Looking at Bread Machines

All this talk about bread machines makes me want to get in the kitchen this weekend and make some whole wheat bread!
 
I guess I'm the only one that finds whole wheat breads taste like card board, same with the whole wheat crackers too.
 
I'm not sure if whole wheat is the same as plain old wheat bread, but one of my favorite sandwiches is meatloaf on wheat bread with mustard. As far as my bread machine goes though, even though it will make jam and has beepers for when to add nuts, I've only used it for plain old white bread. I should try wheat sometime.

Hey RM, can you look up the one you are interested in on Amazon for reviews? A lot of people are turned off by their bread machines, too. You at least want to get one that people seem to like.
 
Whole wheat bread, as you already know, is more healthful and nutrisious for you. It's far better than white bread. It provides fiber, a god source of roughage for your digestive system.

I prefer Whole wheat bread over white bread anytime.
 
Sherman said:
Whole wheat bread, as you already know, is more healthful and nutrisious for you. It's far better than white bread. It provides fiber, a god source of roughage for your digestive system.

I prefer Whole wheat bread over white bread anytime.
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Yes that may be but it still tastes like cardboard to me. That is also why I eat other foods that give one fiber such as vegetables and other whole grains. :lol:
 
Nah.

I think it tastes more flavorful than white bread. One of the reasons why I like it so much!
 
What I was wondering is, is "whole wheat" the same as what some folks simply refer to as "wheat"? You know, is wheat a mixture of grains and whole wheat isn't?
 
I think whole wheat is ALL of the grain, while wheat is just part of it. This CAN be confusing.
 
Unfortunately the words Whole Wheat Bread and 100% Whole Wheat Bread are too often used interchangeably, when they are actually two different recipes (formulas). Whole Wheat Bread has 25-33% whole wheat flour, and the balance is white bread flour. This is typical in both home baked loaves as well as those purchased in stored and bakeries. 100% Whole Wheat Bread is made using only stone ground whole wheat flour, with no white flour at all. Both recipes are highlighted here and are TNT recipes that I use for my own baking. Both have excellent flavor and soft crumb, but the 100% is heavier because of using all whole wheat flour.

Back to the original question about machines, I'm with FM on going the used route. I frequent thrift shops all the time, and I have seen as many as 10 machines in one shop...low end to high end and everything in between. Prices run from $10 to $20 because there are so many of them. If you are making the occasional loaf of bread or have problems kneading dough, a machine is great for those things. I bake several loaves at a time, so my KitchenAid mixer is invaluable to me, and it gives me flexibility to experiment with different formulas, something machines are not fond of. If you stick to the machines formulas you are prtty much guaranteed to have good results. The biggest drawback, IMO, is digging the paddle out of the bottom of the loaf.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do, and I'm sure there are a few machine fans here that can share their recipes so you can have some variety. Just remember that you cannot use long delayed bake cycles when using milk or eggs (enriched breads) without running the risk of spoilage. Enriched bread should be made as soon as the ingredients are put in the machine.
 
Thanks for clearing up the whole wheat thing, Joe.

My machine's paddle always stays with the pan(?), whatever it's called. I need to put water in it to loosen it up, but the directions say for no longer than twenty minutes I think. Must have something to do with the seal. It loosens up after about ten seconds to remove and wipe off.
 
Now I remember!

When I make whole wheat bread, the recipe DOES call for a large portion of white flour.
 
I have one that I got as a gift. I thought that I really wanted it. Now, I think it is a useless device that makes strange looking breads. I prefer to use my kitchenaid and the oven (and to knead a bit by hand)
 
One thing I noticed that was not mentioned was No-Knead Bread as an alternative to machines or mixer made breads. I remembered this because I will be making two loaves for a fundraiser I will be attending Saturday evening. This, IMO, is the best bread for daily use, and almost anyone can make it.
 
i have one of the original breadman breadmakers that's still going strong. probably because it's only been used a few dozen times. but i still like the loaves that it makes.

my favourite bread to make is whole wheat, banana, honey, and flax seeds.

i buy the bob's red mill whole wheat bread mix http://www.bobsredmill.com/ , add 3 overripe bananas, a coupla tbsps of honey, and a cup of flax seed.
it comes out dense, sweet, and a little crunchy.
 
Fisher's Mom said:
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.
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I agree. At a thrit shop a new, or once used bread machine will cost you less than 10 bucks. The featrures you need depend on your intended use. In my case, I have not used the bake cycle for years. I generally fill the machine at night, roll out the dough in the AM. Takes about a half hour to bake. FYI" A lot of these machines lack manuals. Many of these are available on the internet. Yahoo has a bread machine forum with many manuals available for free download. Breed machine bread costs less than 50 cents and less than 5 minutes of your time.
 
Thanks for the tip about making the dough at night and then baking in the morning, bigjim. That is such a great idea.
 
Thanks to everyone and their input, I got my Welbilt Bread Machine at St Vinnie's for a whopping $7.65 including tax, lol. And it works beautifully! I'm so excited!! :biggrin:

Now my question is, can ANY bread recipe be used in a machine or does it have to be a special recipe?
 
>> can ANY bread recipe be used in a machine

generalization: no

you may have heard that cooking is an art form, baking is a science. baking requires the right proportions of "stuff" to produce the specified results.

the first issue is simply the volume of the recipe. you can't put a six loaf recipe in a bread machine.

since you may have to reduce the volume, you can't just cut everything by 1/x - might / not not work, depends on the "drasticity" of the change.
 
rickismom said:
Thanks to everyone and their input, I got my Welbilt Bread Machine at St Vinnie's for a whopping $7.65 including tax, lol. And it works beautifully! I'm so excited!! :biggrin:

Now my question is, can ANY bread recipe be used in a machine or does it have to be a special recipe?
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Congrats, RM! That was a really great buy!

As far as the recipes, the answer is yes and no. First, most machines will only accommodate about 4 cups of flour. This varies a little from machine to machine. Be sure and download a manual for your machine if it didn't have one with it. If your recipe calls for more, you probably can't use it. Second, a lot depends upon whether or not you plan to bake your bread in it or in the oven.

I never bake mine in the machine - only in the oven. There is a lot more flexibility that way. For example, if your water isn't quite warm enough or your yeast isn't real active, it will take longer for your dough to rise. If you bake in the oven, you can just wait a little longer til the dough has doubled. Also, I think the crust is nicer baked in the oven. All you do it set the machine to dough and let it go. When the dough cycle is done, it will have finished it's first rise (if it's a yeast bread). Then take it out, punch it down, and put it in whatever pan you will be baking in and then let it rise again before baking.

You can also make quick bread doughs in your machine - we have scones a lot! yum
 
With the money you saved on the machine, I would suggest that you spend a little on a bread machine cookbook. As stated above, manuals are available on the internet, and contain a few recipes.
For starters, here is my basic white bread recipe.

Yeast - 1 tsp
Sugar - 2 tbs
Salt - 1 tsp
Butter - About 3/8 inch off a cube
Flour - 2 1/3 cups (I use King Arthur, and not bread machine flour)
Powdered milk - 1 tbs
Water - 1 cup

On my machine, order of ingredients does not seem to matter.

You can substitute about 1/3 of rye or whole wheat flour. I add a slightly more regular when I do.

I do not bake in the machine, as mine does not produce a good crust. I start the machine in the late PM and form and bake in the AM. I use a thermometer to cook to 190 degrees.
 
KA rules. And they have specific bread machine flour.
I don't have my recipes handy at the moment, but if you are going to play around with it right away, the yeast goes on one side of your flour mound (I make a little crater for it) at the salt on the other. It seems they would mix soon enough, but everything I've read says to do it this way, so I do.
 
I didn't know that, Chow! I always just put the salt in with the dry ingredients and only put yeast in the little well. I'll try it the other way today. Thanks!
 
KA All Purpose seems to work better for bread(s) than Gold Medals Better For Bread flour ... just saying ...
 
I don't know what the difference is in bread flour and regular, regular works just fine for me. A real saving in loaf price can be had by using Costco yeast, about 4 bucks for a 2 pound bag. Yeast will keep a long time in the freezer.

Kids also love bread machines, and they work well for a first cooking experience. You have 7 ingredients, no real danger of messing up if you help them with the measurements the first time. Once the dough is finished, I let them get creative in the shaping of the loaf, and then bake. The smile on an young girl's face when she puts her hot bread on the dinner table is worth the 8 bucks for the machine.
 
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