Bread makers Y/N

[Chz]

Why aren't they any good at cooking? What is better about an oven?

I'm not sure about the why, but the crust of the bread when cooked in the machine is completely different to what you get in an oven. I'm another one of those freaks who use the machine mostly for kneading and proving. I do occasionally use the machine for the baking part, but not often.

 

[Chairman Meow]

I'm another panasonic fan. I had two cheapo Aldi machines before which were adequate, but the Panasonic blows them out of the water. Any nice recipes anyone?

 

[BlueSquareThing]

How cold is cold? My parents' place never warmed up even in summer (which was sometimes a blessing!) - victorian built farm worker's cottage with no insulation and tiny windows (big larder for cold storage though, it wasn't all bad!) - and in winter was only a couple of degrees warmer than outside, icicles forming on the ceiling type cold, but it's draughts that pose a real problem when getting dough to rise.

I made some dough last night, stuck it on the side and it rose a bit. Whacked it int he fridge overnight and it was massive this morning - plenty of rise.

The points about bad hands people made are good ones though.

 

[gentlegreen]

I have a plan on the back burner to build an extension for the raisin dispenser for my Panasonic as it isn't nearly big enough for all the seeds I put in my daily bread.

I like the idea of saving the non-stick a bit (I scoured it off in two places on my Morphy-Richards).

On the other hand I get problems with my loaves "laminating" when large rafts of seeds break the crust ...

 

[RubyBlue]

Well my first attempt was an unmitigated disaster - now I'm hungry - I was dying for my nice fresh bread

 

[gentlegreen]

Well my first attempt was an unmitigated disaster - now I'm hungry - I was dying for my nice fresh bread

what went wrong ?

did you forget to add something ?

 

[RubyBlue]

what went wrong ?

did you forget to add something ?

No - I added everything, flour (proper strong bread flour like it said), salt, sugar, yeast, water and I'm sure I did the right quantities but it turned out about 3 inches tall and all doughy I'm trying again using a packet mix this time.

 

[gentlegreen]

I'm trying again using a packet mix this time.

I usually have one of those in the cupboard ...

My new machine says "dry stuff first, wet second", but I do it the other way round - like I've always done ..

water, seeds, salt, sugar, oil, plug of flour, yeast sprinkled on top.

 

[RubyBlue]

I usually have one of those in the cupboard ...

My new machine says "dry stuff first, wet second", but I do it the other way round - like I've always done ..

water, seeds, salt, sugar, oil, plug of flour, yeast sprinkled on top.

Good job I had a packet mix in hand - but for next time do you use a heaped tea spoonful of yeast or a level one and whats 1 1/2 oz of butter? - I just chucked a glob of it in. I don't have scales but I tried to be accurate.

 

[gentlegreen]

Good job I had a packet mix in hand - but for next time do you use a heaped tea spoonful of yeast or a level one and whats 1 1/2 oz of butter? - I just chucked a glob of it in. I don't have scales but I tried to be accurate.

the butter isn't that important .. I suppose it could have been the yeast .. I use those little sachets ... though I've just bought a "bulk" packet to try ...

 

[RubyBlue]

the butter isn't that important .. I suppose it could have been the yeast .. I use those little sachets ... though I've just bought a "bulk" packet to try ...

Yeah I used one of those little sachets but it said a teaspoon so I did a level teaspoon and it still only took maybe half the sachet.

 

[gentlegreen]

Yeah I used one of those little sachets but it said a teaspoon so I did a level teaspoon and it still only took maybe half the sachet.

I just chuck it all in.

 

[RubyBlue]

I'll do that next time - meanwhile it's frozen pizza for tonight

 

[gentlegreen]

I'll do that next time - meanwhile it's frozen pizza for tonight

I left the yeast out altogether once - I found it was edible while it was still hot...

 

[RubyBlue]

I left the yeast out altogether once - I found it was edible while it was still hot...

Believe me - what I just made wasn't - I tried a bit and it was doughy and crap and the whole loaf was the size of a thick slice of bread

 

[RubyBlue]

Whoo hoo Perfection

 

[Ms T]

Good job I had a packet mix in hand - but for next time do you use a heaped tea spoonful of yeast or a level one and whats 1 1/2 oz of butter? - I just chucked a glob of it in. I don't have scales but I tried to be accurate.

I don't see how you can make bread if you don't have scales. It's chemistry - you need the right proportion of flour/yeast/water for it to work. Your packet mix worked because it was already measured out for you in the right quantities. You also need to put the ingredients in there in the order it says in the instructions, ie yeast first, water last.

 

[aqua]

what flour did you use? did you use the teaspoon measure that comes with the machine or your own? did you do anything else near the machine whilst it was rising?

 

[aqua]

what recipe did you follow? one from the machines own?

 

[RubyBlue]

I don't see how you can make bread if you don't have scales. It's chemistry - you need the right proportion of flour/yeast/water for it to work. Your packet mix worked because it was already measured out for you in the right quantities. You also need to put the ingredients in there in the order it says in the instructions, ie yeast first, water last.

I did add in the right order and the flour and water I measured in a jug - tbh I think instead of a level teaspoon of yeast I should've done the whole sachet like gentlegreen said - anyway - I'll keep experimenting

 

[RubyBlue]

what recipe did you follow? one from the machines own?

Yeah it came with the machine.

 

[RubyBlue]

what flour did you use? did you use the teaspoon measure that comes with the machine or your own? did you do anything else near the machine whilst it was rising?

I used 400 grams of sainsbury strong (the recommended one) bread flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon (I did a level one) yeast, teaspoon of sugar and water - can't remember how much but I used the little jugs they provided and didn't touch the machine at all whilst it did it's stuff - or didn't do it. oh and about a ball of butter - just a glob.

 

[aqua]

how odd, the only time i had a naff loaf was when I was working on the same worktop bashing things

 

[RubyBlue]

how odd, the only time i had a naff loaf was when I was working on the same worktop bashing things

Maybe the machine needed to get going a bit being new

 

[Ms T]

I used 400 grams of sainsbury strong (the recommended one) bread flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon (I did a level one) yeast, teaspoon of sugar and water - can't remember how much but I used the little jugs they provided and didn't touch the machine at all whilst it did it's stuff - or didn't do it. oh and about a ball of butter - just a glob.

How do you know it was 400g of flour if you don't have scales?

 

[RubyBlue]

How do you know it was 400g of flour if you don't have scales?

It came with a little measure jug thing - there is no way on earth I could guess that

 

[RubyBlue]

OMG - was that for the water only? Did I put 400 mils of flour in it? I did - I just checked the 1Kg bag of flour and there's hardly any gone - I reckon I put 400mils of flour in instead of 400 grams

 

[Ms T]

OMG - was that for the water only? Did I put 400 mils of flour in it? I did - I just checked the 1Kg bag of flour and there's hardly any gone - I reckon I put 400mils of flour in instead of 400 grams

There's your answer. You need scales to make successful bread, imo.

 

[RubyBlue]

There's your answer. You need scales to make successful bread, imo.

I'll be down at Argos tomorrow - how fucking stupid can I have been - I feel really embarrassed now

 

[Ms T]

Get electric ones - much better and more accurate.