Bread Maker Recommendations (merged with "Thoughts on...")

rchddap1

One more query. My breadmaker has a jam setting and I am intending to use it once I get my hands on some 'pick your own fruit' later on in the year. I was wondering if anyone had used a jam setting, and if it was any good.

GAJ_3

Hi all. First I just want to say how great this board and site is... I have been surfing and trying to pick up all your tips. I am trying to do the pin money challenge and the Shopping Challenge - So Far so good - but only a week in.

Anyway another thing that I have been inspired to try is getting a bread maker... I have been having a wee look and like the look of the Morphy Richards Fastbake 48280. Particularily with the overnight setting.

Can anyone recommend this or any other one.

Cheers

squeaky

Hiya GAJ,

Welcome to MoneySaving

Someone will be along any minute now to help you, I'm sure...

rchddap1

I bought the same model myself a couple of weeks ago and I certainly like it. At the time I wasn't sure how much I would use it, so I thought that because it wasn't that expensive, and seemed fully featured that it would be good to see how things go. Already I can tell that it is going to get over used for pizza dough. First pizza turned out the size of a loaf of bread...but that's my fault for not splitting up the dough.

I might get a better model further down the line, but for the moment this one certainly meets all of my needs, and isn't too expensive to boot.

I have used the delay timer, and it works a treat. However, most breadmakers have a timer of some sort at the moment. The only exception is the basement bargain varieties of breadmaker. And yes the timer is useful. It will also allow me to prepare the machine in the morning for bread or dough and for it to be ready by the time I'm home from work.

One tip...don't bother with the fastbake in 1 hour bit. I've heard that it makes very heavy bread which isn't all that good. However, this won't be limited to this model, but all fastbake breadmakers (or I assume so anyway)

Don't know about other models though

GAJ_3

Thanks for the tip about the fast bake.
Like you I don't know how much I will use it so I don't want to waste money either.
Hubby and I both work 2 jobs so are out most week nights so if I could use it when I get home at 10.30pm and wake up to lovely fresh bread it would be perfect.
Also like the idea of the pizza dough as hubby is a big pizza fan and I think this will be a nice cheap/healthy alternative.
Must get on priceline and see how cheap I can get it...... Might have to wait a month or two till I have enough from the pin money challenges.......

rchddap1

I bought it from argos for £39.99 (but I had a voucher for £5 that I'd saved up waiting for something useful). What we have done for the pizzas, is create little 'toppings bags' and frozen them. Each bag has some chorizo, peperoni, and ham in it so that when we want a pizza we simply grab a bag and prepare the breadmaker for when we want the dough to be ready.

If the smell of baking bread doesn't get you up in the morning then nothing will. Its absolutely wonderful.

Queenie

I've only had mine since January - bought it half price in Wilko's, something ridiculous <£20 I think. Anyway, it's not a well known brand, it's a Sabichi and has a timer, various programme options (ie, Fastbake, quicksettings, dough, jam, cakes)

I bought it a) it was cheap b) to experiment

I've not looked back. Even if it packed up tomorrow, it's more than earned it's living.

Decide first just how much you want the machine to do, how much you're prepared to "invest" in it. You won't really know how much you will use it until you have one, so bear that in mind too when working out how much you're prepared to pay. Why pay £50 if you find you only use it once a week sort of thing because you'll never recoup anywhere near your investment! Decide how much space you have for it too! I underestimated how much space I would need - but then I can't swing a cat in my kitchen.

We all have our favourites and mainly because that's the one's we use and are most familiar with. Good luck in your hunt.

megasaver

Hi GAJ welcome to the boards! Have to agree with everything that has been said so far and I am so pleased to see that rchddap1 has become such a breadmaker expert in such a short time.

Anyway you may find this thread really useful to read through
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=51016&page=1&pp=20 especially posts number 10 and 22 (for some reason :whistle: :whistle: )

By the way, I do not work for either Morphy Richards or Panasonic if some are wondering, just love making bread in my machine!

GAJ_3

Thanks for that Megasaver....would never have found that...Will let you all know how I get on and which one I end up with.

culpepper

Ive got the morphy richards model.Its excellent.Im not sure it is exactly the same model but it does have the timer ,dough,fastbake settings.
If you are using the overnight timer make sure there will be about 3 hours until you slice it or it will be too soft to slice.I set mine to finish around 7 then it can stay there till I get it out.There is a keep warm facility that runs for 1hr after it finishes baking.
I got mine at ebuyer, cheaper than the shops including the delivery.