Bread Maker - worth it?

SouthernSoftie

Well, I've had my MR breadmaker free off of freecycle a week or two now and it's brilliant.
I've done the white bread, italian herb bread and cinnamon and raisin bread.

Last night we had home made pizzas made from the dough, and there was plenty to go round. It said to split the dough into two for thin crust but they were gorgeous.

pagangirl

Was sooooo pleased I got a breadmaker last week from a charity shop for £10. Should've known better - had to take it back - didn't work & no recipe book, and 2 pieces missing - got refund - but was so looking forward to making me own bread ! Glad yours in going great Southern Softie - will now save up for a new one, but it might take a while as TV died on Friday night - and we now need a new telly as well!!!!

SouthernSoftie

pagangirl wrote: »

Was sooooo pleased I got a breadmaker last week from a charity shop for £10. Should've known better - had to take it back - didn't work & no recipe book, and 2 pieces missing - got refund - but was so looking forward to making me own bread ! Glad yours in going great Southern Softie - will now save up for a new one, but it might take a while as TV died on Friday night - and we now need a new telly as well!!!!

Ask on freecycle! That's how I got mine as breadmakers are one of those things that are either used everyday or stuck in a cupboard. Hence why mine was practically brand new.

I have french bread in mine at the mo, we'll see how that comes out.

pagangirl

Have n't been on their site before - don't you have to offer something before you can join? Not sure on this, think I read it somewhere, possibly on this site. well - got nuffin to lose so here goes - will let you know how I get on!

SouthernSoftie

pagangirl wrote: »

Have n't been on their site before - don't you have to offer something before you can join? Not sure on this, think I read it somewhere, possibly on this site. well - got nuffin to lose so here goes - will let you know how I get on!

Yes you do, but it could be anything you don't want.
I often see people getting rid of jam jars for those making jam; the empty plastic boxes from takeaways. My first giveaway was a lawnmower, but don't let that put you off.
Just google freecycle and then you can find your local group. It's worth a try.

There are often tv's on there too!;)

trying-very-trying

I didn't have to offer anything before I was allowed to join. My 19yo dd almost completely furnished her flat with the generosity of freecycle. I have offered plenty since though.

PasturesNew

I bought a breadmaker and it's never worked for the baking part. Every time the bread stuck to the paddle and I had to gouge/hack it all out.

Now I just use it to mix and rise the dough. And every time I take the dough out I can see the whole paddle hasn't flattened (like it's supposed to) and if I'd baked it in the machine I'd have had the same old problem.

I have a MR Fastbake/Coolbake or something. It's small in comparison to others, but dominates the kitchen, so I have to keep it in the living room when not in use.

I use it for making pizza bases now. Saves me going out.

I've made a couple of loaves. I always make the 1lb loaves. The problem is, having made it, I can't leave it alone and I end up eating the whole lot within 1-2 hours. So I have had to stop using it really as I was putting on weight.

I live alone and I think a BM is worth it, even though I am only using it once a week, it'd pay for itself in pizza alone in under a year.

I just begrudge having to use the oven to do the baking because it takes half an hour to heat up for one tiny bit of bread. I am renting at the moment and don't want to accumulate "things". But once I am settled I'd have a small combi-oven so that'll be brilliant as they're an ideal loaf baking size.

PasturesNew

pagangirl wrote: »

... don't you have to offer something before you can join? Not sure on this, think I read it somewhere, possibly on this site. ..

For people who find this is the case, if you're after something worth about £50, then see if the local charity shop's got something for sale at £3-6. Buy that to give it away, so you can try to bag yourself something of a higher price. Just to get you started.

PasturesNew

Here's a tip: if you're like me, measuring out the ingredients is a long, slow, painful process. I have to literally check about 3-4 times EACH item (while speaking out loud) to make sure I am using the right amount of each item. Then I have to double check and say it out loud to myself, with my finger on the list, to ensure I remembered them all. And invariably there's a mess. If you collect the plastic tubs from chinese takeaways (or even buy a value pack), you can do one big weigh-in of the basic ingredients and box them up already weighed out. Then stack them in the cupboard for when you're ready and all the messy flour/sugar/salt/milk powder's been measured. So then you're just adding the wet stuff and yeast. I don't know if it would be OK to add the yeast, so I don't package that up with the big weigh in.

Barneysmom

I work my way through the list, keep the stuff I haven't put in yet on the left and as I use it, mopve it to the right.

I've got a brown loaf cooking, the smell is driving me nuts!