Any Bread Machine Users?

[kltcarley]

I am really considering buying a bread machine or is it a bread maker? I would like some input from any owners of bread machines. Any advice about brands,features, or cookbooks? Please help!

[Kristilyn1]

I have one who's name brand escapes me. If you can afford the ones that make a normal size loaf--buy it! If not, the regular ones are quite nice. I love to make bread and when pressed--the bread machine mixes are delicious too.

Kristi

[RunnerKim]

I have a Breadman (http://www.breadman.com) - owned by Salton-Maxim. I'm on my second one and would only be tempted to consider one or 2 other brands. I did pay good money for mine - around $200, so it's not one you pick up at Walmart. I use mine about 2-3 times a week.

I often just use the bread machine to mix/knead the dough but I'm very satisfied with the baking it does too - it has a horizontal loaf pan which makes a big difference -- looks like a normal loaf of bread.

The one reason I considered going with a different brand was that you can't use the delay timer on the dough cycle - I most often want to have pizza dough ready when I get home from work. I'm able to work around this as there's a "personal recipe" where you can set your own times for each part of the cycle - so I just make it mimic the dough cycle. This feature is also great if you're bread is really affected by humidity or altitude.

The Breadman's specialty is whole-grain breads - comes with a cookbook with many healthy recipes in it and even a video. I'll admit that I still use mostly all-purpose or bread flour for most of my breads.

Kim

[lorilei]

I own a 2 year old WELLBILT machine.

I use mine primarily for dough, so I cannot attest that the machine BAKES consistently good bread. I do not like the look of bread machine bread, so I generally bake rustic loaves in my oven. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif However, I have baked a few loaves in the machine, and cannot complain about their consistency or taste.

The timer function is extraordinarily useful, so I would definitely recommend buying a machine with that capability (Do they even make them without it anymore). The baking window is also a nice touch, as you can monitor the bread to be sure it is rising correctly.

The BREAD MACHINE cookbooks (small, 1/2 size cookbooks which you can find in almost any bookstore) are excellent resources if you want some good basic bread machine recipes.

Good luck!

[Lauren]

I have had my Hitachi bread machine almost ten years. It's still running great! My family loves the bread it makes, but unfortunately now that I work full-time, I don't make it as often as I would like. My seven year old son said over the summer, "Remember when you used to bake bread, Mom." It's great for dough for pizza or foccaccia, too. One new machine out there with good reviews is the Oster. We should start a string of our favorite bread machine recipes. My uses Grape Nuts cereal and has a sort of nutty texture.

[darthchrista]

I just recently purchased a Zojirushi bread machine from Cooks.com., for $165 including shipping and handling. I love it. It has a delay timer for bread and dough, and comes with a basic recipe book with a bunch of recipes to start off with. It is very quiet when kneading, and also has an add beep to let you know when to put in raisin, nuts, etc. It has a horizontal pan that can make up to a 2lb loaf. You can even make zucchini bread and others like it in the machine. I have also successfully used mixes, and recipies off the internet for bread machines. The pan is super easy to clean. Happy hunting.

[kltcarley]

Lauren, would you share your favorite recipe with grape nuts? Thanks!

[Connie]

Lauen,
I'm seconding the request for your recipe with Grape Nuts. That sounds good!!

We received a Kitchen Pro by Regal for a wedding gift 3 years ago. It also has a timer, and the beep for adding new ingredients. However, I don't ususally use the timer as I need to check the dough to make sure it's the right consistency. I haven't made the same loaf enough times to feel confident with the timer. But I have been very happy with it. I would suggest checking out the latest review in Consumer Reports. As far as cookbooks and recipes, there are so many out there!! One I like is called Whole Grain Breads by Machine or Hand, by Beatrice Ojakangas. You could check books out of the library and take the time to look at them before you buy them. Good luck!

[MrsReber]

This is weird, I was just reading my bread machine book this morning to figure out how to use the timer and I can't use it for dough!! I thought that was strange. I'm not sure of the brand- it was a gift for my wedding shower last year (from my mom). I was dying for a bread machine and it is everything I thought it would be! I have the window on mine, too. I have never used the timer feature at all, but I agree that you would want to watch the consistency the first couple of times you make something anyway. I have 2 bread machine cookbooks, I'm not sure if they're the same ones mentioned above. They are thin books by Margie Lambert (not sure of the first name, but the last name is correct). Amazon has them fairly cheap, too. I use my machine mostly to make dough for pizza or foccacia bread. I have made a couple of loaves of bread in it, but I have to work on the texture a bit. I have also made dough for desserts like apple braids. The features and models change every year, though. I highly recommend buying one. I use mine alot and can't wait to bake more breads in the fall.

[JillC]

I tried to post here last week, but my post wouldn't go through (darn hackers, anyway).
We have a Welbilt bread machine that we like. It does allow us to use the delayed start for the dough cycle. This has really come in handy this summer as we've used the machine to make pizza dough quite often. I come home and the dough is ready and then we make pizzas on the grill--don't even need to turn on the oven.
This particular machine makes 1 lb, 1 1/2 lb or 2 lb loaves and has a jam cycle (which I've never tried). I got it at a department store on sale for $60.
I also have and like the Bread Machine cookbooks that Lorilei (above) mentioned.
As an aside--someone above mentioned that they have a Zojirushi bread machine. I have this brand of thermos that keeps coffee hot forever. If you're looking for a good thermos, I'd definitely recommend this brand.
Jill

[Zinnia]

This site has "150 bread machine recipes". I
visit this site often and use my Walmart special ($75.00) a few x a week. I have a West Bend Auto Bread & Dough Maker and I love it. Here is the site;
http://fp.enter.net/~rburk/breads/breadmachine/breadmachine.htm

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[Connie]

Zinnia,
That site looks great! Thanks for posting the address. The several recipes I clicked on were even exported from Master Cook! Do you have a favorite, or top 5?

[BevP]

I love my Zojirushi. You'll get to where you need never buy bread again. Best of all, you control the ingredients. But, remember, without preservatives, it goes stale fast. I save my stale bread in the freezer until I want to make bread pudding or french toast or such.

[Connie]

Lauren,
Where are you? I have plenty of Grape-Nuts to put in bread. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Zinnia]

Originally posted by Connie:
Zinnia,
That site looks great! Thanks for posting the address. The several recipes I clicked on were even exported from Master Cook! Do you have a favorite, or top 5?

Hi Connie,
Here are my top 5 favorites at that site for breadmachine bread.
Wheat & Honey
Lemon Poppy
English Muffin
Beer Cheese Bread
All the rye ones! Yum! Have you tried any of them yet? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[Shelly]

I have a bread machine that I received as a gift a few years ago, and I love it. It is a Regal, I think. If and when this one wears out, I would buy one that makes regular shaped loaves. My mom has a really fancy one that you can make jam in.

The only thing that I don't like is that if I can't be there to check the dough as it is mixing then I can't correct for too much or too little moisture. Then I'm just stuck with a very dry or dense loaf, depending. But overall, I wouldn't trade it. I LOVE the smell of baking bread in the house!

[phantomcg]

Well, I'm not Lauren, but here is a Grape-Nuts bread recipe that I got from the Kraft web-site.


* Exported from MasterCook II *

Bread Machine Grape-Nuts Cereal Bread

Recipe By : Kraft Web Site
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:05
Categories : Breads, Biscuits & Rolls

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/4 cups water -- room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons margarine -- cut in small pieces
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons instant nonfat dry milk
3/4 cup Post Grape-Nuts Brand Cereal
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

For best results, all ingredients should be at room temperature. Add
ingredients in the exact order listed and prepare the bread dough
according to the specific manufacturer's directions for the machine used.
For best results, use standare/white bread setting. Makes 1 large loaf.
Calories: 150 Total Fat: 2.5g Saturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 0 mg Sodium 340 mg Total Carbs 27g
Dietary Fiber 2g Sugars 4g Protein 5g


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Lauren]

Sorry Connie! I'm at work, so I'll post the recipe tonight. My Grape Nut recipe is similar to the previous one, but doesn't call for whole wheat flour.

[Lauren]

Here is the Grape Nut bread I have been making for years. My family really likes it!

Ingredients are for a large loaf.

1-1/3 cups water
2-2/3 T veg. oil
1-1/3 T sugar
2 tsp. salt
2/3 cups Grape Nuts
2-2/3 cups bread flour
2-1/2 tsp. yeast

[Connie]

Zinnia,
Thanks for your top 5. No, I haven't tried any of them yet. I was out of town last weekend, and will also be gone part of this weekend. I've also made an english muffin bread; it's good to use as french toast!

phantomcg,
Thanks for your recipe; it looks good!

Lauren,
No apology necessary; I was just hoping you had forgotten about the recipe but were still around. Thanks for posting it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[KimKelly]

I also have a Hitachi - it's my second as I wore out the first one! I live it. We use it probably 5 times a week for both bread and dough. I'm not sure if you can still get Hitachi's though, I had a friend try to get one recently and neither of us could find one.

Anyway, the real reason for my post was to reccomend one of the best bread machine books I've ever used. It's called Bread Machine Magic. I've leant it our so I do not have the authors here, but it's easily found on Amazon. I actually picked it up at Costco last year at Christmas time only because one of the clerks said it was so good. I have tried probably 1/2 of the recipes in it and have found at least 15 new all time favorites. Might I suggest the granola date bread??? And the Garlic rolls are absolutely our of this world!!!
Kim

[Connie]

KimKelly,
I have that book too, and that is where I got the English Toasting Bread recipe (pg 21). The Heavenly Whole Wheat Bread is also good. I'll have to try the Granola Date Bread. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Susann]

Zinnia-thanks for the site. I just visited and it has a ton of great recipes, one of which was bloody mary bread (yes, you read that correctly). I am very curious-has anyone tried this?

[Connie]

Lauren,
I made your recipe last night. It IS good! What kind of yeast do you use? I used active dry. The bread rose a little too high, and then fell. I had to add about 4 T of flour after the machine had been on for about 5 minutes. I thought it was way too wet. But I would definitely make it again, after I try phantomcg's. Thanks for sharing!

[Lauren]

Connie,

I haven't had any trouble with that recipe. I use regular yeast in a bag from BJ's Club, is that active dry? Let me know how the other grape-nuts recipe is!
Lauren