topic NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER? in Kitchen

NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

qvc chick — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:07:54 GMT

i LOVE bread!! I was thinking about tryng a breadmaker, watching some videos on the ones that QVC sells, but they have mixed reviews.

Can someone suggest an EASY breadmaker for a first timer?

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

fthunt — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:30:05 GMT

I had a breadmaker once upon a time. so fun to watch it work. I don't

recall the brand name; but I would start to explore machines on Google.

Read ALL the reviews for several manufacturers and decide from that. I

would not buy QVC machine unless it was rated high up - plus good vibes on your search.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Kachina624 — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:36:17 GMT

I think bread making machines are the most complicated small kitchen appliances on the market. There are so many variables that determine success or failure and directions must be followed to a "T". Once made the bread molds very fast since it contains no preservative as commercially made bread does.

I had one, only used it a couple times, then one day it "walked" across the counter and crashed to the floor. I gave up bread making that very day.

The simplest machines will be the smaller, less expensive ones

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sooner — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:49:09 GMT

No question the best are the Zojirushi machines, especially the two newest models. They aren't cheap but they are excellent, reliable and make great bread of many kinds.

I can say this because we got a Hitachi bread maker in 1992, and since had a breadman and a Cuisinart (stil have it, and it is a good machine, but not like the Zojirushi!). I had earlier models of the Zojirushi and they are great, but the latest ones are really superior to them too.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:56:38 GMT

@qvc chick My neighbor gave me her "The Bread Machine" when she moved. I love it. I'm sure she didn't pay more than $75.00 for it. It is so easy to use, I taught my young grandson's to make bread with it. The moderately priced machines all do about the same job. I would get one that makes more than one size of loaf. You can find a recent review of bread machines on The Spruce Eats. I like that website. I would love to buy a machine that makes a real loaf shaped bread, but they cost too much for me. Homemade bread is great because you can use your own ingredients and no crazy stuff. You need to eat it or freeze it in a few days, however. These days, I only make my own bread on holidays because there are just not enough people at home to eat it.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 22:37:20 GMT

I have the Breadman available here at QVC, and it's where I bought it. I'm not a baker but after one failed loaf I've been proficient in loading this machine correctly. It's tasty, and especially delicious fresh out of the machine!

I'll have to make some tomorrow. Not hard at all. Follow the instructions carefully and watch through the window to see what is happening inside.

https://www.qvc.com/Breadman-2-lb-Multi-Function-Bread-Maker-w-Fast-Bake.product.K49788.html?sc=SRCH

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

LizzieInSRQ — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:18:43 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
No question the best are the Zojirushi machines, especially the two newest models. They aren't cheap but they are excellent, reliable and make great bread of many kinds.

I can say this because we got a Hitachi bread maker in 1992, and since had a breadman and a Cuisinart (stil have it, and it is a good machine, but not like the Zojirushi!). I had earlier models of the Zojirushi and they are great, but the latest ones are really superior to them too.

@Sooner is right . I've seen this same info a few times out on the internet. Zojirushi gets high marks.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 02:10:30 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ @Sooner The OP didn't ask for "the best" or bells and whistles. She asked for simple and easy.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sooner — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 02:32:10 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@LizzieInSRQ @Sooner The OP didn't ask for "the best" or bells and whistles. She asked for simple and easy.

@Kachina624 And I answered her question from 40 years of experiences with breadmakers. The ZO machine couldn't be simpler. Nothing hard about them at all.

The difference is they turn out a better loaf of bread and last a lot longer. That I know from experience with them. All of them work about the same as far as you put the ingredients in them in the order listed and press a button.

Some just don't turn out a great loaf of bread.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

HLP — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 12:44:25 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
No question the best are the Zojirushi machines, especially the two newest models. They aren't cheap but they are excellent, reliable and make great bread of many kinds.

I can say this because we got a Hitachi bread maker in 1992, and since had a breadman and a Cuisinart (stil have it, and it is a good machine, but not like the Zojirushi!). I had earlier models of the Zojirushi and they are great, but the latest ones are really superior to them too.

I agree, have one too. Had a DAK for years but company went out of buisness, and I needed a new pan. Also have a Zojirushi rice cooker, it's the best.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sooner — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:23:50 GMT

@HLP wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
No question the best are the Zojirushi machines, especially the two newest models. They aren't cheap but they are excellent, reliable and make great bread of many kinds.

I can say this because we got a Hitachi bread maker in 1992, and since had a breadman and a Cuisinart (stil have it, and it is a good machine, but not like the Zojirushi!). I had earlier models of the Zojirushi and they are great, but the latest ones are really superior to them too.

I agree, have one too. Had a DAK for years but company went out of buisness, and I needed a new pan. Also have a Zojirushi rice cooker, it's the best.

@HLP Did you have the DAK that looked like R2D2? With the glass dome? Those were SOOO cute! I always wished I'd had one.

I knew a couple that did and they made lots and lots of orange bread loaves in R2!

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

jackthebear — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:30:06 GMT

@qvc chick wrote:
i LOVE bread!! I was thinking about tryng a breadmaker, watching some videos on the ones that QVC sells, but they have mixed reviews.

Can someone suggest an EASY breadmaker for a first timer?

they are all easy, just chuck in and push a button, go by size depending on yr needs and cost how much do you want to spend

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

gardenman — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:06:05 GMT

The easiest bread maker is you. Breadmaking is pretty easy in general. Bread machines tend to have multiple settings that you have to sort through (type of bread, size of loaf, etc.) Unless you only use packaged mixes there's not that much of a difference between making it yourself or using a machine. You've still got to measure all of the ingredients properly. Once everything's measured out properly and combined, you just knead it for a bit, then let it rest. Then knock it down, give it a quick knead again, shape it, let it rise once more, then bake it.

People have been making bread since the dawn of mankind, so it's not rocket science. The advantage of doing it yourself is you can feel the bread as you're working it. Bread machines can't feel the dough as they're working with it. If you added too much, or not enough water, the machine won't know. It'll just do what it does and you can end up with a bad finished result. If the dough rises too fast or too slow in the bread machine, the machine won't know. It'll just do what it's programmed to do. When you make bread yourself, you feel the dough. You can feel if it's too wet, too dry, rising too fast, or not fast enough.

Kneading dough is a good way to work out your frustrations with the world. Bread dough is something you can punch and bully and it'll only get better for it. Kneading is pretty easy. The classic knead is to roll the dough towards you then push down and away on it hard. Rotate it ninety degrees and repeat. Others pick it up and whack it down on the counter to knead it. Kneading dough is one of the few things in life you can do to vent whatever anger/frustration you're feeling and end up improving the dough. If you don't like to knead bread there are countless no-knead recipes out there these days.

Bread machines can be handy and the Zo are reportedly great machines, but if you're looking for the easiest, most reliable way to make bread, you don't really need to look farther than your own hands. They're all you truly need to make great bread.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

CAcableGirl2 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:45:53 GMT

@qvc chick I have a cuisinart. I love it, its easy to use, and compact. I got it from Williams Sonoma, but they are sold from many retailers. I had to wait about 3 months (ordered back in 2020), but am very happy with it.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

ScrapHappy — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:58:48 GMT

I have a Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker CBK-110. Great machine.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

wagirl — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:37:39 GMT

You can get very pricey ones and some that are not so pricey; they do much the same despite the bells and whistles on the upper end models------I've had 3 in my history--got one of the first brands that came out with these in the 90's.. then I got a cheap Bella one from Macys and that was the best one I had-- think I gave it away as it was gathering dust and space to store--now I have an Oster that I bought as the pandemic thing started and it is fine---no bells and whistles but it does a good job--I mostly do the bread but have made jam in it to--that was fun---Mine bakes 1 and 2 lb loaves in a rectangular shape-----for me and DD, a 1 lb loaf is fine.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Solar Is My Name — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:58:10 GMT

@gardenman Of course you must know that you are a bit of a poet!

I loved reading what you wrote here!

-Solar

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sooner — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:30:39 GMT

@CAcableGirl2 wrote:
@qvc chick I have a cuisinart. I love it, its easy to use, and compact. I got it from Williams Sonoma, but they are sold from many retailers. I had to wait about 3 months (ordered back in 2020), but am very happy with it.

@CAcableGirl2 That is a very good machine! I have one that was almost free from Williams-Sonoma once, and use it sometimes! It's a good choice.

AND TO ALL interested in bread machines: There is absolutely nothing complicated about any bread machine I've ever used. Nothing about it is hard. Look at the recipe book that comes with it and do what it says. Lots of good machines to select from too all price ranges.

Measure liquid, flour, salt, sugar, maybe butter and or oil, and yeast and put in the amounts called for in the order it says in the book. It will tell you which button to push.

Push the button and the first few times peek in after a few minutes if you want to see if the dough is too wet or dry. I often don't do this.

The advantages? No messy counter, no kneading dough and wondering if you are doing it right or enough. No dirty bowl and counter top. No flour everywhere to clean up. And no watching the clock! The machine takes care of everything.

You have hot bread and you know what went into it! No shame in using a bread machine at all. Do you take your clothes to the river and beat them on the rocks? No you don't! Do you?

There are lots of good videos on the internet. You can measure or weigh ingredients--both are fine.

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sooner — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:12:15 GMT

@qvc chick There is a new review out from Cooks Illustrated that was published in December of 2021 rating best bread machines. It is interesting

As a note, the Cuisinart model they don't like is not the one that is mentioned above by me and another poster.

I had way better luck with the Virtuoso Plus Zo than the Supreme, and am puzzled at why they think one is more complicated than the other, but that's them not me! LOL!!

Re: NEED SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EASY BREADMAKER?

Sweetbay magnolia — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:20:19 GMT

Breadman, hard at work. In about an hour I'll have a slice.

Smells great in here!