Recommend A Breadmaker, Please!
 

I've been thinking about buying an inexpensive bread maker. Anyone here have one and do you like it? Is it worth the effort?

I cannot tell you how many partial loaves of bread I end up throwing out. We don't eat that much bread and there's no option to buy 1/2 a loaf. I've tried freezing it but it seems to dry it out so badly.

I thought if I could just make my own whenever I needed it that might be cheaper. I've googled bread makers and looked at lots of different ones. There's so many! I know I would like a horizontal loaf. Many of them don't make that.

if you have a freecycle group in your area, yahoo has them in my area you can ask for one. I got one from a friend of my moms. it's the breadman machine. it's great except... it takes 2-4 hours to make a loaf of bread but all you have to do is throw in the ingredients and hit the button and you are done. it isn't too heavy or hard to move if you have to, and clean up is really simple just turn the handle to unlock it and it pulls right out and fits in my dishwasher.

I don't like that they are verticle loaves instead of horizontal, and it tends to make the bread crunchier than i usually like. I do like to use it to make dough, pizza crust/ breadsticks/ pigs in a blanket. the dough comes out pretty good but also takes about an hour to make. the other perk, you can make exta dough and freeze it. as long as you can leave it out to thaw overnight, it works great.

Definitely get a machine that makes horizontal loves rather than vertical ones. I think most makers are pretty much the same and easy to operate.

I have a Toastmaster which makes great bread, but it is a vertical loaf maker and I wish I had purchased one of the horizontal ones.

I would buy whichever is on sale if I did it again.

gmi

I make breads and people buy them from me. Have been doing it for over 10 years. One of these days, when Twink is in AZ to visit her daughter, she will get a loaf.

I use Oster. Cheapest on the market.

Mine is Panera.

Mine is the kind from the frozen food section.:o Put it in a loaf pan and bake.

I know what you mean about the waste of bread. I do wish they made 1/2 loaves. I know you can get smaller loaves from the bakery and have them slice it for you. Since it is just me now, I don't bread anymore.

I tried 3 before finding the West Bend that I liked best - but often around here there a nearly new ones in the goodwill/ thrift stores - you can tell by looking that they never were used or only a few times.

I picked up a extra one just cause it was like new -in the box w/ all booklets - at goodwill for only 8 bucks.
I always wipe it all down with bleach or Lysol just to be sure it's totally clean and then run the pan through the dishwasher too.

It's a Bake It Easy by Betty Crocker.
It's the one I use most now.
the heating element is about 2" up from the base , where the West Bend is at the bottom - I think a bit higher up makes for a more even crust baking.

I usually use the dough cycle and shape/bake it myself.

my west bend - http://www99.epinions.com/hmgd-Bread..._Express_41053

can't find anything about the Betty Crocker one.

there are so many styles & shapes now , another thing is find one that fits nicely on your counter so it is out there to use often.
Some are made to fit nicely in a corner or just blend in to the kitchen decor more than the old big white boxy style.



If you do try one and it burns or under bakes don't be afraid to return or exchange it -

Schwans..:D

I buy a loaf and split it with my Mom. That way we both have a fresh loaf of bread.

I've purchased bread from the bakery before - Publix makes really good White Mountain bread - but it always gets stale within a day of buying it.

Will homemade bread do the same thing? I'd like for it to at least last a couple of days. Maybe even three. We don't eat that much bread but we do have sandwiches every now and then. Is it cheaper to make it yourself?

I have a Zojirushi BBCCX20 Home that I got from Amazon. DH is on a gluten free diet. He's getting tired of the bread. :rolleyes: :plain: It's a pricey model, do you want to buy a gently used very nice machine? :o :rolleyes: :confused:

If you put it in a zip lock bag {after it cools} it should be fine for 2-3 days.
If you use the dough cycle you could use smaller pans to make the loaf.

I've used pyrex bowls , muffin pan, or even cookie sheet for french style long loaf.
or even make shape into personal sized rolls/buns freehand, or mini french loaf.
cost wise ..
I looked at a few sites and they say about $1 per loaf now to make it at home.
but once you get the hang of it and they are fresh and delicious PLUS no added preservatives or chemicals ... it worth it.

I've made pizza dough, french, white, whole wheat, baguette, rye mix, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon bread.

I was given an older Breadman (was it even used?) - loved it. It does take a few hours to complete all the cycles, but you end up with real bread. It bakes fine in the machine, but like someone else said, I often just make the dough then oven bake.

It's best the first day, edible the second if stored right. But really cheap to make. The expensive part is the yeast, so buy a jar, not packets, and be sure that has a good exp date, keep in fridge. I just use flour, water, salt, sugar, olive oil and yeast.

How much??! :)

I think it would be cheaper to make than buy and much healthier. When you have to throw away over 1/2 loaf because it got moldy you lose money. :mad:

My mom used to make bread a lot. I can remember coming home from school and the smell of freshly made bread filled the house. Yum!! I miss that.

We have a upscale grocery store called Trader Joe's. In their bread section it recommends storing breads in the refrigerator because they do not contain preservatives.

Homemade white bread is very inexpensive to make. Flour, water, egg, oil and yeast.

There is a Trader Joe's here but it's about 15 miles from me. I've never been but my sister in VA shops there all the time.

I want to make a trip to the Goodwill and see if they have any new or nearly new ones there. We also have a section in our paper's classified section called "Cheap Stuff" and people can advertise things that are under $250 for free. I might try looking in there, too.

Kell, are you talking about authentic, from scratch, homemade bread, or "homebaked" bread from a boxed premix? My mom was big into making the boxed breads with her machine and the wheat one she liked had some preservatives in it.

In my experience, buying a good bread is more satisfying all the way around. My remedy for the spoilage factor is to buy decent bread and part it out for the freezer, so I can get some out every few days.

Oh yummy! I remember that. It is so good that way!

Kelly - Do you guys have a Big Lots? They may have one there that you can pick up much cheaper than the stores. I don't like buying used electronics because you never really know if they work until you get home - then you find out it doesn't and you're out that money.:(

Trish - Trader Joe's is nice but I rarely buy anything there, they have interesting items not found in a "regular" grocery store. We go there maybe 3 or 4 times a year. None are close and it is pretty expensive. DS and I went there once and bought chocolate covered edamames!:p

Like Cindy, I freeze my breads. All my friends get them fresh frozen unless they want to come to my house and pick up a fresh one. I have taught friends how to make my specialty bread so I have encountered quite a few different bread machines. All of them are great IMHO.

I make 8 breads per day. I am hoping it is part of my immortality with my kids. The smell of fresh bread will trigger a memory of mom.:)

The bit that is left over, I throw away when stale.

I do not refrigerate my breads, I just saw a sign in Trader Joe's and figured the store was the expert.

We do have Big Lots here. I should check them out. I haven't been to one in a long time.

I shop there sometimes. I actually find I save money there and they take food stamps there. The ones here are around 10 miles or so from my house so unless I am going to be in the area, I just go to Albertsons.

Kelly - Big Lots has some really neat stuff at reasonable prices. They just don't always carry the same thing and if you don't have the money at the time, chances are it won't be there when you go back. That's the downfall. Of course, I don't have the money anytime. LOL They do have food items and toiletries I pick up there.