to expand...



Thank you, Chowhound.

I'm going to use it again soon.

The last time that I used it, I had a disaster! The machine worked fine, but the dough just wouldn't rise!! The whole wheat flour and the yeast, I think, were the culprits. They were too old.

When you bake bread, you MUST have fresh ingredients, or else all that work will end up being a flop, and instead of having a light fluffy loaf of bread, you've got a heavy mass of dough that wasn't even worth the time making and just sinks like a rock! :bonk:
 
joec said:
That was the only reason I was considering one for a gift for this son's family. They could set it and have fresh bread with their dinner. They are all so busy during the day and just don't always have time too cook in a big way.
Click to expand...



Yeah, you can program them ahead like you would with your coffee maker.

I've never used that feature on mine yet. :chef:
 
I personally don't eat enough bread to make it worth my while. If I could by bread in half loafs it would be a good deal for me as I wouldn't have to throw out so much of it.
 
That was also the case with me. But now, since I'm a Type 2 diabetic, I have to have some starch to keep the blood sugar at normal levels because my pancreas is not producing enough.

So the bread doesn't get throuwn out any more, just the heels (end slices).

But bread, in and of itself, IS very expensive, especially whole wheat bread - costing upwards of almost $3.00!!
 
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chowhound said:
This is the one I have.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=158NDAGKQMP0ASZPW3QJ

IMO it's worth it, as it will knead the dough, let it rise, punch it down, let it rise again and then bake it. All at the press of a button. Pretty convenient.
I know some internet bakers, in fact I think one is Mama, who have bread machines if only to do everything but bake the bread. They will take the dough out before the second rise and put it in their own baking vessel. Then use their oven.

Sherman's is definitely top of the line and gives you a more normal looking loaf, but I've worked around the odd shape that mine produces and have no problem making sandwiches with the loaves if I choose.
Click to expand...

Thanks chow, that's what I'm looking for....EASY! I always seem to kill the bread when I knead it myself. I think men have more experience with that, lol :ohmy:
 
joec said:
I personally don't eat enough bread to make it worth my while. If I could by bread in half loafs it would be a good deal for me as I wouldn't have to throw out so much of it.
Click to expand...

Or make lots of french toast! :flowers:
 
Geez, first Sherman calls me COWhound, now RM is insinuating that men use their han.... well, ok, I'll give you that one RM ;^)

I'll bet I haven't baked a loaf in at least six months and that one I made the other night came out just fine. I keep my yeast and dried milk (that I get from KA) in a sealable container in the fridge. I was making my own loaves exclusively, but ran into a problem with it getting moldy on me too quick, so I stopped. I'm not sure why that started happening all of a sudden.
I go through a lot of bread because I love garlic bread and like my own loaves because I can slice it extra thick for Texas toast. And for egg in a frame, too. The past several months I've simply been buying the occassional loaf from the store and a loaf of french bread every week. The other night though, the machine sure came in handy when I was out of both.
And don't they still sell half loaves in the store? I don't think I've seen those in a while, but they used to. They might have stopped when they had those big price increases a year ago or so.

I don't use the timer on mine. Well, I did once and the loaf came out fine, but I like to make sure the flour is all collected in the doughball. Sometimes it will stick to the side and need a push with a spatula. And then you can also see if you need a touch more flour or water and add it while it is kneading.
 
Sorry for the confusion. Forgot the H in your name.

It's too late to try to change it, as the edit option on that post is gone.
 
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I had one for about 10 years and LOVED it. I think it was a Westinghouse, and it made a regular looking long loaf. It finally died about a year ago, and I keep thinking I'll replace it. I saw a Cuisinart on sale $79 at Costco last week, and almost bought it.

Maybe I'll get it for Christmas.
 
There WAS on sometime back in the '90s that made regular loaf bread. The machine brand back then was West Bend. I wanted that one so bad, but never bought it.

It had a low-profile slanted control panel and a large oven lid.
 
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Here's my 2 cents, RM. Go to Goodwill or Salvation Army or any church thrift shop. You will likely find many, many bread machines, most of which have never been used even once. They are usually $5 to $10.

I have 3 of them - 2 here and 1 at the coast. Plus I have purchased 5 or 6 of them for my kids and friends - none of them "new". Westbend, Breadman, Panasonic and a couple of other brands. I have to say, I don't see much difference in the different brands because I only use them to make my dough - not for baking. (I haven't had consistent results with baking in them but Chow has, so I know it can be done.)

Anyway, I would sooner part with my microwave than my bread machines. They are the reason I have yummy breads almost every day of the week. Not only do they knead the dough very well (it hurts my hands and wrists to do it myself), but the heating element lets the dough rise very nicely.

I would say to go thrift shopping and find one you like. (They come in all sizes and shapes.) Then have a great time playing with it and feel like a bargain hunting queen!

When you get one, look for a book called Electric Bread. It's a wonderful primer for using a bread machine and the recipes are spectacular.
 
Sherman said:
There WAS on sometime back in the '90s that made regular loaf bread. The machine brand back then was West Bend. I wanted that one so bad, but never bought it.

It had a low-profile slanted control panel and a large oven lid.
Click to expand...


That was probably it - Westinghouse - West Bend - Westward Ho!
 
Grab it because it might not be there later, and you'll be regretting that you didn't!
 
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