I am in love with my Panasonic breadmaker

Pitlanepiglet

Hi White

I went to Costco as well today, looked at the flour and decided it wasn't worth it for us, it's not "cheap" (I'm sure it's good though), we wouldn't get through it and I don't have anyone to share it with.

I spent ages in front of the rice - mental arithmetic isn't my strong point and I couldn't for the life of me work out which rice was cheapest!!! The problem being the price of the 3kg bags is shown per 100g not per KG like the others! Took me bleeding ages and I felt like a right plank when I worked out what the problem was! :rotfl: In the end I bought the plastic tubs of long grain easy cook, mainly because I thought the tubs would come in handy! The sacks are too big for us, even if they are cheap.

Pitlanepiglet

Trow wrote: »

Was the M flour Marriages?

I noticed today that the Costco flour is Marraiges's

sparklygirl1

Could thisbe the reason of my caved in loafs?

Sharon_1970_2

What model number should I be looking for if I am considering buying a panasonic BM?

BigMummaF

I've got a 254 Sharon, cuz I couldn't justify the extra £20 for the 255. I think the biggest difference is the 255 has a raisin dispenser & attachment for rye bread.

You can still make fruit breads with the 254 but you have to be there to put the fruit in yourself instead of letting the machine do it all for you.

I've only been using mine for a month, & the way the offspring get thru the basic whites, I've not really had much time to make another sort:D Having said that, I was up earlier than them today, & there's a ciabatta about to end any time now! I'm so excited cuz I've never tried it before but it means I wouldn't be able to tell you if it's any good:rotfl:

Hope you do get a panny---lots of peeps have said they are far superior to other makes---but really I can only say that I'm thrilled with my 254.

soba

I used fresh yeast last week in my Panny, I sort of rubbed it into the flour a bit (like when making crumble or pastry) and the bread turned out fine. I got my yeast for free from the local Tesco, just asked on the bread counter and they gave me some. Does anyone know how long fresh yeast will last? At the moment I'm more inclined to use dried yeast although if fresh is always free then I might change my mind!!

Bargain_Rzl

Sharon, as BigMummaF said, the 255 is more expensive than the 254 - but my "nearly-new" 255 cost me under £70 on ebay (inc P&P) so you may find you can get them for roughly the same price.

They come up frequently on ebay.

JailhouseBabe

soba wrote: »

Does anyone know how long fresh yeast will last?

When I asked in-store I was told "a few days". As I was given a large amount, I followed an earlier tip on this thread and froze it in 8mg chunks, keeping a couple of bags in the fridge.

My first attempt this morning with fresh yeast (mixed with warm water and sugar, placed on top of flour in BM) resulted in a ciabatta with a sunken top. Still tastes lovely though, so I can live with that.

Peckedhen

My fruit loaf using Sharon's Rum and raisin recipe burnt!! No worries, I cut off the crusts and the middle was delicious with butter.

I baked my best loaf yet - set the timer for 13 hours and made a 50/50 white/wholemeal. I used dried yeast as I wasn't sure about leaving the fresh yeast overnight in the pan. Just one downside to the panny - the bread needs removing as soon as it's cooked whereas, in Mum's Breville, it can be left 'keeping warm' for up to an hour - great if you need a lie in!!:rolleyes:

JennyW_2

Peckedhen wrote: »

My fruit loaf using Sharon's Rum and raisin recipe burnt!! No worries, I cut off the crusts and the middle was delicious with butter.

I baked my best loaf yet - set the timer for 13 hours and made a 50/50 white/wholemeal. I used dried yeast as I wasn't sure about leaving the fresh yeast overnight in the pan. Just one downside to the panny - the bread needs removing as soon as it's cooked whereas, in Mum's Breville, it can be left 'keeping warm' for up to an hour - great if you need a lie in!!:rolleyes:

No you cant use fresh yeast (or milk and eggs) when using the timer.

Have you used the fresh yeast but activated it first (add to warm water, little sugar and flour)? I've had some excellent loaves since switching my flour over to Waitrose organic strong white and wholemeal