Bread Maker - worth it?

recovering_spendaholic

Hi = I have found this thread interesting as I am SERIOUSLY considering buying the Panasonic SD253 breadmaker with my birthday money - however when looking at it on Amazon (where it is the cheapest I think), I saw an Anthonly Worrall Thompson one which looked to have all the same features but also had crust control, more programmes and a viewing window. It was the same price as the Panasonic and also had the automatic fruit and nut dispenser. Do any of you bread maker users know anything about this one, or do you think I should stick to the Panasonic? Any thoughts welcome as I have been deliberating over this for ages!!

Thistle-down

Stick to the Panasonic - it beat all the others hands down in the recent Which? tests!

also the panasonic has crust control!

shell2001

I have got the Antony Worrall Thompson BM and find it fine. Did have a problem with my loaves of bread as the recipe they listed seemed to make really crumbly bread but the lovely ladies on here sorted me out with a recipe that is brilliant and give excellent results everytime. I have even switched from strong flour to value plain flour and still getting the same results.

I plan on using the pasta setting on this machine (though have not done yet). I find the pan really easy to clean and it has varying options, loaf size, crust setting etc.

From the majority of posts on here though I think the panasonic one has great reviews, but never having used one all I can say is I am happy with mine!

taplady

I would like a panasonic but cant stretch to one just now, we got our Morphy Richards fastbake from the carboot for £4 and it works brilliantly! will have to save up for a panasonic!;)
If you're not sure you could always try the carboot for a cheapie to see if you like it!

littlelily

My advice is - DON'T BOTHER! You really don't need one to make bread, I make my own without a machine and (having owned one before) can promise you it's far tastier and, without the unneccesary outlay, far, far, cheaper!

Simple recipe as follows:

1.5 lb wholemeal or plain strong flour - warm it in the oven for 10 minutes

1oz fresh yeast (Have tried with dried but can't get it to work, get my yeast from my local village shop but any deli will be able to get it for you, cheap as chips)

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 pint warm water.

Mix these together in a jug. After 10 or so minutes the yeast starts to foam.

Mix 1/2 pint warm water, half a tablespoon sugar, 1.2 a tablespon salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a jug.

Once the yeats is foaming and the flour warm, tip the yeast mix and the water mix into the flour amd mix for a few minutes with your hands.

Cover with clingfilm and leave for 3/4 hour.

Knead again for a couple of minutes. Put in a loaf tin (lightly greased with butter) and leave to rise for five minutes

Bake in the oven (220 degrees) for 35 minutes.

Job done - and no £100+ spending on a machine needed!!!!

I am the world's worst cook and even I can manage it!

Trow

I agree its cheaper littlelily, but having had a panasonic for what 2 months now, I can absolutely state that the bread is just as good as anything home made, and minus the hassle.

baking bread from scratch is fine if you have the time to hang around, but as I have three jobs and two children, I can't guarantee that I will have the 2 or more hours required.

With the panasonic, all it takes me is about 3 minutes.

For me, its worth every penny of the £80 I spent on it, and in terms of my time, I have already more than saved the cost of the machine had I had to use my time on aking bread instead of working.

I think giving blanket advice of 'don't bother' is unnecessary. Everyone has their own priorities and while home baking will suit some, it certainly isn't a case of 'one size fits all'.

littlelily

Apologies - no offence intended to anyone! Just trying to share my own experience which is that breadmakers a) are expensive and b) do not produce the same quality loaf as hand made. Didn't realise this was controversial!

Why not at least try to bake your own first - if it is too much time/hassle, then consider investing in a machine?

recovering_spendaholic

I thought I would try and make some bread in my kenwood this afternoon just to see how labour intensive it is and I have to say it was really easy!1 I made the dough using the dough hook and left it to rise in the same bowl in which it was mixed while I went out to Tescos and when I came back it was beautifully risen. I then re-kneaded it with the dough hook for a few mins and turned it out and hand shaped it before leaving to rise in the 2lb bread tin. It is in the oven and the moment!! It wasn't hard to do but there was about 30 minutes hanging around whilst I waited for the Kenwood to do the kneading but I have to say it wasn't any hassle. Now it just depends on what the cooked loaf is like - have to say that it rose beautifully both times. I used Tescos own bread flour and Hovis fastbake yeast - reckon it cost about 45p to make the loaf. (500g flour, 1 sachet yeast and 1oz marg).

Biddyrolo

Going back to the posts about fresh yeast, does anyone know how to grow their own, my OH's grandad was in submarines during the war and he said they used to come back with more yeast than they set off with despite making lots of bread. Would this be right or just a wind up?

Jazzy_B

About 15 years ago. I used to make a lot of home made wine, and one sachet of wine yeast would last me the whole season. I mixed the yeast with a tsp sugar, and warm water. Once it was working , I added half to the wine, added another tsp of sugar, and kept the remainder in a screwtop jar in the fridge.When I used it again, I just added more warm water, and if I remember correctly, a bit more sugar. It always worked perfectly for the 4 months or so through the summer that I made wine for.
Just as an experiment, I'm trying the same technique with bread yeast.
I'll post back, but I'm not sure if it'll be successful in a breadmaker, as you can't increase the proving time if the yeast's a bit slow to get going.