Baffled by breadmaker

Mirtos

Hi GUys, I bought one of the breadmakers talked about in this post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=246112 but we've made two loaves with it now, using the basic white bread recipe, but they have come out very hard, dry and crusty, flat on top and a bit bland to taste. Can anyone offer any advice? I make bread by hand usually, and it's usually much nicer than this, but I REALLY want to be able to wake up to fresh bread, so am dying to get this sorted. I'm thinking perhaps use a different recipe? In the post I've listed above, people have had good results with the same breadmaker, so I must be doing something wrong. - My boyfriend insists that it's my cooks natural instinct to 'tinker' that's making it all go wrong, but I'm being good I promise!! Help!

Smashing

I haven't joined the breadmaking club (can't bring self to abbreviate - I just get thoughts of bowel movements ) but these links might help -

Hard bread - what am I doing wrong?

The breadmaking collection of threads

Mirtos

Bump. I've looked at those threads, thanks Smashing. Still a bit baffled though, and if anyone has experience with this particular breadmaker I'd be pleased to hear it (I know lots of people bought one after they were advertised on MSE!)

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, Mitos!

I have a sony, and this happens if I forget to add salt or sugar. Might that be the problem - it also ties in with the "bland" taste.

Penny. x

dlb

I found my first loaf ( made today!!) was too sweet, so i have another on the go at the min and have added less sugar.

I will get this right, although the first loaf the sweet one lasted all of 5 mins once the kids and DH got at it!!!LOL So it cant have been a complete disaster!

Mirtos

I thought maybe i should add more sugar as maybe the yeast didn't have enough to feed on?

dlb

Oh i hope not, my onion loaf smell`s great, but i would love to know the answer to that one to, we are all still learning !! LOL

Swan_2

Mirtos wrote:

I make bread by hand usually, and it's usually much nicer than this, but I REALLY want to be able to wake up to fresh bread, so am dying to get this sorted. I'm thinking perhaps use a different recipe? In the post I've listed above, people have had good results with the same breadmaker, so I must be doing something wrong. - My boyfriend insists that it's my cooks natural instinct to 'tinker' that's making it all go wrong

Mirtos, I've been handmaking bread sucessfully for decades, & have only recently begun to use a BM (gifted by a friend who didn't use it) & although the results can be very nice, particularly first thing in the morning ... BM's are very very unforgiving of any deviation from the recommended proportions of ingredients, unlike making by hand, even a Tablespoon or two too much water can have disastrous consequences so it doesn't take much 'tinkering' for things to go wrong unfortunately

really goes against the grain with me!

tranmererovers

I succumbed today and bought one of the above mentioned bread makers :eek:

My first loaf is cooking as we speak (lots of nice aromas coming from the kitchen)

I followed the recipe in the instruction booklet but had to guess a bit on the yeast because I had bought the fast acting(?) stuff.

I've peeped through the window and it is looking good :j

Edited to say it's finished and it's delicious. Just putting the next one on!!!

Mirtos

OK. somewhat annoyingly :mad:, my OH has just made a loaf in the BM of doom and it has turned out so much better than mine :doh: HOWEVER, 58 mins before the end, it was gloriously risen and puffy looking, but by 30 mins to go had dropped about 2 inches. We didn't open the BM or make any loud noises. Why did this happen? It's quite tasty, but not as good as by hand IMO. More practice needed I think!

Penelope_Penguin

Mirtos wrote:

OK. somewhat annoyingly :mad:, my OH has just made a loaf in the BM of doom and it has turned out so much better than mine :doh: HOWEVER, 58 mins before the end, it was gloriously risen and puffy looking, but by 30 mins to go had dropped about 2 inches. We didn't open the BM or make any loud noises. Why did this happen? It's quite tasty, but not as good as by hand IMO. More practice needed I think!

How maddening! :mad: :mad: I know what you mean, though. My DH does similar things, and I'm never allowed to forget. :mad:

Is this the same as happened to yours? This looks like a symptom of too much yeast. Do you want to post the recipe you're using, and we can take a look and compare to ours. Might then be easier to diagnose.

Bet the loaves are delicious, though..:A

Mine's just out of the BM, so off for a thick crust with HM strawberry jam and coffee,

Penny. x