Bread Maker - worth it?

Justamum

I had one years ago, but it gave up the ghost fairly quickly. They take up a lot of space and take ages to make one loaf.

Now I make mine by hand which is almost as quick as putting the ingredients in the breadmaker and turning it on. I make 4 at a time, so always have some in the freezer. I wouldn't have a breadmaker given to me now.

skipton

We have a Panasonic which has been fantastic. had it about 5 years now so not the most uptodate model. It comes with a great recipe booklet.
The bread doesn't keep as long as shop bought but it has much more flavour. Cuts really well with electric carving knife.

knithryn

Morphy Richards FastBake bought second hand because I wasn't at all sure whether I would use it.
Personally I wouldn't buy one new as they seem very expensive BUT I love the bread they make. In fact we are snowed in so I used it yesterday and love the bread from it. I am currently using a bread mix from Lidl or Aldi which has yeast etc in it - all you need to add is lukewarm water.
At the start I used it all the time - two loaves a week, sometimes three, which gave us packed lunches for two adults plus toast etc.
Making bread with all the raw ingredients is a bit fiddly, and in my breadmaker it takes 3 hours by the time it has mixed, kneaded, warmed baked, so I ahve to plan when to put it on as you need to remove the bread from it once done (ie can't put it on and go to bed....well I could use the timer but it makes loud beeps which would wake us up).
I've also used it to make pizza dough (just to dough stage, then rolled out for pizzas - very very good), and bread rools (supersized, substantial rolls which make a 'man's' lunch), wholemeal and white breads.
I find the recipe book that comes with it is the best guide for me.
The bread goes hard quicker, but even then makes fab toast (or you could freeze odd slices and make bread and butter pudding when you have enough).

Would I buy one if I didn't have one? no. Not new anyway.
Would I like one as a present if I didn't have one? YES

carolinosourus

I'd also like some opinions as I was thinking about buying a Panasonic SD255 (with the raisin/nut dispenser) but was concerned about the big hole in the bottom of the loaf!!

LittleBrownFrog

i love my panasonic ... i wouldn't pay extra for the raisin dispenser personally - i just add any 'bits' when the beeps tell me to. we make all our own bread - i don't find the hole too much of a problem

katholicos

I think electric breadmakers are fine, but i prefer the human variety. Making bread by hand really isn't the challenge that some people seem to think it is. My suggestion would be to try making bread by hand first and if you don't like it or take to it, then invest in a machine to do it for you.

MrsE_2

bhz-2 wrote: »

I'm thinking about buying a breadmaker and would welcome your advice please:

1. Are breadmakers easy to use? Yes

2. What kind of recipes have you tried? White loaf, brown walnut loaf, fkatbread dough, Dinner roll dough.

3. Are you happy with the results? Very

4. Which brand/models would you recommend? Web site link or just to name the model/brand would be fantastic. Panasonic;)

5. Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

I've got the 255, if you don't want to add stuff (nuts, seeds) then the 254 is the same & cheaper.

JulieM

HotLegs wrote: »

They do? Do you know which models do? MTIA.

Morphy Richards do a breadmaker with a drop down paddle, see item 1 page 674 Argos catalogue. However, I had one and found it rather noisy so much prefer the Panasonic I have now.

picklepick

I love my BM, we can bake overnight, i also use it to make my pizza dough and it can make jam aswell although i havent tried that yet

the hole on the bottom isnt really that big, u get used to it. the slices of bread are much larger than shop bought loaves anyway.

frivolous_fay

I have a panny which cooks pretty consisently great bread.
I got a bit adventurous and used it on the dough setting at the weekend to make Rachel Allen's stollen recipe (which I proceeded to burn in the oven)... but the dough was brilliant, a million times better than me running around the hosue trying to find a nook warm enough to make it rise just a smidgen.

Agree about the raisin / nut dispenser - not really worth paying extra for.