New Bread Maker - Page 2

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

I've seen the name, but am not familiar with it. I have a Hamilton Beach one. I only use the dough function. I prefer a standard loaf or different shapes. I also found my HB just didn't brown it enough for my tastes no matter the setting.

I don't mind kneading at all. For me, it's more the fractured time. Do this, then let it sit awhile, then do that, let sit, do it again and let sit, then bake.

Don't just dump and leave it though. Check the dough during the kneading process to see if it needs a little added water or flour. I have to drag out the step stool for that, and even then, the little window fogs up so I have to lift the lid to look

Also, before you leave it alone, make sure the machine doesn't walk while kneading.

Enjoy!

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Thanks for your responses, and yes, I will give you all a review on this new machine after using it a while.

My most favorite bread that my family loves that I've been making for many many years when my girls were growing up was called Health Bread. It has oatmeal, wheat bran, raisins, whole wheat flour, backstrap molasses in it plus the bread flour. So I am hoping that I can still make that in the bread machine, using half the recipe, it's a 2 loaf recipe. It's very good tasting, and many people love it, I've given it for gifts too. My husband and girls never tire of it. The only thing not healthy in it would be the white bread flour. Lots of organic ingredients in it. Do you think that will work in the bread machine? I sure hope so. If I remember right, years ago when I used to have one, for anything that has raisins you add that towards the end, right?

My Mom always made her own breads, and homemade cinnamon rolls, but hers were all white, but delicious!!

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@gloriajean We have had several bread makers since 1992 and now have large and small Zojirushis and a Cuisinart. The Zo's are outstanding, the Cuisinart is fine too.

We have not found bread machines to be either difficult or exacting any more than baking with a mixer and hand kneading. What is the difference in your product is mostly the differences in the flours you get and the weather, humidity, and temperatures. Flour varies greatly by age, milling processing, and because wheat varies by growing climate, moisture content, and general conditions. Farmers get paid by the quality of the wheat--docked for too much moisture etc. My dad raised wheat. . . all wheat and all flour is not exactly the same.

We have found that any bread making, by hand or machine, you need to check the consistency of the dough as it starts to form a ball and see if you need a tad more flour or water. Certainly if it is a colder or hotter day, more humid or drier, etc.

We mostly make bread with 3/4 whole wheat flour, 1/4 white flour, by a whole wheat recipe. Works great!

As a time saver, we also put all dry ingredients except yeast in containers measured out to make loaves--then keep them in the fridge--usually 2 or 3 at a time. Wen we want to make bread, add the liquid first to the bucket, then dump in the dry ingredients from the pre-measured container, put the butter or oil on top then the yeast and it works great.

We either weigh or scoop the ingredients--it doesn't matter. If you use a measuring cup, scoop up the flour then pour it back out and measure from the lightened flour you scooped and fluffed and it works fine.

People have made bread for thousands of years with no measuring, variety of flour styles, etc. AS LONG AS your dough is the right consistency and the yeast is FRESH, Water NOT too hot, it should be fine!

We use King Arthur bread flour, KA Whole Wheat flour, filtered or bottled water, and SAF Red yeast (which we keep in the freezer) always. My husband likes to make brioche bread as hamburger buns sometimes.

Have fun and enjoy great results from easy easy baking!

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

I have a Zo bread machine. It works well, but I admit I often just make the dough and remove it to bake in my oven. I like to make round loaves in a cast iron vessel.

I also knead bread with my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook.

I haven't kneaded bread dough for a few years now...my fingers cramp up.

I also make soft pretzels and pizza dough in both machines. I make pasta dough with my mixer.

So, yes, I do use my bread machine a lot, but I could just use my mixer.

The bread machine is nice to just set it and forget it. I don't have to stay in my kitchen or even stay home to make bread.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@gloriajean Many machines now have a beep to tell you when to add nuts/raisins/etc. Not sure if yours does, but it would be during the final kneading. If it doesn't, you could time when the last knead is and how long it is and then set an alarm to let you know when to add them.

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Carmie, I had a KA mixer one time too, especially for the kneading, and guess what? It was too heavy for me to get the dough out!! So that didn't work for me. I gave it to my daughter. I got it from my neighbor who sold it to me for $5.00 so at least I didn't spend a ton for it. I'm short, 5 feet, and that thing was just to big for me to handle.

Now if my Hamilton Food Processor had a dough hook, that would be nice, but I do plan on using the bread machine that way, take it out and put in pans and bake, my Health bread recipe has some molasses in it, I wonder if that works in a bread machine.

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

@Icegoddess wrote:
@gloriajean Many machines now have a beep to tell you when to add nuts/raisins/etc. Not sure if yours does, but it would be during the final kneading. If it doesn't, you could time when the last knead is and how long it is and then set an alarm to let you know when to add them.

I do hope this new one I should get tomorrow will have that feature. That would help a lot. And I hope molasses will work in it too, I will just halve my Health Bread recipe.

I've had others thru the years that had that beep to add raisins etc. that is helpful.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@gloriajean wrote:
Carmie, I had a KA mixer one time too, especially for the kneading, and guess what? It was too heavy for me to get the dough out!! So that didn't work for me. I gave it to my daughter. I got it from my neighbor who sold it to me for $5.00 so at least I didn't spend a ton for it. I'm short, 5 feet, and that thing was just to big for me to handle.
Now if my Hamilton Food Processor had a dough hook, that would be nice, but I do plan on using the bread machine that way, take it out and put in pans and bake, my Health bread recipe has some molasses in it, I wonder if that works in a bread machine.

Wow, $5, what a bargain.

I have had my KA mixer for over 45 years now. My parents gave me money for Christmas and I spent it on the mixer, a treat for me. My children were toddlers back then and I had no extra money for "wants."

I agree, it is heavy. I am short too. 5'1".

Your bread recipe sounds delicious. I hope it works out well for you.

My food processor has a dough attachment, but I only use that for chicken n dumpling dough.

I guess I make a lot of dough, even though I am gluten free. Go figure.

Pooky1 · ‎12-23-2015

Gloria Jean I got an elite gormet 2 pound bread maker from QVC like 5 months ago. I love it. My wife bought me 2 bread machine cookbooks and there so worth it .I have made quite a few breads out of them. Most came out just a couple didn't come out to good. You can make the dough in the machine on dough cycle.it mixes , kneads the dough in 45 minutes and then leave it in the machine to rise and then do whatever you want to do with it. I did that for pizza dough .it made enough for 2 pizzas or one big or thick pizza. Good luck with your new bread maker. Again getting a bread maker cookbook is worth it. I tried one bread that is pepperoni and mozzarella. Really good and spicy.