Breadmakers?

[Bagor]

Anyone got any suggestions for a breadmaker?

Any particular brands to avoid, any to go for? Any little add-ons/features to look for that make certain ones better than others? Something low maintenance as far as cleaning would be good too.

And is it true that some even knead the dough?

Looking for something that we could throw in the dough at night so we'd have a fresh loaf in the morning.

Thanks.

[wooohooo]

When I was in High School and had nothing better to do I used to make my own bread. It was kinda fun... and the machine still works we just never use it. It was a black and decker of some kind.... can't imagine it to have been very expensive.

It would knead dough and everything. But the effort to put it in there, take it out and still have to cut it was not worth the $2 you could get at the market for perfectly cut bread.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

You don't even need to make the dough with the breadmaker. You just put in the ingredients, set the machine, and you'll have bread at the end.

[wooohooo]

The easy part was making the bread.Put some flour in, make a well put some yeast and water (I forget how it goes) and press a button.

The annoying part for me was cutting the bread so they weren't 3 inches thick at the bottom and a mm at the top. A good investment would be those bread cutters but for the price, I rather just buy my bread.

[mykalberta]

I have a breadmaker.

The worst part for me is that you cant actually put in the ingredients ahead of time and then set it to be ready when you get home. Because the liquids get closer to room temp the bread tends to become more yeasty.

Also the hard crusts for the most part are almost impossible to get rid of. I have only been able to limit there hardness a very few times.

[Buff]

When we had our house up for sale my wife would make sure to make bread before a showing. The smell of fresh bread helped make the house feel more like home. Our realtor said he got a lot of good comments on the breadmaker.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I used to use my folks bread maker a lot when I lived at home it was easy as pie.
Just add the ingredients and hit a button. It did the mixing, kneading, and baking.

They're kind of cool to use, but everyone I know that has one, had the novelty run out after about a year.

Now to be a smart ass. Bagor, a bread maker that doesn't knead the dough, is called an oven.

[Table 5]

Forget the breadmaker, the spungey crap those things produce is not worth it (unless that's what you like).

I highly recommend reading this simple bread making technique. Ive tried this out, and not only is it easy (trust me, I'm an idiot in the kitchen...I once managed to set spaghetti on fire), the result is simply awesome. Nice crusty bread that feels like it came out of an old-world hearths.

The article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html

The recipe:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/di...r=1&ref=dining

[annasuave]

I wouldn't recommend a Black & Decker. They tend to be noisy & clackety. Other than that, if you're only going to be making the occasional loaf, just about any machine will do. You will get better features and options on more expensive brands like Cuisinart and Kitchenaid, but you can still bake a decent loaf with your Sunbeams and Toastmasters.

I was happy with my Sunbeam.

Look for features like time bake (wake up to fresh bread) and horizontal loaf (because vertical loaves are just weird-looking).

Also, butter makes it good! Rub a little bit of butter on the inside of the baking pan before adding ingredients for an extra-delicious crust.

[shane_c]

I just make mine by hand and put it in the oven.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The worst part for me is that you cant actually put in the ingredients ahead of time and then set it to be ready when you get home. Because the liquids get closer to room temp the bread tends to become more yeasty.

Also the hard crusts for the most part are almost impossible to get rid of. I have only been able to limit there hardness a very few times.

I have the Cuisinart CBK 200. http://www.breadmachinedigest.com/re...ad-machine.php

It does have a delay timer, so you can set the bread to be done several hours after you put the ingredients in. Sometimes, I have put my ingredients in just before going to bed, and woke up to a hot loaf of bread.

It seems to be a good breadmaker, but I haven't done a ton of comparisons. On the first one I bought, the LCD failed after a couple months. It was replaced for free, and that one has been going well for a couple years.

I do agree about the hard crust problem. On mine, the "light crust" setting is nice, but anything darker results in really hard, thick crunchy crust that is not pleasant.

A breadmaker is a nice thing to have, even though no one really "kneads" one!

[VladtheImpaler]

Do you want one? I have one to dispose of.

[Bagor]

Thanks all.

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Do you want one? I have one to dispose of.

No! But my wife does.

So the general consensus is they're a bit of a gimmick, taste is nothing special and the novelty wears off quick.

Just what I wanted to hear. I'll show this thread to my wife.

Any chance of getting the thread locked now in case someone comes in with something really positive to say about them?

[maverickstruth]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Forget the breadmaker, the spungey crap those things produce is not worth it (unless that's what you like).

I highly recommend reading this simple bread making technique. Ive tried this out, and not only is it easy (trust me, I'm an idiot in the kitchen...I once managed to set spaghetti on fire), the result is simply awesome. Nice crusty bread that feels like it came out of an old-world hearths.

The article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html

The recipe:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/di...r=1&ref=dining

Completely agree. Since this recipe was published in the NYT, there's been all kinds of no-knead bread recipes that have popped up online. They are all phenomenal -- seriously preferred to breadmaker bread. The recipe linked above is great, but also Google some no-knead pizza doughs, no-knead ww bread, etc. And cheaper than buying a breadmachine, too!

[Regulator75]

We have this one, the wife uses it every so often.



Works like a charm, plus this has a gluten free setting that is required in our house hold. Gluten free bread is $$$ and generally nasty... When made at home it's much much better.

http://www.cuisinart.com/products/co...p/cbk-200.html

[Dion]

I have a Black & Decker that works great.

[burn_this_city]

The novelty wore off quick and ours has been in the cupboard for the last 10 years. Just not worth the time and effort for medium quality bread.

[octothorp]

I don't own one, but I've never had bread from a breadmaker that actually tastes good and has a nice texture. Not to say that it can't be done, but I'll take the charm of a delicious, day-risen artisan loaf any day. If you don't have a good Kitchenaid mixer, put the money toward that instead. If you've got a good mixer, you have everything you need to make great bread.

[Table 5]

Follow that no-knead recipe and you don't even need that expensive mixer. It's really that easy. All you have to do is sit on your ass and watch tv and dont touch it.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Anyone got any suggestions for a breadmaker?

Your wife.