Bread Maker - worth it?

QTC

I've noticed a lot of threads on here about breadmakers. I've never had one, I just use a bowl and a few baking tins, so I don't really know if I'm missing anything. Are they better than making bread "by hand"? Does anyone know how much power they use?

DianneB

Hi, I have been reading these threads as well, I mix the dough in my trusty Kenwood, leave it to rise then knock it back and rise again, it really doesn't take very long apart from the rising. I much prefer doing it this way as I find that different flours use different amounts of water and its easier to feel if the dough is right. I did try a breadmaker but found it 'case hardened' the bread and left a huge hole where the paddle had been. I guess it's just a matter of what works best for you. My bread maker ended up on Freecycle!!

QTC

I don't even use a food mixer. I use the "sponge" method, which means the activated yeast, water and half the flour are mixed up and beaten. It's like mud at this point. That gets left to rise, then it's knocked down, the rest of the flour added, then it's kneaded in the usual way.

You do get a proper feel for when it's right by hand, but the whole thing takes a bit of time..not all work, because a lot of that time is rising.

What I'm trying now is preparing in the evening, letting it rise in the tins, then putting them in the fridge. I then bake them first thing in the morning, while I'm still getting Economy7 electricity!!

Nice_Username

I've been tempted to start making my own bread before but always wondered whether it's actually worth it financially, considering the costs of the ingredients and the gas/electricity.

Although taste-wise I'm sure it's delicious and also much better for you.

DianneB

Hi QTC, I shall have a go at that now. At the moment I find that home made bread has the edge over brought bread as I can control the amount of salt in it and it has some flavour, most of the salt has been taken out of shop bread and it tastes of nothing, one teaspoon in a whole loaf makes such a difference to flavour!

galadriel

I bought a bread maker because I struggle with the mixing/kneading due to hand and wrist problems, I tend to use the dough cycle and then shape the dough to bake in the oven if I want bread rolls, or let it bake the bread if I want a loaf.

Pink.

Hi QTC,

I've added your post to an earlier thread on whether or not a breadmaker is worth it. Some Old Stylers love them and others prefer to make bread by hand. I loved my breadmaker when I first got it but as time has gone on and my confidence in breadmaking has increased I am baking more and more by hand or on busy days using the breadmaker on the dough setting to do the kneading etc and then baking in the oven because I think oven cooked bread tastes and looks so much better than bread baked in the breadmaker.

Nice Username, for breadmaker costings have a look here:

Energy Cost of a bread machine

For handmade bread have a look at these threads:

makeing bread by hand

Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day

handmade bread

Pink

purpleivy

PasturesNew wrote: »

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.

I do this as well, as I always spill flour. Then it's a quick process to get the bread on. not a good idea to add the yeast, it needs to stay really fresh. Mine lives in a dark screwtop jar in the fridge.

I use old flour bags for the weighed out stuff, then put them all into a plastic carrier in the drawer.

SmileyS_2

please can someone tell me if they really do work out cheaper than buying a loaf (I tend to buy 2 loaves for £1.20) and also how long the bread lasts? We are a family of 5 but only 2 tend to eats alot of bread as in toast in teh morning and sandwhich's

Thanks SS

1carminestocky

We have a MR Breadmaker and I have monitored its power usage with the Maplin plug-in usage monitor (very accurate!). A 1 and a half pound loaf costs precisely 4p in electricity to make (we are charged 10p per kw at the moment)! We are currently stocking up on the Hovis ready-made bread mix at a ridiculous 29p from Asda (It's on special offer but not sure for how long!). I only use 75% of the mix at a time as it makes a bigger loaf than my machine can bake so, in effect, including all ingredients and fuel, a loaf costs precisely 26p - and it tastes soooooo much nicer than the shop bought stuff IMO. HTH

PS I can't tell you how long it lasts for as it's invariably eaten up on the day it's made as it's so delicious!!