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The Dreaded Bread Machine

Posted by BusyBaker on 10/21/2009

2 of 2 Mixers found this post helpful.

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Since I got married in the late nineties, I have the trendy appliance du jour from that era—a bread machine. And while in theory it’s great—just throw the ingredients in and in a few hours, you have yummy, fresh-baked bread—I’m not always thrilled with a loaf of bread made in there. The loaves are oddly shaped, and you have that little hole in the bottom few slices where the mixing arm was.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t get use from it. I’ve found that it’s a great way to make fabulous dough and have it rise beautifully (in a nice, warm, draft-free place). And when it’s done, I simply shape it into a loaf and stick it in my regular oven to get a beautiful bread in the shape I want.

It cuts out all that rising and kneading, and makes a gorgeous, crusty loaf of bread about as easy as it can be.

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by Toni6921 on 10/23/2009

I started using a bread machine in June, and haven't purchased a loaf since. I love using it, and I bake my bread in the machine. I will be trying Pea's recipe for dinner rolls, but it sure makes a decent loaf of bread.

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by LeeLovesToCook on 10/21/2009

There is a bread machines group - http://www.mixingbowl.com/group/usergroup/view.castle?g=948000

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by zendi on 10/21/2009

Weird that I found this here today. I just used my bread machine yesterday for the first time in about 2 years.It still works fine.I do to however prefer the shape of a regular loaf,but it was nice to drop in the ingredients,push a button and later smell the bread automatically baking on it's own.I will probably start using it for rising like you guys more often. I agree with chef Keith,they just may make a comeback. And if you keep your heat setting on your furnace lower these days because of the economy,(many of us do now)the rising is so controlled in those little machines. I keep mine under the counter though as it takes up way too much countertop space!Maybe we will even see someone come up with a bread machine group in the future.I'd go for that!

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by thesweetestpea on 10/21/2009

I just posted my Bread Machine Dinner Rolls recipe in several groups but you can find it easily in the Bread Machine group. It's a simple recipe to follow and are delicious, and make great burger buns, too. I, too, don't like to bake the bread in the machine and use it to mix and rise, then I shape and bake in a loaf pan or hand form for dinner rolls. I think my machine is about 10 years old now, but I only use it for holiday meals and make sandwich buns when I do my Ham Buns recipe. pea

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by LeeLovesToCook on 10/21/2009

I started using a bread machine around 1990 (possibly earlier)because I could make my own whole grain bread. I baked for myself, work and half the neighbors. The heating unit failed a couple of years ago, so I bought and returned a couple. I now have 2.

My big issue now is making gluten free breads. I have made a few 'good' loaves, but no 'great' ones like the whole grain ones.

There are new breadmachines with the gluten-free setting, but I don't think I will buy one anytime soon.

There are a couple (Amazon.com) that I have seen reviews on: Breadman TR875 2-Pound Breadmaker $97.51
Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker $105.00

Bread machines are great for the working person, because some have delayed start settings.

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by Hotstuff4me on 10/21/2009

Until recently I hated bread machines, but have come to love it for it's convenience of kneading and rising. Then I just remove, shape and bake the way I want to.

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by ladylynx on 10/21/2009

I have had my breadmaker since 1993 and it's still going strong, I don't bake the bread in it, didn't like the odd shaped loaf either, but it does do a wonderful job of kneeding bread. Chica I'm not sure what problem you are having with yours, but it should be easy and good.are you using recipes strictly for the machine or trying old recipes?

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