replacing a much loved bread maker

jackyann

I love making bread myself the traditional way; but also find my breadmaker very useful if I'm out for the day / overnight etc.
I have had a basic Panasonic for about 20 years, and the pan is no longer "non-stick" leading to problems - and of course, the replacement pan is almost as much as a new breadmaker (in fact, more than another really basic one!)

So: I have sometimes wondered if it would be useful to have one of those drawers where you can put ingredients to add (so that say, I could bake fruit bread overnight) Unfortunately, looking at the specs, I can't see if you have to add them manually, or if it is done automatically (which makes a big difference!). I assume it varies with the model, but am a bit unclear.

Also, is having such a machine useful? I always assume that the more complicated a machine, the more likely it is to go wrong!

All comments welcome - thanks

ariba10

We have a Panasonic SD-2501 and love it.

Far better than the old Panasonic it replaced.

bexster1975

Hi

I second aribas choice. If it helps I got lucky and found mine on local ebay last December for £50. It had been used once and I use it at least twice a week. It has the automatic dispenser too.

Bexster

skipton

I bought our 2nd Panasonic on Amazons Black Friday deals. Our 1st one died after several years of use. Our new one has a dispenser but we use it to cook wheat free loaves in (more like cake).

ravilious_fan

My breadmaking machine has been sitting in the cupboard for years. The old one used to get used a lot, but the new one has a rectangular-shaped pan (as opposed to square) and I find that the little dough hook can't reach to the 2 far corners, and so some flour always gets left at the sides.

I feel bad not using it, as it was a present, but it's easier to make bread by hand, I find.

jackyann

ravilious fan, can I ask what make it is? I have found so often that a small design fault such as you describe, makes all the difference - and you can't tell until you've used it a time or two.

pogofish

The bearing recently gave way on the pan of my well-used old machine and the cost of replacing the components, vs getting another complete, new pan off ebay was pretty close - so thirty-odd quid later, I'mbaking with it again.

The only thing about my house that stops me baking properly as my Gran taught is the lack of a proper airing cupboard for raising/proving, which makes it a bit hit or miss. The breadmaker eliminates that uncertanty.

ravilious_fan

jackyann wrote: »

ravilious fan, can I ask what make it is? I have found so often that a small design fault such as you describe, makes all the difference - and you can't tell until you've used it a time or two.

It's a Russell Hobbs, model 18036.

Our previous breadmaker which we had years ago didn't have this problem, but I forget which make it was now. It used to make a square loaf!

jackyann

Thank you all very much.

Pogofish - you may like to try putting the bowl of dough in a plastic bag and clipping it shut - you are effectively using the warmth generated by the fermentation .

Skintmama

I have been using a Panasonic with the fruit/nut dispenser almost daily for about 10 years.

The fruit/nuts go into the dispenser in the lid and are released automatically during the programmed cycle.

The paddle started to stick too much so we replaced this last year; all is working as good as new.

Maybe we were lucky with our purchase but I would not consider buying any other make now.