My breadmaker has arrived! Can anyone suggest which brand ingredients to use?

rosekitten

Lucyeff wrote: »

I've got my Panasonic SD253! I can't afford it, but when I read the reviews AND when I looked on the Tesco website and noticed the % of salt in bread compared to the % recommended for kids, especially, I figured it'll be worth it.

I was just wondering which flour/yeast/milk powder, etc you'd all recommend? We're on a budget, but I'm hoping to get the best results poss as cheap as poss, iyswim?! Tesco do their own yeast but I noticed that they sell Allinsons yeast quite a bit cheaper. It's so much cheaper that it's made me very suspicious of it..!

I'm so dying to get cracking, I just want to get the stuff and get baking, but it's difficult too as I have bloomin bursitis in my hip, a newborn baby and a toddler, so supermarket shopping is a thing of the past. I'm hoping to risk it tomorrow though just so I get get started - Tesco is miles away from us, though, Morrisons and Sainsburys are easiest, anyone recommend owt from there to tide me over, that is, assuming Tesco is the one most folk'd usually recommend?

Just placed Tesco order online day before yesterday and the shop is miles away, so it'd be at least next week when I got chance to order again. Sigh.

All suggestions very welcome!

Thank you everyone for your loveliness.
Best wishes
Lucy

So far we have made two loaves one on
the two hour setting the other on the
longer 4 hour one.Both have been lovely.

but we have noticed that the top of both
loaves are a light colour in appearance and soft
to the touch.The sides and the bottom are
nice and crusty.Could there be something
we are doing wrong ?

any help greatly appreciated

thanks

helping_hubby

rosekitten wrote: »

So far we have made two loaves one on
the two hour setting the other on the
longer 4 hour one.Both have been lovely.

but we have noticed that the top of both
loaves are a light colour in appearance and soft
to the touch.The sides and the bottom are
nice and crusty.Could there be something
we are doing wrong ?

any help greatly appreciated

thanks

I've had my panasonic for a week and only made 2 loaves so far, mainly because I already have a shop bought loaf to use up first. Both goes have been successfull, using Sainsburys basics flour, and fresh milk instead of dried, and on the rapid bake. I tried the medium and dark setting. The dark made the edges crustier, just like you say and the top stays pale and soft.

My only thing is the bread is gorgeous when fresh, but the next day, although still really good (and far better than value bread we buy) it's a bit on the stodgy side. Any tips? Maybe I need to invest in better flour? If thats the case, I'm not bothered as it's still yummy. It just doesn't last very long (in terms of so yummy it gets eaten very quickly!).

Oh and its gorgeous for toast

Tomorrow I'm attempting Pizza and doughballs Can't wait.

Hippocrocoduckadacadil

Helping Hubby...check the lid is sealing properly. The darkness setting should also affect the top of your loaf.

The ingredients which keep the bread fresher for longer are fat and milk powder although you will also see a difference in your bread if you use different (not necessarily "better quality") flour.

Its a matter of personal taste, but I like to keep as organic as possible so use Doves Farm yeast (in a block like someone else mentioned), Doves Farm or Tesco's Organic strong flour and an organic milk powder I get from a local wholefood store.

IMO, the best loaf from the Panny book is the french loaf - that definitely doesnt stay fresh for longer than a day, but most of the loaves are good.

nodwah

Lidl do a variety of all in one bread mixes that you basiclly add water to, the ones I've tried work well. I've never checked if they're additive free, they're just handy to have in the cupboard!