Experiences of breadmaking machines

[Ed]

Mrs Ed wants one.

Anyone got any views, recommendations, positive endorsements, steer well clears etc?

[gettin2dizzy]

A-ha! They're great! I bought a £20 one and it did the job perfectly; the more expensive ones just have more features that you won't use. Bread is gorgeous! :) Just choose the one you like the look of :)

[Luckypants]

Had one for a while and could not get the hang of it. The bread was always burnt on the base. For this reason I would stay away from the type with a heater element directly below the bread tin.

The other thing I was not happy about is the odd shape of the loaf. Maybe you can different shaped bread tins in the modern ones, but mine was a pain.

I gave mine away. A friend of mine only uses her's for mixing the dough and the first rise.

These days I make my bread entirely by hand, using Tesco value bread tins that cost £2 each.

[Scoobs]

White Elephant

[gettin2dizzy]

OK- well mine was a cookworks bought for £20, made 2 loaves of perfect bread every day for nearly 2 years- still works :)

The secret is all in the ingredients ;) It takes a little playing around with recipes to get a good loaf.

[$tevo]

Brilliant! Get one:thumbsup:

Next to my electronic cat deterent, fondue set, sandwich toaster, electric can opener and candy floss maker, it's my most useful gadget.

The only drawback with my bread maker is that the dough paddle sometimes gets detached and you have to rip the loaf apart to retrieve it but the birds are always grateful.

[gettin2dizzy]

Brilliant! Get one:thumbsup:

Next to my electronic cat deterent, fondue set, sandwich toaster, electric can opener and candy floss maker, it's my most useful gadget.

The only drawback with my bread maker is that the dough paddle sometimes gets detached and you have to rip the loaf apart to retrieve it but the birds are always grateful.
I glued it in ;)

[Jdubya]

...
The only drawback with my bread maker is that the dough paddle sometimes gets detached and you have to rip the loaf apart to retrieve it but the birds are always grateful.

So you bought the cheap one then! Mine never detaches from the machine...

You can also but gourmet mixes from the supermarkets for those special sandwiches...mmmm Yum!

[wyrdness]

I did a lot of research before buying ours and decided to go with the Panasonic SD253 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD253-Raisin-Dispenser-Medium/dp/B0001J02DK/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1197367355&sr=8-6) as it got the best reviews of any bread maker. It was also one of the most expensive at the time, but definitely worth it, as it's a superb machine. It makes excellent bread and, just as importantly, pizza dough. Making your own pizzas from scratch is great fun.

[gettin2dizzy]

And pizza dough is cheap. Real cheap. :)

[Kinvig]

I used a shovel over an open fire a couple of times.

Dead cheap & you can reuse the shovel for other things like digging. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

[hovis]

i had one............ but the bread always turned out "heavy" ?

[Tiger 55]

Any box will serve the same purpose at no cost, you probably already have a suitable one in your garage or loft.

The purpose of a bread maker is to take up space in a cupboard or on a work surface, right? That's what we used ours for anyway...

[thor]

I've got one. Works fine but you have to get the ingredients measured right. Loaf shape is a bit funny but you get used to it. My advice is don't spend too much, a cheapo one is probably all you need.

[sarah]

I did a lot of research before buying ours and decided to go with the Panasonic SD253 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD253-Raisin-Dispenser-Medium/dp/B0001J02DK/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1197367355&sr=8-6) as it got the best reviews of any bread maker. It was also one of the most expensive at the time, but definitely worth it, as it's a superb machine. It makes excellent bread and, just as importantly, pizza dough. Making your own pizzas from scratch is great fun.

I've got that breadmaker too. It's great.

[gettin2dizzy]

i had one............ but the bread always turned out "heavy" ?
more yeast, little more sugar or warmer water :thumbsup:

[hovis]

more yeast, little more sugar or warmer water :thumbsup:

tried all that.

i could just not get the hang of it, sold it in a car boot sale for a tenner

[Swiss]

Gotta say I love my machine. Pizza dough is a winner, you can stick herbs, garlic etc in the mix to get a tasty tasty pizza base, hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[cuffy]

Brilliant! Get one:thumbsup:

Next to my electronic cat deterent, fondue set, sandwich toaster, electric can opener and candy floss maker, it's my most useful gadget.

The only drawback with my bread maker is that the dough paddle sometimes gets detached and you have to rip the loaf apart to retrieve it but the birds are always grateful.
Were you ever a contestant on "The generation game" or "Blankety Blank" :rolleyes:

[Stingo]

It's difficult to beat the smell of bread being cooked in your own home...we enjoy it particularly at the weekend. Put machine on. Have breakfast. Walk the dog etc etc. Bread is cooked ready for lunch...yum yum...quality cheddar, sundried tomatoes, Boursin, olives, etc etc....:thumbsup:

[gettin2dizzy]

*this thread is useless without bread*

I'm really hungry now :(

[Luckypants]

Off to carve a chunk off me granary loaf made yesterday. 3 in the freezer from that batch. yum yum yum!

[wyrdness]

tried all that.

i could just not get the hang of it, sold it in a car boot sale for a tenner

So you're called Hovis, yet you can't bake bread. Fraud!

[shonadoll]

I did a lot of research before buying ours and decided to go with the Panasonic SD253 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD253-Raisin-Dispenser-Medium/dp/B0001J02DK/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1197367355&sr=8-6) as it got the best reviews of any bread maker. It was also one of the most expensive at the time, but definitely worth it, as it's a superb machine. It makes excellent bread and, just as importantly, pizza dough. Making your own pizzas from scratch is great fun.

I'll second that - we have the same one and its fab.:D

[wyrdness]

*this thread is useless without bread*

I'm really hungry now :(

Here's one that I made earlier. Garlic and herb 'monkey bread' (dough balls in garlic butter, baked in a round tin). Used the breadmaker for the dough, which is lovely and light:

http://wyrdness.org/images/monkeybread.jpg

[gettin2dizzy]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Will you post me some?

[timwilky]

I had one when I was working in China as I could not get on with the local bread. The 2" hole in the middle was a dead giveaway to my scrounging colleagues that at least I had proper bread for my butties.

Now my mother when she could be bothered to leave her cauldron used to make bread when we were kids. Flour was bought by the 56lb sack. She would get in shape for punching my dad by kneading dough for hours. Leave it to rise whilst she worked on a new spell or stuck pins into effigies of neighbours etc. and then the most glorious smell as she would bake a couple of loaves. Leaves you salivating thinking of all that bread she baked for the covern whilst us kids had an old chicken leg bone that the dog had left in warm water to share

[Ed]

Thanks peeps, I know there wasn't a subject under the sun that the org doesn't know about. Can't honestly say I'm persuaded but Mrs is v v keen.

[chazzyb]

Ed: Pansonic SD255 (latest and greatest, allegedly), £80 delivered, Empire Direct.

I'm tempted...

[svpilot]

We have one, smell of fresh bread in the morning is cracking. Raisin bread and granary are great - even the kids love it.

My only tip would be ensure you get one with a timer. To be honest, I can't imagine you can get them eithout a timer these days but it is essential. A friend a work had one with no timer and soon lost interest.

Look for one that makes a large loaf if you have a family, they don't last long... hard to cut thin slices esp. when bread is still warm.

I can see why people get fed up with 'em... because I am too lazy to set the thing up, luckily my missus is a bread making whizz :)

[SV-net]

I have one used it twice now ists in the cupboard.
Yours for a drink but you must collect.
Its a goodun too...

[Ed]

I have one used it twice now ists in the cupboard.
Yours for a drink but you must collect.
Its a goodun too...

Ha ha, thank you! - all the way dahn sarf!!! Tempted as I am...

Edit - sig intriguing. have a geek at www.edwardaustin.co.uk (http://www.edwardaustin.co.uk) - that's me looking out at you...