How much do you spend on bread every year ?

avantra

I was looking at last year's figures after finally me and SWAMBO agreed on a bread we both like. The bread in question is the Lidl sliced White seeded loaf at £0.99.

We spent on that alone £208 last year plus the occasional treat of freshly made bread from the local baker at around £30 for the year.

So at £238 a year where we have about four loaves per week (two adults and DD) will it be worth to buy a bread maker (or how long it takes to see any savings) taking to account time (with a toddler this can be challenging)+ materials+initial purchase plus energy?

quintwins

I don't think thats too bad of a spend, however you do seem to be eating alot of bread, we're a family of 5 i buy 2 loaves a week, my hubby could eat half a loaf with his dinner, he makes sandwichs with everything, so when it's gone it's gone.

Homemade bread tastes completely different to shop bought and has a different texture, it tastes nothing like the bread you get from the bakery either, i would suggest asking on freecycle/freegle for a breadmaker before shelling out incase you don't like it.

WantToBeSE

I spend very little on bread, as i go to the supermarkets about 8pm and its all reduced down to silly prices like 20p.
I buy 4-5 loaves and freeze them

I bought a breadmaker, but hated the bread that it produced. I agree with quintwins-get a free or v.cheap one on freecycle/ebay before you think of buying one.

Boodle

I'm not sure about my own costs, but you don't really need a breadmaker which would save that bit more too. I didn't like my breadmaker as it came out a weird shape and stuck to the paddle. Probably a few people will come on with their own recipes but this is what I do:

600g flour, a mixture of bread and plain flours, even all plain will work but you will get more of a cakey texture
300ml warm water
1 tbsp dried yeast
pinch of sugar
1 tsp salt

Mix the yeast and sugar into the hand-hot water and leave for 10 minutes to foam while you measure out the flour. Mix in the flour and salt. Knead until elastic-like (I only do this for about 4 minutes rather than usually recommended 10). Put in a bowl, cover with tea towel and put in non-draughty place for 1-2 hours. Shape into a greased tin. You can leave another half an hour to rise but I just put mine in the non-preheated oven for a bit longer than you would in a hot one - so about 30-40 minutes at 200C.

Or this one is also very good and gives a holey moist ciabatta-like texture and you don't have to knead it or leave it long to rise http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-breadofheaven.html?opt=rall

honeythewitch

I think the loaves i make in the breadmaker are less than fifty pence including electricity etc, and much nicer and with no unnecessary additives (except for the vitamin C added to the flour i use)

honeythewitch

Boodle wrote: »

I'm not sure about my own costs, but you don't really need a breadmaker which would save that bit more too. I didn't like my breadmaker as it came out a weird shape and stuck to the paddle. Probably a few people will come on with their own recipes but this is what I do:

600g flour, a mixture of bread and plain flours, even all plain will work but you will get more of a cakey texture
300ml warm water
1 tbsp dried yeast
pinch of sugar
1 tsp salt

Mix the yeast and sugar into the hand-hot water and leave for 10 minutes to foam while you measure out the flour. Mix in the flour and salt. Knead until elastic-like (I only do this for about 4 minutes rather than usually recommended 10). Put in a bowl, cover with tea towel and put in non-draughty place for 1-2 hours. Shape into a greased tin. You can leave another half an hour to rise but I just put mine in the non-preheated oven for a bit longer than you would in a hot one - so about 30-40 minutes at 200C.

Or this one is also very good and gives a holey moist ciabatta-like texture and you don't have to knead it or leave it long to rise http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-breadofheaven.html?opt=rall

The reason i use a breadmaker instead of the oven (unless it is already on) is to save on electricity because it uses up such a lot. (other people might have ovens that are not a piece of useless junk:D)

Boodle

honeythewitch wrote: »

The reason i use a breadmaker instead of the oven (unless it is already on) is to save on electricity because it uses up such a lot. (other people might have ovens that are not a piece of useless junk:D)

Lol It's not so bad if you are making a few loaves at once like the latter recipe, then freeze them in slices. I found a recipe on making bread in the slow cooker but it was very dense and a bit too far near the claggy end of moist :eek:

honeythewitch

Boodle wrote: »

Lol It's not so bad if you are making a few loaves at once like the latter recipe, then freeze them in slices. I found a recipe on making bread in the slow cooker but it was very dense and a bit too far near the claggy end of moist :eek:

Ooooh i didnt know you could do that. The "clagginess" might be an advantage for a malt loaf so i shall give it a go. :cool:

Boodle

honeythewitch wrote: »

Ooooh i didnt know you could do that. The "clagginess" might be an advantage for a malt loaf so i shall give it a go. :cool:

http://busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/how-to-make-homemade-bread-in-crock-pot.html

quintwins

Boodle wrote: »

http://busymomsmenuplan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/how-to-make-homemade-bread-in-crock-pot.html

Oh wow i might try this with plain flour i think the cakey texture you get might help with the denseness.

Boodle

Ladies, to be frank, I wouldn't recommend the method. I understand you wish to try improving the outcome. I just don't want to be held responsible lol