The FastDay Forum

My dad had a bread maker (bread machine ?) and I don't know how to use it even with the instructions. It's really silly because the instructions makes things even more complicated to me. I am not dumb but I just can't seem to understand how it works and I need to make it work before next month as I have some special flour that ends next month.

So my big question and how does it work ?

Also, some people told me that the energy cost is really high so it's not that efficient to have a bread maker. What do you think about that ?

Thanks

Can't really help @Manderley as I've never thought about having one but a quick look on the web seems to put the cost of making a loaf at around 5 pence. Maybe if you Google recipes you will find something easy to make for your particular machine. (Although I thought all the ingredients were put into it, switch it on and let it do it's thing, especially as it seems most people run them overnight so that there is fresh bread for breakfast.) actually, if you do that and you have the cheaper-rate evening economy tarrif it will be cheaper than the 5p mentioned above.

I have used one in the past and you put the flour, yeast and water in, selected loaf size, depending on amount of flour used and off it went. Only problem was the warm freshly baked bread was pretty irresistible

[carorees]

The main rule about breadmakers is that you keep the yeast and the water separate so either start with the yeast and add all the flour and finally the water or the other way around.

I have a Panasonic breadmaker and the recipes are slightly different from hand kneaded bread and use less yeast. The machine should have different settings for different types of flour which change the timings. The basic setting will take about 4 hours and is for white bread, then there should be a setting for wholemeal bread which is longer (eg 5 hours) and one for just dough (you can then shape into rolls or whatever and bake in your oven). It may also have a rapid setting which cuts the time in half but you add more yeast.

What make is it? If you Google recipes for that make you should get some results.

As for costs, I don't know but what I do like it's knowing what has gone into the bread I make (no palm oil or other additives).

Hope that helps

I have a bread maker that goes through phases of being loved and unloved. Currently in love and making bread for everyone. My suggestion would be to find brand, search online for instructions, also buy bread mix, I use Laucke wholegrain here in Australia, it comes with full instructions on pack. It makes the most amazing bread, but the amount of yeast is key. More makes fluffy, less makes dense (more to my liking). After experimenting over the years I put yeast and warm water in first, then flour...hit button. Mine takes 2 hours 20 mins on rapid to 3.5 hours for wholegrain setting. Good luck, nothing like fresh bread on feast day

[Tracieknits]

Oh my, if I had access to a boulangerie in France I would never use my breadmaker ever again!!!

I would start with this recipe for a small loaf of bread and see how it goes: http://www.robinhood.ca/Recipes/Bread-M ... Small-Loaf

If it seems too small for the pan, go up to a medium loaf size.

For me, a high quality baguette costs $6 (although it really is as good as the best places in Paris). So I do use my breadmaker in winter time when I'm making a lot of soups. But it's been put away since March or April and I won't pull it out until November or December.

Also, you can put flour in the freezer before it expires and it will be fine when you do decide to use it.

Of course I just baked a gateau aux nectarines from the French magazine Papilles. I think that's a much better use for flour

Thank you al so much for the ideas

I just can't see the differences between basic bread and French bread, for example.

It's a Moulinex one, a French brand, high quality one I think. It can even make jam, cakes or even just cook. I don't have it here with me, it's still at my parents house so I don't have the exact name of the machine but I know it makes good breafd as my dad made me a 1 kg loaf regularly. The only thing I don't like is the hole in the middle

I love some fresh baguette from time to time but i's quite expensive now (around 2€ for a good quality one) I couldn't buy some regularly. And if I can I may even try to make some brioche with it. Imagine the smell of fresh brioche baking just as you wake up....

The flour I have here is a bread mix, you just have to add water and a spoon of olive oil

@Manderley,I don't like the hole in the bread either so I mix the dough to the first rising stage(dough mix on my machine )then take it out of the machine ,shape it and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour then cook it in the oven.This makes a lovely loaf in whatever shape you like.You can even make bread rolls if you didn't want a large loaf.
Cheers Carmel

@carmelk46 I have a small electric oven so not the best to bake bread, or even cakes for that matter (the tiniest thing need 30 min time more than the usual time needed ) but I could try to use the seperate cooking program. I guess I need to try it once first

After looking at it, the one I have is this one
http://www.moulinex.fr/instructions-for-use/Produits/Pr%C3%A9paration-des-aliments-et-boissons/Machine-%C3%A0-pain/home-bread/csp/1500573908
I found a round tin, is that to make the cakes or the jam ? I found the notice but it doesn't say, just how to make some bread, which is a pity really.

The first try with it will be this weekend, until then I have some bread I have to finish first