CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) Hi sorry I didnt want to hyjack the other thread but wanted to ask about these. I have always been inder the impression that they are rubbish. But I notice a lot of you use them. Does it work out cheaper to make your own bread, and is it easy, or require loads of washing up and hastle, how long does the bread last for and does it taste as good as bakery bread. Also what bread makers would you recomend or suggest avoiding. Sorry for loads of questions. I just rather like the idea of making my own bread and we do eat a lot in this house! Also can anyone show me pics of the bread they have made, I have never seen a bread machine made loaf. Edited February 5, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I've got the Panasonic one with the seed dispenser and it's brilliant. I used to make my own bread using the dough hook attachment on my Kenwood mixer, but that was far too labour intensive, so I got one of these. It has a timer, so you can program it to mix over night and present you with a hot loaf in the morning! I like making my own bread, that way you know exactly what goes into it. they don't last as long, as they don't have chemical preservatives in them, but it all gets eaten so quickly that it isn't an issue. I use local flour and other ingredients wheer I can and it always comes out a dream. I also use mine for making pizza dough and other stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Whick one do you have this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD255-breadmaker-raisin-dispenser/dp/B000QUYW62/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1201604833&sr=1-2 or this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD253-Raisin-Dispenser-Medium/dp/B0001J02DK/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1201605633&sr=1-11 I like the look of the second one, plus its cheaper. The top one some peopl ehave said that with a lot of use the paddle becomes lose and imbeds itslef in the bread. and when they contacted Panasonic they said its cause the maker is only designed to make a loaf a fortnight, and they would have to buy replacement paddles if using more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Also how does the bread freeze? cause I was thinking I could make bread rolls for lunch boxes and always pop some in the freezer to keep longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Mine is the 253 Cat - the bottom one. The paddle sometimes comes out in the bottom of the loaf (very rarely) but that's not a problem, I just yank it out with a knife. I think it depends on the consistency of the bread rather than anything else. You can also use the breadmaker to just knead and prepare the dough, then shap and bake it yourself. Lesley and Carl do this. I think that most people on this forum have the same model - we did a mass-buying thing once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Ah another omlet shopping spree I see! I have just emailed the other half asking if we can get one (i.e. can he pay for most of it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I asked lots of questions of friends who had breadmakers and read up about them - this one seemed to come out tops. The recipe/instruction booklet is great too. What is best is waking up in the morning to the smell of baking bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I have to same one as Clare I have had it over a year and use it most days. I also use it for pizza dough and naan bread. The naan bread is lovely. I have made loads of rolls for lunches and they do freeze very well. I have also done the occasional cake I make the medium sized loaf and use 50/50 wholemeal and white flour. The children never eat white bread now The first loaf I made was the large sized one but I just didn't like the shape, it was tall rather than long if you see what I mean? I did wonder if it would just get shoved it a cupboard, but it has certainly paid for itself and has earned it's place in the kitchen I would definitely recommend getting one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I,ve had the panasonic SD-253 for 4 or 5 years. It is used most days and sometimes 3 or 4 times a day if I make several loaves for the freezer. the paddle has never got stuck in the loaf. This loaf below was made on the 21st of december and popped in the freezer (took it out last nigh to defrost). The loaf was made made from a bread mix (sunflower seed) from Aldi which cost 59p. the mix made two loaves. Just throw in half the packet of bread mix and add 350ml of luke warm water. Baked on the fast bake setting which took one hour 55 minutes. The loaf measures 13cm high, 21cm long and 13cm wide. Making a loaf from bread flour and adding yeast takes about 3 hours and makes a bigger loaf if you use the normal setting. I use bread flour from Lidl which costs 49p for one and a half kgs. I get 3 loaves from one bag of flour. I love waking up in the morning to the smell of freshly baked bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I use local flour and tend to use a mix of white flour and one called cotswold crunch - it has grains in and is malty. I also use the dispenser to add an omega seed mix (sunflower, pumpkin and linseeds) I haven't frozen my bread, but that's just because my freezer isn't big enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Oh it looks great! Thanks for the pricing info. Def getting one now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 We have the Morphy Richards Fastbake - from Argos. It came out well in Which tests. We use the dough setting which takes an hour and a half and then shape it, prove it for half an hour and then bake it. We use Spelt flour as I have a slight wheat intolerance but can cope with Spelt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 i have the MR fastbake too, here's a pic of the first ever loaf I made with it I also make pizza dough and jam in mine. We picked tons of blackberries in August and made jam with them, it was gorgeous! Especially on freshly baked, home made bread We still occasionally buy bread from the supermarket. If you go later in the evening, they usually have a few loaves going very cheap but using a BM is certainly cheaper than normal priced bread. I usually make bread with half strong white bread flour and half granary flour. It makes a nice light granary loaf and white flour is cheaper than greanary so it goes further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Damn, their I went with bank card ready to order one and discoverred that model is discontinued, which menas the newer one thats £100!!! hmmmm. Im hunting down online reviews now. The Morphy Richards 48280 Breadmaker seems to score well, its got 5 out of 5 on one site with 13 reviews. plus Its pretty well priced (will prob find this is dicontinued too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Damn, their I went with bank card ready to order one and discoverred that model is discontinued, which menas the newer one thats £100!!! hmmmm. Im hunting down online reviews now. The Morphy Richards 48280 Breadmaker seems to score well, its got 5 out of 5 on one site with 13 reviews. plus Its pretty well priced (will prob find this is dicontinued too!) Oh dear. Have you tried other sites to see if they have it in stock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 yeah I hjave hunted round all the net, can only buy a used one, and I would rather get one with a warrenty. I have just ordered the Morphy Richards one from amazon, itrs only £40 and yeah it won the witch report and has very good reviews (apart from the fastbake function which is rubish apparently.) Well both boys are asleep right now and I have 3 eggs (thanks to another mystery layer,) so Im off to make eglutines banana bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I have the Morphy Richards Fastbake and would recommend it. I have only used the fastbake feature once and I thought it was useless. The feature that made me buy this rather than the panasonic was the folding paddle which makes much less of a hole in the bottom of the loaf. A lot of people complain about the shape of breadmaker loaves, but if you turn them on their sides they make perfect square slices. I find that I tend to eat the nice soft bit off the top and the bottom crust as cooks perks and the rest makes great sandwich bread. It is worth wrapping the loaf in a tea towel when it comes out of the machine if you want a softer crust, or have a very sharp knife for cutting it because they do tend to be very crusty. I tend to use the sandwich loaf setting number 11 most of the time because it makes a larger lighter loaf. When the machine has done most of it's first knead I like to check how the dough feels because it makes a lighter loaf if it feels slightly but not very sticky to the touch but you soon get the hang of it. Sorry I have gone on a bit, but I have used breadmakers for quite a few years now and I keep thinking of things. Good luck with yours, the smell you get in the house is fab I have bought a big lock & lock box to keep the bread in because it doesn't fit into most bags very easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Sorry, another question. I just told my mum I had ordered a bread maker and she sadi 'do you know if you like home made bread.' She said her neighbour gave her some occasionally and she didnt like it. She said it tasted cakey. Do you find a difference in taste to a loaf you would get from a bakers, and if so in what way? Or is my mums neighbour just making it wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I just think it tastes nicer than shop bread. That's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I have a morphy richards fastbake and have yet to make a nice loaf with it. Its always very stodgy whichever recipe/method I try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The problem may either be a faulty machine or too much liquid. Flour also varies in its absorbancy quite a lot from brand to brand and some have a lot greater gluten content which generally makes better bread. Try changing the flour making sure that is strong bread flour and that the percentage of protein in the flour is greater than 11% which indicates its gluten content. Towards the end of the first knead check how sticky the dough is, it should feel slightly sticky but not actually stick to your fingers. I think that breadmaker bread can taste a bit cakey if you use all of the sugar which is recommended because this makes it very sweet I only ever use a scant tablespoon measured with the scoop provided. As I said earlier I usually use the sandwich setting which makes lighter bread. Hope this helps Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I only use honey in my bread and it tastes divine. The flour I love is FWP Matthews http://www.fwpmatthews.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hubby bought me a bag of Carrs breadmaker flour from Tesco at the weekend and it made lovely bread and their website has loads of fab recipes for breakmaker loaves. Sorry I haven't worked out how to do links yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 (edited) Hubby bought me a bag of Carrs breadmaker flour from Tesco at the weekend and it made lovely bread and their website has loads of fab recipes for breakmaker loaves. Sorry I haven't worked out how to do links yet Liz, just copy the url of the site, paste it into your thread, then highlight the link and click on the URL link button above the posting window. It should look like this without the * [url*]www.omlet.co.uk[/url] .... Ta daaaaa Go on, have a go. I'll hold your hand! Edited January 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I have an LG breadmaker which I bought for £30 about 12 years ago. Apart from the odd 'loaf like a brick' see other breadmaker thread, it is brilliant It is different from shop bought bread but in a really good way I like making my own bread because I know exactly what has gone into it, and I always put less sugar and salt in mine than the recipe says. I use Sainsbury's strong bread flour, but I have also used their cheap as chips flour 9p a bag and still managed to produce a nice loaf. Mine makes brilliant pizza dough as well. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...