Bread Maker questions

Kuztardd

deleted thread

squeaky

Hiya

This will help:-

The Complete Breadmaking Collection

As will this...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=283060

livalot

Kuztardd wrote: »

My OH really wanted a bread maker for his birthday, so I've gone and bought the Panasonic 253.

On the day, i would also like to have all the ingredients already, but, as i don't want to open up the box, what ingredients and what quantities should i buy?

also, how does a BM work? do we have to mix the ingredients before hand and then place it in the machine, or do we just poor them in and the machine mixes/kneads it for us (hopefully it is really this nice and easy).

cheers in advance guys, thansk you

Hi Kuztardd,

I have the same panasonic breadmaker, have been using it for years and I would recommend you buy:

Fast acting yeast - usually comes in a box of 6 or 8 sachets - make sure it is fast acting!

Strong bread flour - must be strong, try buying the white bread flour to start with as that is a good one to practice with - usually sold in 1.5 kilo bags

Sugar - normal granulated will do

Salt - normal everyday salt will do

milk powder - all recipes in instruction booklets have this included- but trust me you really don't need it

butter - unsalted is best


Thats it, once you have all of those, you add them to the pan in the order of
yeast
flour
sugar
salt
milk powder (optional)
butter
and then you add water and let that sit on the top. Set the machine off and return in 4hours and as if by magic there is your loaf.

By the way the measuring teaspoons and cups are included in the box - eg you will need 1.5 teaspoons of yeast.

Hope that is what you wanted

LIvatot xx

thriftmonster

If you want you can use oil instead of butter - I use 1 tbsp olive oil per 1/2 oz of butter stated

craig777

Kuztardd wrote: »

thanks guys. Im not sure who will be happier getting the BM, me or the OH :-)

ive seen someone mention Vitamin C, whats that for?

and how long does a loaf take (approx).
and where is the best place to get the yeast and good flour. will the usual "tesc-ainsburys" suffice?


thanks guys.

I can wait for his birthday now :rotfl:

This is from my Panasonic recipe booklet...

Vitamin C. Asorbic acid is a "bread improver" ie it helps improve the volume of the loaf. This is now incorporated into the Fast Action Easy Bake yeast and does not have to be added as a seperate ingredient, although we recommend adding 1/4 tsp Vitamin C powder to certain whole wheat loaves to improve the rise.

Hope this helps.

I've always found that the premium brands of flour give more consistent results. I do sometimes use 'own brand' flours and most of the time they're ok, but now and again I'll end up with a loaf that doesn't rise quite so well, or the top collapses a bit... this has never happened when I've used premium brands of flour.

daysieblue

Kuztardd wrote: »

and where is the best place to get the yeast and good flour. will the usual "tesc-ainsburys" suffice?

I always get Doves Farm Organic Flour from Sainsburys. It's a bit more expensive than Sainsbury's own brand, but cheaper than Allinsons! I also like their yeast, but have to buy that either from Waitrose or Lakeland.

db xx

absfabs

I just use own brand cheaper flour, have not had any problem with these. Even Lidl's cheap version has risen well.

I also use cheapest vegetable oil (this is almost always rapeseed and just as healthy as olive oil) instead of other oils or butter.

You may want to try the more expensive stuff on your first batch, but then try the cheapo version, I cannot taste a difference.

Enjoy, it will taste great!

debjam

There is a quick loaf which takes 2 hours, or the normal white loaf takes 4 hours.

Happy baking. Oh and don't worry about any clicking and clunking noises (not loud though), it is just the blade going round in the pan. I panicked when I did my first loaf, thought my BM was broke. It's lovely sitting down to warm bread and lashings of butter.