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[chickenNutter]

But every time I have had bread out of a breadmaker it has been incredibly dull.

 

Bakery bread may be full of sugar and salt, but it tastes better.

 

I think I am slightly put off because of the way I had the wretched thing inflicted on me. My sister rang me 5 years ago to say that Tesco were selling off 3 different models of breadmaker in their sale, including one really basic simple model, really cheaply, and it was the same make as my Mum's breadmaker - which makes half decent bread. (Still not as nice as our baker's) My OH decided we couldn't live without one and went to buy one, and what did he come back with? The basic one?

 

Oh no, it is a machine. Being a bloke he had to upgrade and go for the all-singing, all-dancing, lights flashing, 22 different programmes, bagels, scones and all, with a handbook the size of the Shorter Oxford.

 

Does it make nice bread? No.

 

Can I chuck it out?

 

No.

 

To save face, OH gets it out once a year and makes horrible bread which we all have to eat and compliment him on.

 

I rest my case m'lud.

 

Thank the Lord for Mr Sainsbury et al.

[majorbloodnock]

But every time I have had bread out of a breadmaker it has been incredibly dull.

 

Bakery bread may be full of sugar and salt, but it tastes better.

 

And that, of course, is why having the right of free choice is such a wonderful thing.

 

I seem to remember reading somewhere an article that suggested many children were growing up with tastebuds attuned to certain ingredients prevalent in fast foods and ready prepared meals, to the extent that they'd actually find more natural tasting alternatives positively distasteful.

 

Whilst that is a very extreme example, it may well be that your taste buds have gone through a similar process. I hasten to add that the only parallel I'm drawing is that of education to certain tastes and I'm certainly not commenting on health. I'm also not suggesting that, just because you prefer something bought over something home made, you are wrong.

 

I would also say, though, that just because something has been home made doesn't in itself make it a good example of that type of food - I've produced several loaves that were 100% organic, 100% home made and 100% foul. And, whilst bread machines as a concept are generally well executed, loading them up with ingredients and pressing the button doesn't guarantee good results, despite the faith some people place in them.

 

My mother was (and still is, despite being too far away for me to sample the results) a very accomplished cook. My benchmark for excellent bread is her execution of a standard Mrs Beeton recipe, and, rather than judge my home made bread against a local bakery, I judge both against that ideal. When my baking wasn't good enough to compare with bought loaves, I just practiced more. Now, I find both my and my wife's efforts taste better (to us) than anything produced commercially, and my son is rapidly developing the same facility.

 

Rereading this post, it does seem to be very pompous, and for that I can only apologise and assure you that's not the intention. Unfortunately, I can't change it much, because it also says what I want to say. Ah, well; it seems I cant have my bread and eat it.....

[Lesley]

I agree with everything you've said MBN - very eloquent!

 

Perhaps bread from breadmakers is similar to making pastry or yorkshires?? - some people just can't make a decent loaf?.......

 

I can make excellent pastry, really good bread (with or without a breadmaker) but I make terrible Yorkshires!! - Carl makes all our lovely bread (to dough stage in the breadmaker)and makes the best Yorkshires ever!

[poachedegg]

Don't tell me you guys actually persist in this ridiculous sport when you can buy lovely bread for very little money from the bakers/supermarket?

 

Why would you do this?

 

Am I missing something?

 

It only takes a couple of minutes to put it on (indeed I have put the breadmaker on just now, because OH is coming home for lunch and fancies a Corned Beef sandwich! ) - more importantly, I know what ingredients go into it.

 

Perhaps you should try a different machine? I can highly recommend the Panasonic!

[C&T]

I think that the panasonic generally comes out top. We have had one for about 10 years or so. I have heard though that there is a version where the paddle at the bottom collapses during baking which would be a really good feature as it stops that hole in the bottom of the loaf.

 

Ours is supposed to do that... And it did at the beginning - but alas it collapses no more!

 

I have tried oiling it with Vegetable Oil (as recomended in the book) which helps sometimes. And using some thin string to help clean it (a bit like flossing teeth) helps, but don't rely on it!

 

But I do love our breadmaker - made some lovely sun dried tomato bread a little while ago. Yummy! Especially dipped in some lovely basil oil and vinegar...

 

And the smell...

 

I am not allowed to use it at the moment though as on a diet, and I eat too much bread if I make our own!

[Chucky Mama]

I think that the panasonic generally comes out top. We have had one for about 10 years or so. I have heard though that there is a version where the paddle at the bottom collapses during baking which would be a really good feature as it stops that hole in the bottom of the loaf.

 

Ours is supposed to do that... And it did at the beginning - but alas it collapses no more!

 

I have tried oiling it with Vegetable Oil (as recomended in the book) which helps sometimes. And using some thin string to help clean it (a bit like flossing teeth) helps, but don't rely on it!

 

I am so glad that you told me this. Myself & ES have been trying to sabotage our current panasonic so that we can buy the one with the collapsable blade. I think that we will stick to this model now.

[C&T]

No problem.

 

Because it is a "moving part" bits of bread/dough get stuck in it - and it is so difficiult to clean it properly!

 

I wouldn't recomend sabotaging your current one for one!!

[chickencam]

The vast majority of commercial bread, except that from atrisan bakers, is made using the'Chorley Wood Process' which involves a lot of enzymes that don't have to listed in the ingredients. These enzymes give you the lightness and very quick rising of the dough so that many loaves can be made in a very short time. They also make the bread stay 'fresh' for longer.

 

You can tell this sort of bread by squashing a slice between your finger and thumb if the bread stays completely squashed and makes no attempt to spring back. The problem with these enzymes is that they rpoduce a rise without giving time for the gluten in the flour to break down. This is the probable cause of a lot of the wheat intolerences in this country because the bread is very hard for the digestive system to break down.

 

This is the major reason why I make my own bread so that I know what has gone into it. You even have to watch some fast action and easy bake yeast have some of these enzymes added. I use Allinsons easy blend which is just yeast.

 

This is also why I recommend using a Kenwood rather than a bread maker because you can leave the dough to rise for as long as it needs, and it costs very little more than a top end breadmaker and has other uses. The bread that we make now tastes just as good as very expensive bakery bread. It has taken years of practice though

[Space Chick]

I agree about the Chorley Wood process chickencam. I used to get terrible stomach pains if I ate too much bread in the days before I made my own. Now I can scoff a whole loaf and my stomach is fine (albeit fatter )

[debbier]

Don't tell me you guys actually persist in this ridiculous sport when you can buy lovely bread for very little money from the bakers/supermarket?

 

Why would you do this?

 

Am I missing something?

 

Probably a similar reason to why some of us "nutters" keep hens when we could more cheaply and with less effort buy eggs from a supermarket.

 

p.s. My "bread machine" is my hands, and, if I say so myself, I make fantastic bread!!!

[Redwing]

Another vote for Panasonic here, it makes nice big loaves too, hubby makes a loaf in it most days as he eats loads of sandwiches at work

 

Home made bread is the best!

[chickenNutter]

Oh. How much of a failed domestic Goddess do I feel now?

 

 

In my defence I do cook everything else myself from fresh ingredients, some of which I even grow myself.

 

Lesley - I can make very scrumptious home made Yorkshires, despite being a Lancastrian (most impoverished northern peasant societies filled their stomachs with a flour and water mix of some sort a couple of hundred years ago, so I don't know why Yorkshire claims the recipe as their own)

 

Major, I too, take Mrs Beeton as the baseline for all things culinary, sadly I have not the cool hands necessary for good pastry (and obviously bread) hence worshipping at the alter of Greggs. You are not at all pompous, it is your restrained yet measured aloofness that is your most endearing quality. (And sends all of the MBN fan club wild!)

 

Cookiemonster - you are welcome to our breadmaker if you can prise my OH off it.

[DebC]

I have a Morphy Richards for years. I probably use it once a week and it's brill!!!

 

Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread. I generally make mine from scatch, but if I'm feeling lazy I use a mix and there are some lovely breads available in the mixes.

 

They are definately worth having. Go for it!

[sadietoo]

Another vote for the panasonic I'm afraid

[Old Speckled Hen]

Panasonic

AND

you must use decent flour.

I get mine from The Watermill at Little Salkeld

here

http://organicmill.co.uk/ and it makes wonderful bread

[Saronne]

I love my Panasonic.

 

 

 

Saronne x

[Falkor]

Anyone have any opinions on bread machines that also do jam?

Edited October 19, 2009 by Guest

[C&T]

Anyone have any opionions on bread machines that also do jam?

 

 

Mine does, and I thought I would use this...

 

But I haven't yet.

 

I think, IMHO, that they make such a small amount, as the pan itself isn't very big, that it isn't worth the effort. You would only get a couple of jars max I think.

 

When I make jam, I tend to use a couple of pounds of fruit minimum - for some reason lots of people who donate empty jars, seem to expect some of their jars back again having been filled with something! So I have to make a fair amount to keep up with demand...

 

So if you are happy making less, then could work for you!

 

(oh, and you still have to prepare all the fruit by hand, so really doesn't save any time!)

[Falkor]

Anyone have any opionions on bread machines that also do jam?

 

 

Mine does, and I thought I would use this...

 

But I haven't yet.

 

I think, IMHO, that they make such a small amount, as the pan itself isn't very big, that it isn't worth the effort. You would only get a couple of jars max I think.

 

When I make jam, I tend to use a couple of pounds of fruit minimum - for some reason lots of people who donate empty jars, seem to expect some of their jars back again having been filled with something! So I have to make a fair amount to keep up with demand...

 

So if you are happy making less, then could work for you!

 

(oh, and you still have to prepare all the fruit by hand, so really doesn't save any time!)

 

I would probably only make a small amount as i can`t get my hands on loads of fruit.....I have been googling and reading reviews but nowhere does it actually say the quanity it would make....could I be cheecky and ask you to have a little look at your instruction book please?

[C&T]

I'll look tonight and see if I can find it!

[C&T]

Sorry, last two evenings I have been sooo cold (as I won't put the heating on yet!) I have gone to bed early, and not looked this up.

 

But googling, it looks like up to 1.5lbs of fruit.

 

The fruit does also need to be cut up very small - i.e. smaller then if you were using a pan on the stove.

 

Personally, still think easier to use a pan, and probably easier to clean!

[Falkor]

THANK YOU!

 

will fink on this before adding it to my xmas list

[Space Chick]

I would only make jam in my preserving pan, never in my bread maker Em.

[Falkor]

I would only make jam in my preserving pan, never in my bread maker Em.

 

Why debs?

 

I have made jam in a BIG stock pot before but it was not very successful...perhaps the base wans`t thick enought.

 

Should I add a breadmaker and a preserving pan to my xmas list?

 

[Space Chick]

I just wouldn't trust the jam not to wreck the non stick surface of the breadmaker, as I have wrecked a non stick pan before making jam.

 

Add both to your list Em... along with a super douper camera (from chicken thread) and a WIR extension I hope you've been a good girl all year otherwise you'll have no chance with Santa