Which Breadmaker to get?

taxsaver

Panasonic consistently are recommended by users and also by WHICH magazine. I have a Panny that is many years old and it still produces the best bread ever, every single time. I also have used a couple of other makes and they're rubbish in comparison.

Diflower

I really wanted a bread machine but needed to know I would use it.
I got a Morphy Richards for a tenner form a charity stall and used it for 6 months, during which time we didn't buy a single loaf. It was good in that it was nicer than bought sliced bread (we used to buy decent wholemeal sliced). But, it needed nurturing, the recipes needed tweaking, and even then were not that brilliant, it would often sink for no reason, and the paddle would always stick in the bottom of the loaf.

Having used it for 6 whole months I felt justified in buying a Panasonic when they were all reduced (updating models), and as expected the results are far, far better. No tweaking required, and the bread is truly wonderful. We make wholemeal, 70% wholemeal/30% white, all white, pizza dough, dough for rolls or foccacia, all sorts. All are consistently brilliant, and the paddle only sometimes sticks in the bread if I use the rapid setting.

I tend to make the smallest size loaves because this give the most sensibly-sized slices, and almost always just set it up the night before (a wholemeal loaf takes 5 hours), which takes all of 3 minutes:)

Wherever you look people will say buy a Panasonic (although the Kenwood is apparently just as good too), just don't buy the Morphy Richards;)

7_week_wonder

Another vote for the Panasonic here. There are two of us and we have used ours a minimum of twice a week every week since we first got it 3 years ago. I mainly make rye bread (50:50 dark rye flour to white flour) and get great consistent results, but have also done pizza dough, wholemeal bread, chelsea buns, pretty much every recipe that came with the machine I guess!

My mum is on her own and uses hers once a week. She makes a large loaf, slices it in half length-ways and freezes half. She finds that slices of the half loaf are plenty big enough for her.

TheThriftyScrumpers

Another Panasonic vote. I have had mine a month and can recommend White, 50:50 wholemeal White, cibatta, pine nut and pesto and honey and sunflower. It's so easy to use.

Hobsons_Choice

Many thanks to everyone, Panasonic it is then.
Think I saw one in the BHF Charity Shop the other day....will pop into town tomorrow and take a look. I'm all excited now!

Hobsons_Choice

Had a look in the BHF shop today, but it was a Morphy Richards one and a bit manky tbh.
Just looked on Amazon...OMG! Is it worth spending almost (or beyond) £100 for a new Kenwood or Panasonic? Certainly it will be used loads and I'd like to be able to add seeds and stuff, but it's an awful lot of money.
Ebay have some, but not sure about them..non that I can collect and postage is a bit high (and risky) when alls said and done.
Any comments really welcome, as I said, it's a lotta dosh when you're not sure what you're doing! (I DID read the previous threads, thanks, but some are quite old and I'm a bit of a wuss about spending me 'oliday money on a breadmaker).

valk_scot

I've worn out two breadmakers over the years, including a Morphy Richards. Used my Kenwood Chef after that for a while then decided I needed another breadmaker and bought a Tesco own brand one in a sale. I've had it for a year now and it's perfectly satisfactory, makes two sizes of loaf, has several programs and comes with a wee hook thing to pull the paddle out the base of the cooked loaf. Great value imho and I wouldn't hestiate to buy another one. I do miss the jam function though!!

Hobsons_Choice

Many thanks Val., that looks good (and the price is right) I might just go for that! The Kenwood looked a bit big anyway, this Tesco one could just fit the bill.
Again...thanks a lot.
HC

Alandal

Hi

I have just bought a Lidl 34.99 breadmaker as I couldn't justify to myself spending over £100 on a Panasonic. The first loaf was only OK but I think the recipes that come with it need adjusting as the first loaf was much to dry and tight. I then looked online and bought a small paperback book with many recipes. The loaves for everyday which are a mix of white, wholemeal & granary flours are fantastic and are better than the expensive loaves in well known supermarkets. Upside to the Lidl breadmaker is the pan is longer so the loaf is the right shape for slices but on the down side there are two paddles so you have two chances of getting one stuck in the bread! That does not seem a problem really. Just loving the bread, tasty light and really looking like a loaf you might have bought in an expensive bakery. Looking forward to trying some more interesting recipes at the weekend. So not the best time to suggest to husband that a reduction in calorie intake could be a good idea!

Kilty_2

I've just bought one of these http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002901&langId=-1&productId=1501085311

Bargain if you can get one - works well!