slo’s WEDNESDAY 9/25 poll - Bread Machine 🍞

[CynBeth]

My DH has one he uses once in a while.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I used to have one (that someone gave me because they thought they would use it and didn't) that I, in turn... thought I would use and didn't. - Into the charity flea market it finally went.

I did have a bread-making phase back when we bought our first house, but I just did it by hand (whether from scratch, frozen dough, or one of those "beer bread" mixes). I'd like to try making some again.

 

[_19disnA]

Used to own a bread machine several years ago and never found they did a very good job of kneading and generally not enough power. Those tiny twirling blades couldn't handle heavier doughs and seems the design makes a lot of trade off just to be able to mix/knead/rise/bake the bread all in one device. My Kitchen-aid stand mixer does a MUCH better job for making bread doughs, way more powerful and obviously can be used to make more than just bread. Tossed my bread machine in the trash and would never buy another one.

 

[tony67]

Used to own a bread machine several years ago and never found they did a very good job of kneading and generally not enough power. Those tiny twirling blades couldn't handle heavier doughs and seems the design makes a lot of trade off just to be able to mix/knead/rise/bake the bread all in one device. My Kitchen-aid stand mixer does a MUCH better job for making bread doughs, way more powerful and obviously can be used to make more than just bread. Tossed my bread machine in the trash and would never buy another one.

I'd tend to agree - its just a lot more work to take out the Kitchen Aid.

The bigger issue was the bread machine helps the dough rise.

Given me some kick in the rear to get more creative!! LOVE all these. DS will be very happy with pretzel rolls.

Cool - just be aware the pretzels are a bit of work - especially the first time - and can be frustrating.
You have to let them rise and proof then boil them in water with baking soda - then let the proof again.
It's still a challenge even though I've don it many times.

 

[HopperFan]

I'd tend to agree - its just a lot more work to take out the Kitchen Aid.

The bigger issue was the bread machine helps the dough rise.

Cool - just be aware the pretzels are a bit of work - especially the first time - and can be frustrating.
You have to let them rise and proof then boil them in water with baking soda - then let the proof again.
It's still a challenge even though I've don it many times.

I used to make pretzels all the time without the machine. I would make them for DS preschool. Whatever letter they were studying that week I would make pretzels in that shape. Was a good snack for them.

I'm thinking about the pretzel rolls ... are they hard? Whenever he sees them in the store he wants me to buy them ... Disney got him hooked on the ones at Biergarten ... and he asks for so little I buy them. If I can make for cheaper be worth a bit of time.

 

[disneychrista]

I have never had a bread machine but I think my mom had one so I am sure I ate bread from it.

I bake bread every few months but do it the old fashion way, which while time consuming does not take a lot of active effort. If all goes well with my starter activating today, I will start on a sourdough round tonight.

 

[tony67]

I used to make pretzels all the time without the machine. I would make them for DS preschool. Whatever letter they were studying that week I would make pretzels in that shape. Was a good snack for them.

I'm thinking about the pretzel rolls ... are they hard? Whenever he sees them in the store he wants me to buy them ... Disney got him hooked on the ones at Biergarten ... and he asks for so little I buy them. If I can make for cheaper be worth a bit of time.

Its just hard to get them to rise properly. They look great when I get them to rise but then when I move them to the water it can be difficult to get them in without them deflating. I take them out and try to get them to rise again and have had mixed results.
So sometimes they are a bit thin - but they still taste good and they still work.

 

[_19disnA]

Pretzel rolls are not hard to make. You dip them in a water/baking soda solution to get the pretzel--like crust. I think the mistake most make with pretzels is they drop them in boiling water and leave them there too long. I find you only need to dip them in hot water for 45 seconds or so. They tend to deflate if the water is too hot (i.e. boiling) and/or you leave them in too long.

I leave my Kitchen-Aid on the counter and probably use it 2x per week to make rolls/pastry or cakes/pies.

 

[tvguy]

We got one as a wedding gift in 1982. Used it a lot, but too many calories, and too much YEAST (if you get my drift) , did cause problems with our bodies. Gave it away. Just like we gave away our ice cream maker.

 

[wallawallakids]

I have always made bread from scratch often and I never had a machine until last Christmas. At first I was really skeptical because I like making bread a lot and I wasn't sure the bread would taste the same from a machine. But my husband was super thoughtful in getting it for me. He thought it would help save me time. And surprise, I love it. I make all our bread for our family of 6 so having the machine has come in super handy for things like sandwich loaves and bread for dinner on the days the kids have a ton going on. I still make my regular bread too. Esp when it comes to Challah or French bread that I want that baguette shape, but on a regular day, the machine has been so awesome. I also like that the machine he got me the bread looks like an actual loaf, not like a square as I have seen in some other machines. So yes, I own one and I love it and I use it a lot but not all the time.

 

[MIGrandma]

I have one, don’t use it as often as I used to. Just a couple times a year.

 

[fly girl]

We received one for a wedding present when they were popular gifts circa 2000.

Used it for a while then it just collected dust. I wasn't a fan of the square loaf with the hole in the bottom due to the dough kneading paddle. It was donated to the Vietnam Veterans.

 

[BayouQueen]

We bought one early on and have had one ever since. I think we're on our third...or fourth. The fourth one was back to a smaller model because it's just DH and I at home now.
They're just so easy. And bread products are so good -- pizza dough, sweet rolls, all of it.
I don't use it so much now because during pandemic I learned to make sourdough and do that mostly now. But will always have a bread machine.

 

[DodgerGirl]

My mom had always wanted to make homemade bread and was curious about bread machines ever since she saw them on QVC and my mom finally got one and she got a great deal on it and she even got a bread cookbook with it too and the one Mom got was a Welbilt and you probably remember these bread machines because they were shaped like a spaceship and the way the machine made bread was so cool. Mom still has our bread machine but we rarely use it today. But if you can get a chance Google The Bread Machine by Welbilt and you'll see what I mean when it makes awesome bread

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never had a bread machine, nor have I tried to make my own in the oven. My ex-MIL had one, it did good work.

 

[Meriweather]

I have had my bread machine for about 30 years.
I haven't baked bread in it for several years, but I will soon.
I use it at least once a week for dough though. DGD wants "Big Sandwich" or pizza every week.

 

[barkley]

we have one, our second over the years and used it extensivly when we were both working and the kids were little-set up the crockpot and the bread maker to be running while we were at work so we could come home to a nice hot dinner. we loved adding different dry dip mixes to make different flavored breads.

these days? dh made a sourdough starter so the homemade stuff is done in a dutch oven IN the oven.