Bread making machines

[luvsJack]

I am asking for one this Christmas.

I had one in the past and loved it. And then it got lost in a fire with the rest of my kitchen.

I am not going to bake bread the old fashioned way. I don't have the time.

To be able to come home in the evenings and smell that bread along with whatever was in the crock pot---HEAVEN!!!

So for me, something that I can put the ingredients in, set and come home at the end of the day to the product all cooked is great.

Its sort of like asking if a crock pot is a good buy. For someone that would rather cook the roast (or stew or beans) on the stove all day (and I agree, it is better), its not going to be worth it. But for someone that doesn't have the ability to cook that way, its well worth it.

 

[manning]

IMO it depends on whether you use it or not. I bake all of my family's bread products - bread for sandwiches, bagels, hotdog/hamburger buns, rolls, etc. I use my bread maker 3-4x a week to make the dough, although I never bake in it (I prefer to let my dough rise in a bread pan and bake it off in the oven).

I do have a Kitchenaid Mixer, but for as much as I bake bread I don't have the time to stand around and watch a mixer. I just put my ingredients in, walk away, and know that in 27 minutes I'll have perfect dough.

I don't use bread flour. I grind my own grain from wheat berries and add 1/2 cup of regular flour so there's enough gluten in there. You have to do a bit of adjusting for the seasons (at least where I live; summer baking is very different from winter baking) but all in all it's pretty easy.

I think it has to do with humidity

 

[manning]

would it be safe to assume if you have the time and a mixer with a dough hook a bread machine is not really necessary?

 

[North of Mouse]

I have a Breadman Ultimate and it is 'totally' worth it. Makes the house smell soooo good. Mostly use it in the fall and winter, but it has a 'year round' counter spot.

Specially breads are so expensive, and you can experiment with so many different fruits and nuts, spices, etc.

Like most 'not totally necessary' appliances, the posters that say they aren't worth it are probably the ones that never use it!

 

[North of Mouse]

would it be safe to assume if you have the time and a mixer with a dough hook a bread machine is not really necessary?

Only if you want to shape and bake it yourself - that's the main thing I have my bread machine for - is to forget it, and have fresh baked bread!

 

[alex9179]

would it be safe to assume if you have the time and a mixer with a dough hook a bread machine is not really necessary?

Yes, but there are limits just like with the bread machine. Personally, I think a bread machine isn't worth it since it only does one job. I'd rather have a mixer for multi-purpose.

I've been doing a lot of research because I'd like to make bread and goodies for the kids and my 10 yr old is very interested in baking.
If you only make 1-2 loaves at a time, a lot of mixers would be OK. But, most mixers can't handle a larger amount of flour and using something like whole wheat/oatmeal will definitely strain it. Kitchenaid mixers are everywhere, but you'll see their limitations when reading the manual. You need to be careful with the amount/type of flour and the speed you set the mixer or you'll kill it.

I had planned on making several loaves at a time, freeze them until needed, to get it all done in a day instead of weekly. The better mixers for something like that are Bosch Universal and Ankarsrum/Electrolux DLX/Magic Mill. They can handle a large quantity and are multipurpose…cookies, cakes, frosting, meatloaf, etc.

Unless you are getting a bread machine at a thrift store, invest in a good mixer for versatility, instead.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

YES, totally worth it.

we bought a zojirushi. it will make up to a 2 and a half pound loaf.

we make about a loaf per week. It varies, but we make white, wheat, cinnamon raisin and cinnamon crazin. We made a loaf of pumpernickel for DW, I don't care for it.

not to mention the dough for homemade dinner rolls, and me make our own hamburger buns.

once you taste fresh bread, the store bought tastes like caca!

another thing we do is make pizza dough for homemade pizza.

 

[LindaG4458]

YES, totally worth it.

we bought a zojirushi. it will make up to a 2 and a half pound loaf.

we make about a loaf per week. It varies, but we make white, wheat, cinnamon raisin and cinnamon crazin. We made a loaf of pumpernickel for DW, I don't care for it.

not to mention the dough for homemade dinner rolls, and me make our own hamburger buns.

once you taste fresh bread, the store bought tastes like caca!

another thing we do is make pizza dough for homemade pizza.

We also have that brand of machine and I use it to make dough for my MIL's top secret Butterhorn recipe. (That's the one she sabotaged when she gave it to me and to her daughter and it took us about 15 years to accidently find out what was wrong! She listed too little flour and they always came out like cookies!)

We do make a few other things with it, but it is worth it just for the Butterhorns.

 

[manning]

Yes, but there are limits just like with the bread machine. Personally, I think a bread machine isn't worth it since it only does one job. I'd rather have a mixer for multi-purpose.

I've been doing a lot of research because I'd like to make bread and goodies for the kids and my 10 yr old is very interested in baking.
If you only make 1-2 loaves at a time, a lot of mixers would be OK. But, most mixers can't handle a larger amount of flour and using something like whole wheat/oatmeal will definitely strain it. Kitchenaid mixers are everywhere, but you'll see their limitations when reading the manual. You need to be careful with the amount/type of flour and the speed you set the mixer or you'll kill it.

I had planned on making several loaves at a time, freeze them until needed, to get it all done in a day instead of weekly. The better mixers for something like that are Bosch Universal and Ankarsrum/Electrolux DLX/Magic Mill. They can handle a large quantity and are multipurpose…cookies, cakes, frosting, meatloaf, etc.

Unless you are getting a bread machine at a thrift store, invest in a good mixer for versatility, instead.

I have a Kitchenaid professional 5. Is that big enough to handle things?

 

[alex9179]

I have a Kitchenaid professional 5. Is that big enough to handle things?

You have a max of 12 cups all-purpose or 6 cups whole wheat. Never go above speed 2 or you'll overheat the mixer/strip gears/void warranty. It seems to be medium duty, so stick with 1-2 loaf recipes. If it gets hot, you'll have to stop for a bit. You don't want it to heat up the dough or the motor to overheat. Your manual has all of this info and recipes to try, as well.

I wouldn't leave it while it's mixing. They've been known to walk off the counter.

 

[manning]

You have a max of 12 cups all-purpose or 6 cups whole wheat. Never go above speed 2 or you'll overheat the mixer/strip gears/void warranty. It seems to be medium duty, so stick with 1-2 loaf recipes. If it gets hot, you'll have to stop for a bit. You don't want it to heat up the dough or the motor to overheat. Your manual has all of this info and recipes to try, as well.

I wouldn't leave it while it's mixing. They've been known to walk off the counter.

The most we would be doing is one or two lb loaves and not in big quantities. There is only two of us. I think we would be hard pressed eating one before it goes stale.

 

[alex9179]

Your KA should be fine, then. You might think about making rolls and freezing the dough. That way you can thaw and bake as you need them with no waste. Or, make croutons from the uneaten loaf! Yum.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

You have a max of 12 cups all-purpose or 6 cups whole wheat. Never go above speed 2 or you'll overheat the mixer/strip gears/void warranty. It seems to be medium duty, so stick with 1-2 loaf recipes. If it gets hot, you'll have to stop for a bit. You don't want it to heat up the dough or the motor to overheat. Your manual has all of this info and recipes to try, as well.

I wouldn't leave it while it's mixing. They've been known to walk off the counter.

That is the whole point of a bread machine.

you add the ingredients, start it up, choose the crust, and let it run,

it mixes, kneads, lets the dough rise a couple of times, then bakes it.

no mixing bowels, no preparing the bread pans, no hot oven, no having to watch it to make sure it doesn't burn.

no muss no fuss, the only thing you have to clean is one pan.

 

[Zandy595]

I love mine. It's so easy to just dump all the ingredients in and push a button. A few hours later you pull out a hot, fresh loaf of bread. My kind of baking. Only drawback is finding a place to put the big thing.

 

[alex9179]

That is the whole point of a bread machine.

you add the ingredients, start it up, choose the crust, and let it run,

it mixes, kneads, lets the dough rise a couple of times, then bakes it.

no mixing bowels, no preparing the bread pans, no hot oven, no having to watch it to make sure it doesn't burn.

no muss no fuss, the only thing you have to clean is one pan.

Yeah, but its use is limited and it's huge. There's a reason you can find them at thrift stores for $10 - I saw two at Goodwill today. The size and lack of versatility. Will it mix ground meat for meatloaf, potatoes, meringues, frosting? Not to mention the plethora of attachments available with the stand mixers.
Do you have a choice of making a variety of densities? I have no idea. I do know that some people only use it to knead the dough, then shape and bake in their oven.

One can do without a stand mixer, too. No knead or using the stretch and fold method are also easy, although time consuming.

 

[Schmeck]

Love our bread machine. It has a lot of uses at our house! Sometimes we just use it to make the dough, other times we let it go through the whole process. We make regular bread, cinnamon bread for toasting, dough for pizza, rolls, etc.

I agree with Grumpy Pirate - it's great to be able to put in the ingredients and walk away. Mine has never wandered around the counter, or caused any other issues. It's a 12+ year old Panasonic. It has multiple settings, easy to use, easy to clean.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Yeah, but its use is limited and it's huge. There's a reason you can find them at thrift stores for $10 - I saw two at Goodwill today. The size and lack of versatility. Will it mix ground meat for meatloaf, potatoes, meringues, frosting? Not to mention the plethora of attachments available with the stand mixers.
Do you have a choice of making a variety of densities? I have no idea. I do know that some people only use it to knead the dough, then shape and bake in their oven.

One can do without a stand mixer, too. No knead or using the stretch and fold method are also easy, although time consuming.

You found a Zojorushi for ten bucks at a thrift store? buy them!

actually, my bread machine can make jams and jellies, as well as cake mixes.

and I can make just about any kind of bread, as well as dough for any kind of rolls , buns, and or pizza dough.

we also have a big stand mixer made by kitchen aid with all the bells and whistles, and guess what, we don't need to lug it out to make meatloaf or potatos.

sometimes we use the smaller hand mixer for that, but wanting a bread machine to do that is apples and oranges.

of course, when we make bread, like I said before, you just put the stuff in and push the "start" button after choosing what type crust and white or wheat.

easy peasy.

 

[North of Mouse]

That is the whole point of a bread machine.

you add the ingredients, start it up, choose the crust, and let it run,

it mixes, kneads, lets the dough rise a couple of times, then bakes it.

no mixing bowels, no preparing the bread pans, no hot oven, no having to watch it to make sure it doesn't burn.

no muss no fuss, the only thing you have to clean is one pan.

Yep!! Fix it and forget it - my way of making great tasting bread!

As for having a stand mixer - yes, I have one of those too. They are two 'very' different appliances, and I use it for all kinds of stuff - but 'not' making bread.

PP said it was huge - not in my opinion - sits in a nook on my counter and is hardly noticeable, but gives me great pleasure when I need it.

To each his own though! Wouldn't take anything for mine.

 

[alex9179]

You found a Zojorushi for ten bucks at a thrift store? buy them!

Not today, but I did see a Zo for $25 a while back. I had nowhere to put it, though.


we also have a big stand mixer made by kitchen aid with all the bells and whistles, and guess what, we don't need to lug it out to make meatloaf or potatos.

I wouldn't lug it out either! That's why I'm looking for lighter weight mixers that can handle light to heavy duty. A lot of people just keep the heavy suckers on the counter.

sometimes we use the smaller hand mixer for that, but wanting a bread machine to do that is apples and oranges.

I totally agree with you, which is why (in my opinion) a good stand mixer would be a better investment than a bread machine. Most people have an oven for the cooking part of it, so I'd like a multi-function machine to get whatever goodies we're having ready. Your hand mixer works on meatloaf?!? Mine can't even get through cookie dough

of course, when we make bread, like I said before, you just put the stuff in and push the "start" button after choosing what type crust and white or wheat.

easy peasy.

Manning's needs are different from mine since I want something that will take care of a large quantity when needed, as well as all of my other mixing needs. It certainly colors my perception of usefulness.
There are some who love their bread machines and there are some who've used it a handful of times and got rid of it, or lost it in the basement

Manning, since you already have a labor saving tool to make a loaf, try it out. If it's too much work/messy, then go for the bread machine. Like Grumpy Pirate alluded to earlier, the Zojirushi is very popular.