Is a bread maker machine a good investment?

Primrose

Thinking of getting one as we spend a lot of money buying expensive breads but have a small kitchen and don't want to waste money on a gadget which is rarely used.
Interested to have users' views please whether they are worth the money and any recommendation for a good quality multipurpose machine.
I've heard one is even capable of making jam. Can you make marmalade in them as well?

kackleful

Absolutely! And yes mine makes jam! But I have never used it! I use my Breadmaker every week! I make Bread for just me! As I like to know whats in it! Can't tolerate Supermarket Breads!

thriftwizard

If you & yours eat pizza, it's a very sound investment. It's easy to make pizza dough & top with whatever you want, and it's a huge saving over ready-made ones, except the very bottom-of-the-range ones.

mmmsnow

I've had a breadmaker since 2008 and I couldn't go back to shop-bought bread. I use half white and half whole wheat flour and add seeds to my loaves.

It costs me 60p a loaf (including electricity) and there's nothing nicer than waking up to the smell of bread in the morning (my bread machine has a 13hour timer). I've never tried making jam in it, although it's great for pizza bases as well as different types of bread (sweet tea breads, ciabatta and french).

PixieDust

The loaves just weren't big enough to satisfy our needs, and ours becam a decorative plinth for the fruit bowl......

pinkladyvenus

I second kackleful opinion, I would not be without my bread maker. Once you eat your own homemade bread you will not enjoy supermarket bread any more. I have a Cookworks bread maker which makes cakes (not as good as in an oven bit heavy) and jam as well. Have heard Panasonic are very good.

Hedgehog99

Don't let this first paragraph put you off: My machine is currently in the cupboard, but that's because I've gone gluten-free and the machine dates from the time bread machines weren't meant to be very good at GF bread.

But, before I went GF, I loved my Panasonic. Lovely fresh bread without that horrible "raw" smell of supermarket bread (can you roll the middle of a supermarket loaf into a doughy ball? Hmmm....). Also great for pizza dough. I even used to make a weekly loaf for my parents until they bought a machine too.

If you live in a village with a gorgeous traditional bakery, then you're unlikely to get as much use from a bread machine, but if you only have supermarket bread, then a machine is a big improvement (ha ha) on that.

If your ability to shop is restricted (snow, illness, transport), it's easier to store the ingredients than finished bread, so a machine is handy for those who shop less often. The machine bread does freeze well too.

My first machine had a cake function, but it was a disaster. I think, in order to attract buyers, manufacturers try and add other functions besides bread. The other functions are worth a try, but you should think of it as a bread machine with benefits.

Happy baking!

lostinrates

We don't buy a lot of bread. Nor do we eat bread daily. When we do buy bread we want the really good stuff. I reckon our bread maker has paid for itself many times over. Frankly in a house not heated very warm just the fact its some where to prove the dough that is clean and fuss free is a blessing.

DH made some super 25% rye loaves over the Christmas break. Some of the best bread I have ever eaten.

theoretica

You could always start out by making your bread the old fashioned way, by hand (it's how I always did it). It would let you see how much you like home made bread without buying stuff.

Sally_A

I suggest you borrow one from a friend or colleague first. One that they may have gathering dust, or if they are away for a week or two.


I've too many gadgets I've bought on a whim and not used to their full potential, but one's I've borrowed and tried first (eg. slow cooker 30 years ago) are the ones I can make an educated decision about.

billywhizz

Can't say if they are a good investment as we have only had ours for three weeks. What I can add is that we got a Panasonic off eBay for £30, so if the novelty wears off we can probably recoup most of that. Love it though, kids love it and the bread is fabulous.