# tell me about bread makers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934 "2010-08-21T01:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/21 "2010-08-23T15:38:14Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > > [@Athena](#): > > > > Maybe they’re better than they used to be - my experience was ten or twelve years ago, and I bought the best-rated machine I could find. It produced semi-OK sandwich bread. I found it was hard to get much variation in the crumb, and the loaf was much lighter than I’d like it to be, and heck if I could get a decent crust. > > That was my experience, too, with a machine at least that old. Convenient, but couldn’t get it near as good as when I made it by hand or bought from a local bakery, and not even as good as the best packaged brand at the supermarket (though it was just as good as wonderbread-style ‘wheat’ bread at the supermarket). Again, this was a basic machine with I think exactly two different possible programs, so if there are modern ones that allow you to adjust everything, that might work better. Sounds like some of you folks need to try a newer machine. My six or seven year old one has all kinds of settings, including 3 crust settings. The darkest setting is so crispy, you have to be careful eating it so it doesn’t cut your mouth up. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/22 "2010-08-23T16:25:46Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I think there’s a compromise. To me, bread machines bake a terrible loaf–the crust is never right (the oven doesn’t get hot enough nor can you dump water in it to make the loaf’s crust really tough), the shape is wrong for anything except eating slabs of bread.. > > …but they’re GREAT for kneading and rising. > > When I still had mine, I used it to make the dough, knead it, rise it and then I’d pull it out, spend 30 seconds shaping it into a real loaf, letting it rise again (covered) and then tossing into a real oven. You get a vastly better product for about 5 minutes of extra work. I do this, because my skin is so sensitive that kneading will cause my hands to turn red and irritated (contact dermatitis). I usually rise in a bowl rather than in the bread machine, but sometimes I just leave it in the machine. And I always shape the loaf myself. Plus, it makes great pasta dough; I make homemade noodles a lot in the winter, and very often on a Sunday we’ll have homemade chicken soup with homemade noodles and homemade bread. I go out and get some good cheese, and there just isn’t anything better on a nasty day. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/23 "2010-08-23T16:30:06Z")
I’ve had mine for ten years, a gift from my father. Mostly I use mine as **Fenris** does - as a kneading machine, for the same reasons. And don’t forget, folks - when you bake your own bread it is not going to be full of preservatives so it won’t last long if you don’t keep the leftovers in the refrigerator. As if that is going to be a problem. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/24 "2010-08-25T14:34:12Z")
**Mrs. FtG** cooks _a lot_. I kept suggesting that I get her a bread machine and she thought she wouldn’t use it. Finally asked for one. Got one for like $5 at a garage sale. They go for $10-20 at thrift stores. She _loves_ it and uses it 2-3 times/weekend. Bread, rolls, pizza dough and on and on. For bread, she uses it only for mixing, kneading and rising. For the final baking she puts it in pans, let’s it do it’s final rise and then bakes it. A tremendous time saver and makes Real Bread. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/25 "2010-08-25T15:51:21Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Before you spend any money on a bread machine, read [this article](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7D6113FF93BA35752C1A9609C8B63) from the New York Times. It describes a recipe that supposedly makes good bread without having to knead it. (Note that I haven’t made it, although I think others here have.) > > I came in here to post this article. > > I had a bread maker once; I took it back within a week. I’ve never had a loaf of bread from one that’s anywhere near as good as a real bakery loaf or a real homemade loaf. Most of them don’t produce bread as good as the higher-end grocery store loaves. In my opinion, bread machines are another one of those inventions that are foisted on people with a marketing messages based on fear - making bread from scratch is HARD! Nobody could do that without a MACHINE to HELP! We’re mere MORTALS, we can’t possibly COOK anything OURSELVES! > > The reality is that making bread with nothing but your hands, a bowl, an oven, and some flour, water, yeast, and salt is incredibly easy. I’ve made the bread in the article above, and it’s really, really good. Like from-a-bakery good, and next to no work at all. > > The only downside is that it doesn’t make loaf-shaped bread, which is easier to make sandwiches with. Fear not; making loaf-shaped sandwich bread is also dead easy, and you can make several loaves and freeze them. There’s dozens of recipes out there, if you’re interested I’ll scare up a few of my favorite. Disagree. I’m someone who will make a French onion soup that takes 6 hours (most of that is hands-off, but y’know) or make everything in a trifle from scratch (including the coconut macaroons and custard), but I friggin’ love the bread machine I got for free from a friend. We’ve had it for about 5-6 months now and literally have not bought store bread since. Even though I love baking, that wouldn’t happen if I made it by hand. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/26 "2010-08-25T15:58:55Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > [@Athena](#): > > > > I came in here to post this article. > > > > I had a bread maker once; I took it back within a week. I’ve never had a loaf of bread from one that’s anywhere near as good as a real bakery loaf or a real homemade loaf. Most of them don’t produce bread as good as the higher-end grocery store loaves. In my opinion, bread machines are another one of those inventions that are foisted on people with a marketing messages based on fear - making bread from scratch is HARD! Nobody could do that without a MACHINE to HELP! We’re mere MORTALS, we can’t possibly COOK anything OURSELVES! > > > > The reality is that making bread with nothing but your hands, a bowl, an oven, and some flour, water, yeast, and salt is incredibly easy. I’ve made the bread in the article above, and it’s really, really good. Like from-a-bakery good, and next to no work at all. > > > > The only downside is that it doesn’t make loaf-shaped bread, which is easier to make sandwiches with. Fear not; making loaf-shaped sandwich bread is also dead easy, and you can make several loaves and freeze them. There’s dozens of recipes out there, if you’re interested I’ll scare up a few of my favorite. > > Disagree. I’m someone who will make a French onion soup that takes 6 hours (most of that is hands-off, but y’know) or make everything in a trifle from scratch (including the coconut macaroons and custard), but I friggin’ love the bread machine I got for free from a friend. We’ve had it for about 5-6 months now and literally have not bought store bread since. Even though I love baking, that wouldn’t happen if I made it by hand. Yeah. I hope **Athena** doesn’t use a crock pot/ slow cooker, since it’s basically the same thing ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/27 "2010-08-25T16:16:04Z")
I’ve never made bread, and a couple of months ago I got a [Panasonic](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SD-256WXC-Automatic-Breadmaker-program/dp/B003DNRTEG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1282752272&sr=8-4)bread machine. I love it. I like all the different breads you can make - like brioche, spelt, fruit (one I made was so fruity, it was almost a pudding), nan (not very successful, but I think that was me), and pizza (I’m never buying another pizza again). When I’m making ‘standard’ loaves, I usually let the bread machine do all the work, but for some of the more specialist recipes, I let the bread machine do the kneading, and then I’ll take over and shape and cook the dough. I’d recommend a good bread making recipe book. There so many things you can make that I’d never thought of. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/28 "2010-08-25T20:34:56Z")
My grandmother and my parents had a bread machine. The shape of the loaf isn’t ideal for sandwiches, IMO, but it’s fine for just having bread and butter with a meal, or having a couple of slices of toast for breakfast. I found that both breadmakers made extremely tasty bread, and this was at least 15 years ago. I’m afraid to let a breadmaker come into this house, because I KNOW that my husband and I will then start living on bread alone, despite the old saying that man can’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/29 "2010-08-25T21:12:49Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m afraid to let a breadmaker come into this house, because I KNOW that my husband and I will then start living on bread alone, despite the old saying that man can’t do that. [Here’s an idea of what you could expect if you tried.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/191/can-man-live-by-bread-alone) > [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Before you spend any money on a bread machine, read this article from the New York Times. It describes a recipe that supposedly makes good bread without having to knead it. (Note that I haven’t made it, although I think others here have.) I have. I’m super lazy and have what I call T-Rex arms- my arms are short and weak with very little stamina, like the arms of a T-Rex. If this recipe required any vigorous kneading or stirring, there’s absolutely no chance I’d do it more than once. I have made bread with this recipe several times. A really nice feature of this bread is that it’s good with about 1/4 cup of the water replaced with beer (lager works well). Now there’s an open beer, and it would be wasteful if nobody drank the rest of it, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/30 "2010-08-25T21:26:58Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > The machines last a long time, I would definitely try yard sales or craigslist for a used one. Inspired by this thread, I decided to make bread last night. Guess who’s oft-used, 15-year-old Black & Decker breadmaker no longer works? I’m blaming it on your post. **StGermain** , you and I apparently have the same [cookbook](http://www.amazon.com/Best-Bread-Machine-Cookbook-Ever/dp/0060169273), because that is my go-to recipe for white bread. I vouch for its yumminess. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/31 "2010-08-25T21:45:16Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > The only downside is that it doesn’t make loaf-shaped bread, which is easier to make sandwiches with. Fear not; making loaf-shaped sandwich bread is also dead easy The other option is to learn to make sandwiches with non-loaf-shaped bread. One way is to slice the boule (the squashed-ball shaped loaf), then cut each slice in half in the middle. You’ve got two fairly symmetric slices of bread. You’ll have different size slices from different parts of the boule, and your sandwiches won’t be square or triangular, but some of us don’t mind that. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/32 "2010-08-26T00:27:23Z")
The best thing about a breadmaker is that you can load it the night before and set it to finish in the morning. I will set it along with my coffee pot to finish at the same time and you wake up to a house that smells like a cafe. Awesome on a Sunday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Chou4555](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Chou4555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chou4555)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/33 "2011-05-17T07:27:15Z")
Ahh something I do know a little about!. I’ve now got a breadmaker. Here’s the link I looked at which persuaded me to go with Panasonic: [Electronics, Beauty & Appliances | Panasonic UK & Ireland](http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/290123/module/general/compare/productsCategory.html) I also looked at reviews on various sites, and they seemed almost universally good. But you should shop around. Find what ticks all the boxes for you! I’m due to be selling my flat soon, and I’m told that the smellof freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee, can make your property feel more inviting and homely! Here’s hoping! Good luck and bon appetit! ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/34 "2011-05-19T06:27:23Z")
> [@Chou4555](#): > > Ahh something I do know a little about!. I’ve now got a breadmaker. Here’s the link I looked at which persuaded me to go with Panasonic: [http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en\_GB/290123/module/general/compare/productsCategory.html](http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/290123/module/general/compare/productsCategory.html) I have this one too. It’s very nice 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/35 "2011-05-19T14:45:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Store bread doesn’t fill the house with an irresistable aroma. Store bread tastes like food; homemade bread tastes like warm, yeasty crack. This was hilarious but also the reason I won’t buy a bread machine. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-makers/550934/36 "2011-05-19T14:50:00Z")
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