Kitchen

[eddyandme]

I ordered a bread machine today - it was an amazon lightening deal.  

Baked bread years ago when it was the "in" thing.  Then donated the machine.  But, could be my imagination, everything is so much higher at the grocery stores lately - even bread (the good breads, not the soft spongy ones).

Any opinions regarding homemade vs. store bought breads?

[3suwm5]

I've always loved 'homemade bread'.  I enjoy the whole grain, hearty kinds.  The best part is the smell in the house for hours, can't get enough of that.

[froggy]

Well, I for one eat a LOT more bread when I have homemade bread. And a lot more butter.

[poppinfresh]

I have baked all of our bread for the last 7 years. What made me do that? I had a loaf of store bought bread in my refridgerator, because it can be so humid here it molds quickly, and that loaf of bread was still good after 2 months. Scared me wondering what was in it that made it last so long and not go bad. I immediatly ordered a mini zo, as there is just the two of us, I made several different kinds of bread, rolls, pizza dough...etc. Now I only use it once in a while as I am attempting to perfect sour dough breads made with a starter, but I love my mini zo and love knowing exactly what is in my bread. You will love it!!

[Sooner]

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@eddyandme wrote:

I ordered a bread machine today - it was an amazon lightening deal.  

Baked bread years ago when it was the "in" thing.  Then donated the machine.  But, could be my imagination, everything is so much higher at the grocery stores lately - even bread (the good breads, not the soft spongy ones).

Any opinions regarding homemade vs. store bought breads?

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I have had a bread machine since August of 1992.  Actually, I'm on the fourth one!  My Zojirushi mini turns out perfect loaves every time and is enough for 2 people to eat up before it goes stale.  Homemade bread stales far quicker.

It makes very good breads and the variety is endless.  The big Zojirushi I have makes good bread also, but it is a lot of bread.

Sometimes store bought breads (the good ones, multi grain, and often costly) are better for sandwiches.  So to me, it is a whole different thing between homemade and bought.  We make a lot of bread, but we buy a lot too.  

Part of making it is it's fun, but is also more work.  Also you'll store a lot of flour and such.   But I doubt with the investement in a bread machine and the ingredients, homemade would ever be cheaper.  Sometimes better, not really cheaper. 

[Carmie]

I have celiac disease and oh, what I wouldn't would do to eat a slice of nice warm home made bread.  I haven’t had any for about 33 years.

i was at Costco last week and wanted to buy a loaf of Artisan bread for my sister as a surprise.  It was $7.99 a loaf.

I could make that for way less.

Home  made anything is the best.  It is less expensive and you know exactly what’s in it. Also, not all commercial kitchens are clean.

My brother worked for a big commercial bread company after he gredualted from high school.  You would recognize the brand if I told you which one.  After that he would never eat bread filling made with cubed bread sold in a bag.  When I would ask why, he said he wasn’t allowed to say...but he told me to just not eat it.

Enjoy, and happy eating.

[QVCkitty1]

I have a TFal bread maker, and there is a lemon cranberry bread recipe that I make all of the time for friends and family, it is delicious. One problem that I have had is that lately it has been hard to find bread flour in my area's stores, I may be forced to order it.

[eddyandme]

@poppinfresh@Sooner. I didn't get the Zo, which is hands down, the best breadmaker on the planet!  The SKU was on the lightening sale, which is a good beginner's model from what I've read.  

Question - you girls are the experts, do I have to get special breadflour or will the all-purpose do?

[libbyannE]

I still use the bread machine I bought when they first came out. They were pricey then, but we have enjoyed it, so it was worth the investment. However, when I'm in the mood, I still prefer making what I call real bread the old-fashioned way. There is something so comforting and satisfying about making the dough, kneading it, letting it rise, punching it down, kneading it again, and shaping it into loaves. We don't eat a lot of bread, so I don't make it every week. But every two or three weeks in cool weather, I get in the mood. It's fun to play with different flours and other ingredients