Bread Machine

[DavidNorcross]

Seriously considering a bread machine.

Here is the one that we have been looking at and based upon the reviews that I have found it does a great job.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BQ28TQ6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=modesurvblog-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07BQ28TQ6&linkId=d9be3126f6335656ff1206d0705b9056

Do you use a bread machine? Pro's/Con's?

Any particular brand or model that you recommend?

Thanks for your help.

[Rocinante]

I'm going to give my age up here some, but I got my first bread maker back in 1990. It was one of the original DAK/Welbilt models that looked like a mini R2D2. I used that thing for many years. Since then, I have had several different makes and models. About 10 years ago I got the cousin to what you are looking at, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20. I use mine all of the time.

I use it for pretty much anything dough related, from breads, pizza to pasta. It also has extra rice/jam settings, but I have never used those. I can program it to knead for 6 minutes for most doughs I make and it's really good for the high hydration doughs, as those are a bit sticky. I use the manual setting a lot, but it is nice to let it run the whole way through for a fresh loaf of bread the easy way.

I would say mine is one of those appliances that would be hard to give up. They are nice and easy to use and can get you to try out different recipes and things you may not have tried out otherwise.

Cheers

[fzxdoc]

OMG, I have had a generic bread machine sitting in my pantry, untouched, for years. Just the other day I was thinking to get it down off the shelf and have a go at using it once again. It makes that weird vertical one pound loaf.

Kathryn

[Smoker_Boy]

Since there's just the 2 of us, I don't make multiple loaves anymore. The old Kenmore bread machine works great just as a dough mixer.

[Murdy]

My Grandma had one of those. No one liked the shape of the loaf (the slices were huge as I recall). She stopped running it all the way through. She'd run it through the first rise, take the dough out and put it in a regular loaf pan, let it rise again, and finish it in the oven, so she'd end up with a normal loaf. She said it was still easier than doing the whole thing from scratch.

(My recollection of the exact process may be imperfect, but it was something like this).

[Bkhuna]

Same here. It's a Panasonic. I just never got into it. The main problem is the size. I don't have the counter space any longer for things that I don't frequently use.

[SandPiper]

I have had several Zojirushi machines over the last 30 years. This is one of the best bread machines. I continue to use it regularly. It is great for setting it up to run overnight and waking up to fresh bread. That said, bread baked in the machine is not as good as baked in an oven. You cannot get the same crust and chew as a French baguette. As above, it is great for making dough. I recommend it. And while you will not put good bakers out of business you will have lots more homemade bread than you would without the machine.

[RonB]

When I saw the title, I thought you were talking about Richard Chrz .

You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

[Richard Chrz]

Haha😂

[johnec00]

We got a Kitchenarm about a year ago when our old toastmaster finally crapped out. I've been really happy with it, many built in cycles as well as four that you can program yourself. Their customer rep has been fantastic in providing detailed timing information that allowed me to create equivalents to the old toastmaster. They have a service where you send them your recipe and they create a version using their machine. I've not tried that service, so I can't vouch for it. IMHO though, the machine is a value at about $100 on Amazon. I don't care for the shape of the loaf, so frequently we stop it just when the bake would start and put the dough in a bread pan in the oven to make a more conventionally shaped loaf.

https://www.amazon.com/KITCHENARM-Automatic-Bread-Machine-Recipes/dp/B087FB8SCK/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DvMp8Wb9UQPNSxXNd_8SXPWRmvcOTeOfhGYnCDbTHG56MHwtaZrq7vkn-rtkWdfE.DlDvj_1o0qrgMdm9gJtPLzKilRWLHUGQLNQA6vNvVaI&dib_tag=se&keywords=kitchenarm&qid=1712082013&sr=8-1&th=1

[DavidNorcross]

Thank you all for your help so far!

[DavidNorcross]

Quick update. Bought the Zojirushi and loving it so far.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I wish I had space for one, I tried to make bread "the hard way" but just not something I enjoyed.

[DavidNorcross]

Love to make bread by hand, but for us time is a factor. At least this way we can make bread at home quickly and not rely on anything from the store.

[fzxdoc]

I'm glad you found something that works well for you, DavidNorcross . How often do you bake bread?

And as an aside, how is your wife doing with her Alpha-gal diagnosis? Are the symptoms beginning to fade yet?

Kathryn

[DavidNorcross]

Thank you Kathryn. We would bake weekly for sure. The schedule is just too crazy and we are trying to spin the plates so to speak.

She is doing great! The symptoms to be in check for now. Taking it slow but she is back to eating beef. Hamburgers and Philly Cheese is on tap for the weekend!

Thank you for asking!

[fzxdoc]

Oh that's such wonderful news, DavidNorcross , Dave. I hope all her (and your) years ahead are tick-free!

Kathryn

[barelfly]

This thread makes me think of my Grandmother She used her bread machine constantly, but not necessarily for her. She made bread to have for her friends that would come see her or for the neighbors.

Hope you enjoy!

[hoovarmin]

My grandmother did too

[Huskee]

We have one and it's super convenient in that you add the ingredients and hit "go" and later there's a loaf. Downside is you can't do specialty stuff like scoring, and, at least w/ our machine, there's an imprint of the mixing arm on the bottom edge so you likely won't have photo-quality loafs from them. But easy bread? Yepper!

[Purc]

After several months of regular use, the last bread machine I had, caused me to buy all new dress pants, jeans, shorts, shirts and 2 belts.

[hoovarmin]

Purc 😂

[fzxdoc]

Yup, good bread will do that to you. But what a delicious way to ease into a larger size!

Kathryn

[DavidNorcross]

This thing continues to impress. Hamburger buns were fantastic

[klflowers]

Which model did you get David? The Amazon link is broken. I am just about ready to get one. I am far too lazy to make bread by hand.

[Alan Brice]

I have one of the orig. Came with an electric knife and a guide you put the bread in to cut slices.

[DavidNorcross]

Got the Zojirushi BB-PDC20BA Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus . Not cheap but it is fantastic.