Are you sure you need a *breadmaker/easiyo/slow cooker*

Bitsy_Beans

I can't comment on the cost of electric for running a BM but for me the taste and knowing what's gone into it wins hands down. Plus I find it far more filling than the shop bought bread which means I don't eat as much of it. Plus I find it toasts much better too - nice and crispy when cut fairly thin. I don't have any probs cutting my HM bread. I use the little packets of yeast and just remove a quarter of a tsp of the yeast from the packet. This means I end up with a nice firm loaf and not one filled with air bubbles at the top which WAS a PITA to cut.
As for SC they are miserly with the electric - safe to leave on at home all day so you can literally walk through the door to a ready made meal. I can use cheaper meats therefore saving money to buy on more important things, like say shoes
Never made yoghurt, I must admit never really thought about it. Really only the kids eat it so I tend to buy the Petit Filous one (yep I am sure these are probably loaded with sugar ). What do you flavour your yoghurts with????

HowlinWolf

About 9 years ago my dad and I worked out that, buying a brand new panasonic breadmaker for mum and all ingredients to make bread when compared with the cost of shop bought bread in the quantities that mum and dad ate, the breadmaker would pay for itself in a year and therefore savings would be made from year 2 onwards. That did not include the cost of electric. I think the only way to work that out would be by using one of those energy monitors to test how many units are used. Mum's breadmaker is still going strong and I have had my own for about three years. I would say it definitely saves on the cost of shop bought bread but with the change in the cost of things I am not sure what the margin is now. The bread is a lot nicer and you know what goes into it.

nickyhutch

Make sure he's not objecting because he genuinely doesn't like BM bread - it does taste different, and it might not be to his taste, in which case it would be unfair to make him eat it.

mrcow

I use my breadmaker to make croissants, brioche (massive loaves!), to die for garlic foccacia, Italian herb bread (gorgeous), cinnamon buns, fruit loaf, raisin bread, pizza dough (for massive pizzas), hamburger buns, egg loaf etc etc.

All of which you couldn't buy a comparable alternative to in a supermaket if you tried.

Homemade bread products have a quality about them that you can't replicate by going in store. All my stuff comes out massively lovely (and I'm no chef!)

Why does he think that all you're going to be doing is making stuff to stick in a toaster?



Edit: I just remembered the pesto swirl bread I made a few months back - I going to have to make that one again soon!

Sunnyday

I couldn`t manage without my breadmaker, i work shifts so wouldn`t have the time to make my own bread otherwise - neither would my poor wrists be able to cope with all the kneading I like being able to throw all the ingredients in the pan and switch on the timer then go to bed and wake up to a lovely warm loaf There are many advantages as have already been mentioned and i love the fact that 5 ingredients can produce a fantastic french loaf that would cost a fortune in the shops by comparison.

My slowcooker is another thing that i would hate to lose, i currently own 2 and use the larger 6.5 litre one for batch cooking chilli and stew or a whole chicken or gammon joint. The smaller one is 3.5 litre and is used for everything else. I love coming home from a long shift to find that tea is ready and there is very little washing up. I just know that i would be too tired to cook a lot of time and would ring for takeaway. Its also great to use in the summer when its hot outside and i don`t want to create more heat in the kitchen by having the oven on.

I don`t have an easiyo as i didn`t really like the idea of the sachets, i used to make yogurt in a flask until i couldn`t keep up with demand so i bought the lakeland yogurt maker that makes a litre at a time, just right for us and i strain half of each batch through a handkerchief and make soft cheese which is lovely with garlic and chives added. This does get used a lot more in warmer weather though.

I wouldn`t like to lose any of my gadgets they make life easier and we are able to eat healthier food and save money despite working silly hours.

HTH

SD

Dave101t

breadmaker:
average 30p for ingrediants and 30p for electric.

my 1st loaf was a mess to cut, but since then, all have been wonderful.

other benefits:
make buns, cakes etc in it.
no dodgy ingrediants unless you want them
taste, taste, taste.
easy to slice, thick, thin, your choice depending on what you want that day.
super long shelf life, i had a loaf for 2 weeks and it just wouldnt go mouldy. it went a little hard, yes, but a little heat in the toaster and even at 2 weeks its a nice bread!
its fun, yes fun to do stuff.
in bad weather, shops out of stock, make your own and stay in cosy and warm

and lastly:
you dont have to justify anything to anyone, you want one, you get one!

kunekune

I don't have any of these.

We don't all like the same types of yoghurt, so it is easier to get a variety of things. I'm not keen on the easiyo sachets. If I DID make yoghurt it would be in a flask in a warm place.

I did once have a breadmaker but like others, I found that I only used it to make dough. I now have a dough hook on my magimix which is just as useful, and it means less equipment. If I've the time and I'm pre-menstrual, I'll do it from scratch, as it's great for getting rid of tension and anger to knead.

I did once have a slowcooker. I quite liked it, but OH hated the taste. So, although I would find it useful to get another (we had to ditch all electrical equipment when we unemigrated), it has been vetoed. Instead, if I want casseroles during the week when I'm out all day, I make it at the weekend and either chill it to eat Monday/Tuesday or stash one in the freezer. Not really a big deal to do. And anyway, we don't have room for more large pieces of equipment.

How about getting the gadgets one at a time. How you eat and how you cook make a difference. What is essential for one person is a waste of space for another.

lbt_2

mrcow wrote: »

I use my breadmaker to make croissants, brioche (massive loaves!), to die for garlic foccacia, Italian herb bread (gorgeous), cinnamon buns, fruit loaf, raisin bread, pizza dough (for massive pizzas), hamburger buns, egg loaf etc etc.

All of which you couldn't buy a comparable alternative to in a supermaket if you tried.

Homemade bread products have a quality about them that you can't replicate by going in store. All my stuff comes out massively lovely (and I'm no chef!)

Why does he think that all you're going to be doing is making stuff to stick in a toaster?



Edit: I just remembered the pesto swirl bread I made a few months back - I going to have to make that one again soon!

Hiya

Would love to try the garlic foccacia if you have the recipe please? Which book do your recipes come from?

Thanks

lbt_2

I can't add anything to the comments that have been made, other than if you asked on freecycle you would probably get a breadmaker and a slow cooker but if the ebay one is really cheap just go for it. You won't regret it