Bread Maker - worth it?

rendez2k

Looks like a good slicer and would solve all my problems! My bread is quite tall from the Panasonic. Do you have any issues with the slicer and large loaves? And how is it with very soft bread?

wssla00

I have a panny and although it doesn't fit an xl loaf, I just turn it the other way round and cut it that way, and that seems to work usually!

I have cut my bread on it straight out the panny but i do leave it usually overnight to cool and cut it then. It does it very well.

TBH it's one of my most used gadgets as I can buy a whole gammon and cut it into wafer thin slices for ham so haven't bought ham or other sandwich meats for a while.

rendez2k

wssla00 wrote: »

I have a panny and although it doesn't fit an xl loaf, I just turn it the other way round and cut it that way, and that seems to work usually!

I have cut my bread on it straight out the panny but i do leave it usually overnight to cool and cut it then. It does it very well.

TBH it's one of my most used gadgets as I can buy a whole gammon and cut it into wafer thin slices for ham so haven't bought ham or other sandwich meats for a while.

Brilliant. I think I might pop down to lakeland and look at it. I was going to get the kenwood one but this is only £5 more and is recommended by a panasonic owner!

I assume you can set the width of the slices?

Fluffy30

Hi

I have been thinking about buying a bread maker and baking my own bread.

I was wondering what to look for and also what kind of bread do people bake? Also what is average cost? Can you freeze it once cooked?

Sorry if this is in another thread but havent looked fully through. Pleae mearge if needed!

Thank you in advance

Pink.

Hi Fluffy30,

I have a breadmaker which I still use from time to time to make dough but these days I prefer homemade bread baked in the oven. These threads should help you to decide if a breadmaker is for you.:

Bread Maker - worth it?

Which is the best home breadmaker?

The Complete Breadmaking Collection

I'll add your thread to the first link later to keep the replies together.

Pink

littleredhen

i make my own rolls and freeze what i don't use on the day - the keep lovely and fresh
i make wholemeal bread and also use packet mixes of sundried tomato bread
also make pizza dough
i have a panasonic sd 254 - think it was about £25 - i wanted one that had a timer so you could delay when bread was ready - just looked for good reviews before i bought

Mummy81

Hi I recently decided that with two small children I'd get a bread maker. So I posted on my local freecycle, received one within a week, its a great was of seeing how much you would use one without the big out lay.

CCP

I may have mentioned it before (:o) but I love my breadmaker. I use it to make loaves of bread (wholemeal, granary, white, flavoured - loads of variations to play with!), rolls, pizza bases, naan bread, garlic bread, foccacia, a hot cross bun loaf...

I've never worked out the cost per loaf but, even with the electricity costs, it's pretty minimal, particularly if you make the loaves from scratch rather than buying packet mixes. (Not that I have anything against packet mixes, I hasten to add - I used a foccacia one recently and it was scrummy (as in 'one person ate the whole loaf in less than 24 hours' type scrummy )). I'm currently working my way through a bag of bread flour that was reduced to clear to 50p, and contains enough for four loaves - I think you'd struggle to buy a supermarket loaf for that little.

I'd definitely second Mummy81's suggestion of getting one off freecycle or similar to see how you get on with it - just because I love and adore mine doesn't mean you'll feel the same.

Oh, and yes you can freeze your HM bread - if you can resist eating it for long enough for it to make it to the freezer (that might just be me, though :))

cooking-mama

I have this Rachel Allen one and use it daily,brilliant bargain from Argos at the moment £28.99
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4228022/Trail/searchtext%3EBREADMAKER.htm
The good thing about this Rachel Allen one is that it has 2 paddles and makes more normal shaped loaves,it is also fan assisted which gives a better finish,basic programme is 3hrs 25min,but the best bread is make on the rapid 2hrs35min.(panasonic averages 4hrs for a basic)...on a more expensive scale the Kenwood BM450 is fantastic("Which" best buy,beat the panasonic hands down apparantly)but at £125 its loads more expensive than the one on offer at £28.99(I had to return my Kenwood one because altho it worked very very well,it had a massive big sticker around it that couldnt be removed,so instead of lovely brushed steel I was left with a sticky mess,however my Rachel Allen ONE turned out to be so good that i just took a refund and didnt get another Kenwood.

[Deleted User]

I use the Panasonic to make white and wholemeal bread. I use the quick programme for the white loaf so it takes 2hours. I also use it for making pizza dough (it is rattling away as I type). We eat a lot of soup and bread so I find it very useful but i still buy sliced for sandwiches.

The bread equals a Tesco's loaf but not quite as good as a good bakers loaf. I particularly like knowing what is in my loaf.