Bread Maker - worth it?

Farway

skaps wrote: »

Just noticed that i have some yeast and the best before date says November 09 can I still use it?

Yes, it will certainly not kill you, and it is only a month out anyway. You may need to add a bit more than usual, best try it on a loaf, if OK and rises fine then alls well, if a bit flatter than normal then maybe extra half teaspoonful of old yeast is needed, really a suck it & see trial

Victoria_Meldrew

Got my first Bm before Christmas and I've had some success but would like to try out some different recipes - can someone point me in the direction of the correct thread for this please? Have tried looking but there seem to be different places and I got totally confused.

[Deleted User]

littlelily wrote: »

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!

Thank goodness I've found your post. I wanted to thank you for your advice and brilliant recipe. I have used a bread-maker in the past, but I have to say in my experience it is much quicker and yummier to make bread by hand!:j:j:jUsing your recipe, I make two loaves at once,I use fresh yeast which is vastly superior in results (Dried yeast never worked for me either) I hardly knead the bread and it rises beautifully every time. Baking two loaves at once is economical and I bung one in the freezer. Family think I'm the bees knees all thanks to you.:T

ps, you can save on cling-film by just covering with a damp tea-towel while it rises.

cyberbob

I use a bread maker and make it by hand. Yes the handmade stuff is better but sometimes time is a problem and if you make a mistake and don't have a spare loaf in the freezer at least I can make a loaf easily with little fuss and its still better than supermarket loaves.

Personally a breadmaker isn't essential but it can be useful

skaps

Have made lots of rolls today and wanted to ask whether i freeze them after ive baked them or after they have risen? (so i can defrost then bake when i need them) Any tips would be appreciated. Am new to breadmaking but loving the taste of fresh bread.

skaps

Farway wrote: »

Yes, it will certainly not kill you, and it is only a month out anyway. You may need to add a bit more than usual, best try it on a loaf, if OK and rises fine then alls well, if a bit flatter than normal then maybe extra half teaspoonful of old yeast is needed, really a suck it & see trial

I mixed my old yeast with my new yeast and it was fine. Thanks for the tips

skaps

Bread flour is 68p at Lidl at the moment, same price as Tesco but thought those of you who live nearer to a Lidl would want to know. Also how long do i defrost my bread for before i bake it?

skaps

Is there anywhere where i find recipes for the breadmaker?

zippychick

What machine have you Skaps? Most can be found online. MOrphy richards ones can be downloaded from their website

Check here - manual sharing thread . Am sure there is another thread which can help but I just can't think of the name of it.

Wicca303

I have what may be a dumb question. I'm trying to save up for a BM, and want to get a good one. I like my bread with bits in (seeds, sun-dried toms, olives, etc), do I need one with the special thing (Panasonic SDSD255) or can I just bung the extras in at the start with everything else?
I know some machines mention a buzzer that goes off when you can add bits, but I want to be able to set the timer go out and come home to nice bread.

Hope that made sense. Help??!!??

Thanks in advance.