Choosing a bread maker for the home - everything about the device

A bread maker is a household device designed for preparing dough and baking bread at home. Using this machine you can make both the most ordinary bread and a product with all kinds of additives. This useful household item is recommended:

• people who have difficulty buying bread due to work or irregular delivery;
• fans of healthy eating, because in this case there is 100% confidence in the quality of the product;
• those who know how to count money correctly and not spend it in supermarkets;
• professional housewives for whom losing half an hour of time to go to the bakery is an unaffordable luxury;
• entrepreneurs, because now any cafe wants to attract customers with its own baked goods.

There is no need to describe the advantages of fragrant, crispy, always fresh homemade bread; it’s better to tell you how a bread machine works and how to choose a good unit.

Unit design

The operating principle of any bread maker is quite simple. Standard device structure:

• main body plus heating elements, removable top cover with control display;
• flask or baking dish.

The latter is made of non-stick materials and has several blades for kneading dough. The blades are installed on the drive shaft, and it is attached to the adapter coupling, and thus interfaces with the rotation mechanism. While preparing the dough, the mechanism causes the blades to move, thus kneading the dough. There may be two blades, but there are models with one.

In the standard version, all components are made of Teflon, but there are also more advanced models with a ceramic coating.

The body of most products is made of plastic, and only a few expensive models are equipped with a stainless steel body. Plastic also comes in different qualities; the more expensive ones are not so fragile and do not smell during operation.

Home bread maker

Despite the fact that the first bread machine appeared at the beginning of the last century, it became widespread only in the 70s of the last century. As households on both sides of the ocean have come to appreciate the benefits of a kitchen assistant, this device has ceased to be a sign of luxury.

The retail chain offers professional and household bread makers, but before heading to the nearest store, you need to familiarize yourself with the classic structure of a device for baking rye bread.

The basis is the baking chamber, the size of which varies depending on the model. Inside the chamber there is a heating element, complemented by a connecting coupling.

The bread machine must have a non-stick coating on the pan made of fluoroplastic

Thanks to the mentioned part, torque is transmitted to the mechanism. There can be from 2 to 4 of these in a bread machine.

In order not to get confused in the details, there are simple practical recommendations:

• Make sure that the rotary shaft is securely fastened in the bread maker;
• A well-fixed thermal sensor should be designed for temperatures higher than those specified in the instructions;
• A simple tip will help you choose the right mold for installation in the stove - it should fit freely, but not wobble;
• The material used to make the mold should not be easily damaged;
• The presence of at least 4 types of sensors that monitor the test status in real time;
• Make sure that the shaft blades installed at the bottom of the mold are securely fastened.

The strength of the coating of the baking dish and the presence of at least four special sensors are the most significant parameters that determine the duration of the guaranteed operation of the gadget. At the same time, you need to remember that even the reinforced coating of the bowl will not last long if you wash it with a hard sponge.

Machine control

Although there are also electromechanical modules, most models have electronic controls. The standard version provides contact buttons, and advanced models have touch controls. The sensor is certainly of better quality, because neither flour nor other ingredients will interfere with its operation, unlike the version with buttons. And the sensor is extremely easy to care for. The integrated display fully displays all the information necessary for work (the specified weight of the baked goods, the desired color of the crust, the type of program, the duration of the process).

A nice addition is that the device automatically restarts after a power outage - the machine itself will restore operation according to the specified program. Other design additions make life easier, but you can do without them: indication with flashing buttons, mechanical timer, touch switches, beautiful display.

The child lock mode is very useful; it prevents the lid of the bread machine from opening unexpectedly, because it is very hot inside the machine and this is dangerous for the child.

Bread machine capabilities

Most bread machines bake bread in a regular oblong shape, but there are models on the market with additional molds for making round bread or a French baguette. You can place the dough into the mold in small pieces, which makes it possible to get small rolls. Bread makers can be used not only for their intended purpose; they can automatically knead dough for other products, for example, dumplings.

Baking homemade bread can be done either using built-in automatic programs or manually. The manual option is available in all models, but requires some experience and skill.

The process of making bread takes up to 6 hours, in addition, large-capacity machines produce significant noise. You also need to take into account that a bread machine in the kitchen will require quite a lot of space, approximately the same as a microwave. And the weight of the device ranges from 4 to 8 kg. Therefore, it is necessary to think about its location in the kitchen so as not to assemble and disassemble each time you use it.

The right choice of bread machine is determined by your needs

Having settled on similar elements, it is necessary to consider in detail the characteristics unique to each model. First, you should pay attention to the potential number of consumers of the product. For a large family (5-6 people), it is better to choose a home bread maker that can prepare a 1.5 kg loaf.

If up to 4 people live under one roof, then a model with maximum productivity within 1 kg is suitable for the home.

In budget models, this parameter cannot be adjusted, which causes certain difficulties. In the case when the owner wants to independently select the weight of the future loaf, the bread maker must have a correction function. Simply put, there is a section on the control panel that allows you to set the desired weight.

In order not to get confused by other characteristics, attention should be paid to the details listed below:

• Availability of the option “kneading dough for pizza” or for dumplings;
• The presence of the “accelerated baking” option is suitable for those cases when the heads or guests are taken by surprise;
• If there are many jam fans in the family, then you need to purchase a model with a reinforced baking dish;
• The more baking programs a gadget has, the wider the gastronomic possibilities;
• Depending on the ability to knead dough, bread makers vary in vibration intensity;
• The smallest model is identical in size to a budget microwave oven.

Regardless of the model purchased, it is prohibited to place the bread machine in a draft. Just a few minutes will be enough for the dough to fail.

Subtleties of choice

The main parameter is the weight of the resulting product. Its fluctuations are possible from 300 g to 2.5 kg. For a small family of three people, a bread machine that bakes bread weighing 0.5 kg is enough, but if the family is larger, you need to buy a large-capacity bread machine. In this case, it is desirable that the purchased device could vary the weight of the baked bread: 600 g, 1000 g, 1200 g. In this case, there is no need to throw away excess bread, and the cooking time will vary.

One cannot fail to take into account such a circumstance as the hardening time of the finished product. Since home-baked goods do not use preservatives used in the industry, they become stale within a day, which means it is not worth making bread at home for future use.

The power of the bread machine ranges from 400 to 1800 W. The thoroughness of kneading the dough and the cooking time of the product are directly dependent on this parameter. Simply put, the greater the power value, the faster the finished bread is produced, but also the greater the energy consumption. It should be taken into account that slower baking usually tastes better than fast cooking.

As a rule, all purchases come with a disc with video instructions for using the device.

Recommendations on how to choose a bread machine: expert advice

As reviews show, such an acquisition must have a certain reserve of power. Everyone knows this, but not everyone understands exactly what kind of reserve is needed. For example, the operating principle of the professional model is based on a reserve of up to 2 kg.

If we talk about household consumers, then the specified volume is not needed. It will be enough to have a reserve of 0.5-0.7 kg.

In addition, even in a budget version, the available power should allow you to change parameters such as kneading duration, rising and baking speed.

If the consumer still does not know which reliable bread maker to choose, then it is necessary to rely on the following practical tips:

• Availability of a system for automatically selecting optimal parameters;
• Availability of the “control baking” option - in different models, the section responsible for quickly preparing bread or rolls has different names;
• If you like culinary experiments, then you need to make sure that the characteristics allow you to manually set the necessary parameters;
• The presence of an automatic dispenser - the option consumes little electricity, while allowing you to taste fresh bread in the morning.

Built-in programs

Any bread machine is equipped with a set of basic programs. These are options for preparing various doughs, crispy crusts, and accelerated programs. A bread machine may have a set of 25 programs, but not all of them are widely applicable in everyday life. Plus, you need to understand that each additional program increases the price of the product. The following interesting features may be found in various models:

1. The program for making preserves and preserves is very attractive, but ineffective. In a medium-sized bread machine you can get about 600-800 grams. product, which is not very appropriate for preparing confitures.

2. The “rye bread” program allows you to get a very fragrant and tasty product.
3. If you often prepare various flour products at home, then, of course, you need an option for preparing dough. This feature makes working in the kitchen much easier.
4. The “gluten-free bread” option will be useful if there are patients in the family who cannot digest regular bread. This program will be useful for diabetics and those who follow a healthy lifestyle.
5. The function of baking bread with bran makes it possible to constantly have bread at home, which is rarely found on sale.

6. There are machines that can be used to prepare butter and homemade yogurt. For these types of products, special containers are included. To ferment yoghurt by gradual heating, milk and starter culture are needed. The LG HB-2001BY bread machine will prepare homemade butter from high-quality cream in an hour and a half.
7. The option of baking cupcakes is, as a rule, only needed to satisfy the housewife’s curiosity.

What is a bread maker and its types

A household bread maker is a compact electromechanical device. The functions of the bread machine include automated dough kneading and baking of baked goods. The weight of the finished bakery product can vary from 0.45 to 2 kg. Production time can be up to 6 hours, depending on the program.

Bread baked in your own kitchen differs from store-bought bread not only in its fragrant aroma. Homemade bread will not present any surprises in the form of foreign inclusions and dubious components.

Bread makers, depending on their functions, come in the following types:

1. Budget. If a user wants to choose a bread machine exclusively for baking bread, it is worth taking a closer look at the standard budget models. Due to their modest capabilities, their price is also quite modest - from 3.5 thousand rubles. The functions of such bread makers include:

• kneading and baking various types of bread, including butter bread;
• fast baking mode;
• delayed start;
• protection against power surges;
• up to 8 automatic programs;
• three bread crust options.

Budget models are compact, the finished loaf will also be small - 450-700 grams. An excellent choice for a small family. Most often, the body of such models is made of plastic, the bucket and spatula are covered with a non-stick coating. The power of budget models does not exceed 650 watts. Electronic, touch control. The set program is reflected on the display.

Mystery MBM-1202 is a typical representative of the budget segment

2. A bread maker for a large family is usually heavy and bulky. In such a stove you will be pleased with the following points:

• possibility of baking bread up to one and a half kilograms;
• the ability to bake rich pastries;
• delayed start function;
• the option of making jam and jam will be useful for those with a sweet tooth;
• baking function for pizza, baguettes and muffins;
• kneading dough of any kind;
• option for cooking milk and dairy-free porridges;
• A dispenser in a bread maker for a large family is a must.

It is better to choose such bread makers with a stainless steel body, especially if there are small children in the family. Steel models are more reliable and durable. The power of such models ranges from 1000 to 2000 watts. You won’t be able to save on electricity with such a stove. Also, large bread makers have a decent weight (8-9 kg) and require an impressive amount of space.

Moulinex OW6121 bread machine is one of the most powerful ovens, can bake a 1.5 kg loaf

3. Bread makers baking rye bread. Not all bread makers can bake rye bread. But some models have a special “Rye bread” mode. When baking such bread, the oven independently sets the time for each stage of work, taking into account the consistency of the dough and its composition. The presence of a second blade for kneading in such a bread machine is only welcome, since the dough for rye bread is quite steep, and the second blade will not only relieve the unit’s engine, but will ensure better kneading.

4. Bread makers for gluten-free baking – models with this option are suitable for people suffering from gluten intolerance. This mode uses gluten-free flour - rice, soy, corn, etc. Otherwise, gluten-free bread makers are no different from the rest.

5. Bread maker for baking cupcakes. All powerful devices have this feature. For baking cakes, the optimal power is 800-1000 watts. If this option is available, the following are preferred:

• the presence of a dispenser (for raisins, chocolate, poppy seeds);
• The case is made of stainless metal, since plastic can begin to smell when heated strongly.

The bread maker is ideal for baking muffins and Easter cakes

6. Bread maker for making jam. The jam in the bread machine turns out thick and tasty. By boiling gradually, it retains some of the vitamins and rich aroma, and also does not require constant stirring. Sweet treat lovers should make sure that this function is present in the selected unit. You should take into account the nuance that you can cook no more than one liter at a time.

7. Yogurt bread maker – some modern models are equipped with this option. If available, the following are preferred:

• dispenser for various flavoring additives;
• a special container with a lid for preparing yogurt in it.

Yogurt in a bread machine turns out thick and tender.

The Philips HD9046 bread maker is equipped with a cup for making wonderful yogurt

Extra options

It makes absolutely no sense to purchase a modification with a built-in viewing window. After all, the entire progress of the baking process is displayed on the display, and there is no need to watch it through the window. Moreover, given its design features, the window increases unproductive heat loss, as a result, you can lose the fried crust. During operation of the bread machine, such a window completely fogs up and becomes clear of moisture only at the finish.

Many bread machines are equipped with a so-called dispenser. This is a small tank with a dosed outlet, from which various additives are added to the dough: sesame seeds, raisins and others. All this is quite acceptable to add to the dough manually when the machine finishes working with the main components, which it will notify with a sound alert.

The option of maintaining the temperature for one hour can also be considered unimportant. After all, thanks to the timer, you can clearly determine the time for which you need to get hot bread.

But the “yeast-free baking” option completely depends on the taste preferences of users.

Products from a bread machine are a little more expensive than store-bought bread, but only high-quality ingredients will be used in its production. Well, in terms of taste, bakeries are far from high-quality homemade baked goods.

The working principle of a bread maker

How does a bread maker work? The operating principle of all bread makers is almost the same. The device consists of a motor, a heating element and a container for ingredients.

All the necessary ingredients are loaded into the container (which, as a rule, is covered with a non-stick coating), a program is selected, that’s all, you just need patience.

The bread maker will mix all the ingredients, heat the dough, then let the dough sit, knead the dough, and set it to bake. The crust can be made golden brown or fried, according to your taste and discretion; as soon as the bread is ready, the device will emit a sound signal.