Breadmaking - bread very light and falls apart !

sahararose

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

There's no way I can use it for sandwiches - if I cut it 2 inches thick I can toast it under the grill !!

I've tried making it from scratch, and even tried bread mixes all with the same results. It falls apart.

It's almost like a sponge *sobs*

Penelope_Penguin

sahararose wrote: »

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

There's no way I can use it for sandwiches - if I cut it 2 inches thick I can toast it under the grill !!

I've tried making it from scratch, and even tried bread mixes all with the same results. It falls apart.

It's almost like a sponge *sobs*

Can we see your recipe and your method? Are you making by hand or in a BM?

Penny. x

sahararose

Hi Penny.

I've used a few different recipes, some from flour packets and some from threads on here. They've all had the same results as the packet bread mixes...awful !!

No matter what recipe I use the bread stays the same. Could it be water temperature or something? I'm using a breadmaker (can't remember the make).

MissMuppet

My Mum makes nice bread, she's posted the recipe on my foodie forum, here it is - http://thefoodiesforum.myfreeforum.org/about572.html

I can vouch for it coming out ok too as I was there when she made it last!

Poet_2

it would really help us to help you if you tell us what ingredients you put in, in what order and in what quantities. Yes, you need to use lukewarm water

There is always the possibility that your BM is faulty. Have you tried phoning the manufacturers helpline? I had a fault with my MR fastbake and they replaced it within 2 days, brilliant service! If the number is and 0845 or 0870 and you can call geographic numbers free, use www.saynoto0870.com to get the geographic number first, then you don't have to pay for the call!

My bread was coming out like yours, I thought the thermostat may have gone so the BM was getting too hot, hence over risen bread which was way too light. Anyway, they took it away and gave me a new one!

mandy_moo_1

my first couple of loaves in the breadmaker were like this, and then i tried it without the dried milk powder, so if you've been using this, maybe you could try making one without it?
let us know how you get on x

sahararose

Hi all - sorry for late reply, only just got in from work *sobs*

I've used lots of different recipes, putting dry ingredients in first then water - (usually hand hot). Most have included strong bread flour, yeast, salt and a glug of oil. But even the packet mixes turn out the same way !!

I havn't done one with milk powder yet - in fact I bought the milk powder at the weekend to try to do one. Hence I'm more convinced that its the machine that isn't working. Hopefully I'm possiblyusing water thats too hot or too cold or something else easily rectified.

I know I'm being very vague in my answers, but I've tried so many different recipes that I can't give exact answers!

Thank you all for taking the time to answer - hopefully with your help I can master the blasted machine !

xx

nick_b

sahararose wrote: »

Hi all - sorry for late reply, only just got in from work *sobs*

I've used lots of different recipes, putting dry ingredients in first then water - (usually hand hot). Most have included strong bread flour, yeast, salt and a glug of oil. But even the packet mixes turn out the same way !!

I havn't done one with milk powder yet - in fact I bought the milk powder at the weekend to try to do one. Hence I'm more convinced that its the machine that isn't working. Hopefully I'm possiblyusing water thats too hot or too cold or something else easily rectified.

I know I'm being very vague in my answers, but I've tried so many different recipes that I can't give exact answers!

Thank you all for taking the time to answer - hopefully with your help I can master the blasted machine !

xx

My advice is ditch the machine You'll definitely get much better results baking by hand. Maybe you could use the machine to mix the dough, as this can be the messy part, and then do the rest in the oven. You can control the whole process a lot better this way.

kethry

if you'd like to give breadmaking by hand a go, then there's a recipe here you can follow. i make this every couple of days and makes lovely bread - my granddad's recipe!!

any questions.. yell!

keth
xx

kaya

ditch the gadget, you need 1/2k strong bread flower and 1/2k plain flower, 1 pint of lukewarm water, 3 sachets of dried yeast(7g per packet) 15g honey or sugar and 15g of salt. Mix honey, yeast and warm water together , stir well and leave for 15 mins, place flours and salt in a big bowl or on a flat work surface and add the water/yeast/honey gradually and mix well, when mixed place on a floured worksurface and nead for about 5-10 mins, this part is important and is worth visualising gordon browns head in place of the dough when you need, seems to get a better result, lightly oil a big bowl and pop your dough in, place in a warm(ish) area and leave to rise for at least an hour, remove, gently knock the air out and place in a loaf tin or shape with hands and place on a baking sheet, leave for another hour to rise again and your loaf is ready for baking, its a recipie i have used for about 3 years now and has worked every time for me, oven at about 180deg for 15-30 mins depending on your loaf size/shapes, bread is cooked when it gives a hollow sound from tapping the base, pukka!

thriftlady_2

I have to agree with everyone who says try baking by hand. I use this recipe http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/plain-and-simple-white-bread,1350,RC.html I frequently replace a third of the white flour with wholemeal bread flour. It's a staple in my house

edit: I use only 1 teaspoon of salt rather than the tablespoon Delia recommends.