Greetings, regular readers and occasional guests! How often do you make thoughtless purchases based on the principle “everyone I know has this, and I need it”? But the kitchen is not at all a place where it is permissible to have something “for beauty”. To buy or not to buy a bread machine? Let's try to figure it out.
The quality of food in the modern world is increasingly disappointing. By reducing the time spent in the kitchen, a person becomes hostage to unhealthy food. However, lately there has been a large category of people yearning for home-cooked food. Moreover, the latest technologies allow you to cook quickly and very tasty.
It would seem that bread can be bought in any store and is always fresh, but the process of baking it seems so long and complicated. Why do people buy bread makers? Are a multicooker and a yogurt maker not enough for them? And many people actually buy, actively use and are satisfied with their purchase. So, do you need a bread maker at home? Everyone must answer this question individually, but to do this you need to taste the creation of the miracle stove at least once. In addition, the capabilities of a bread maker are not limited to just preparing bread. Let's take a closer look at the functions of the bread maker.
What can a bread maker do?
For those who do not consider themselves fans of golden crispy crust and do not understand why they should buy a bread maker, it is worth taking a broader look at the functionality of this equipment.
Firstly, in addition to the usual white wheat bread, you can bake rye, Borodino and French bread in a good bread machine. Secondly, there are many ways to prepare bread, including recipes with fillings (fried onions, seeds, raisins, nuts, etc.). Thirdly, with the help of a bread machine you can delight your household with various pastries and desserts; it can even make jam and yogurt.
An analysis of numerous reviews showed that most housewives do not decide to make a new purchase for fear of gaining weight. However, thanks to the “gluten-free baking” function, you can prepare healthy dietary baked goods. Specially developed recipes allow you to bake excellent bread without using yeast.
Another useful function of a bread machine is kneading dough for pizza, dumplings, and pasties. At the same time, all the owners unanimously assure that the dough turns out excellent, and most importantly, without much fuss at the table and flour throughout the kitchen.
An important advantage of the bread machine is that it works autonomously. Human participation is required only at the stage of adding ingredients and installing the program. If there is a dispenser that allows you to add additives (nuts, candied fruits, raisins, seeds) during the cooking process, then any delights will not require duty in the kitchen.
Do you need a bread maker at home?
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Thus, the story of software developer Ikuko Tanaka . In order to create a completely unformalized algorithm for kneading dough, she apprenticed with the chef of an international hotel in Osaka, who was considered the best bread baker in Japan.
The woman mastered the technology of bread production, as they say, “first-hand” and discovered that the baker kneaded it in a special way, stretching and pumping a piece of dough. To implement this method, Ikuko Tanaka and the development engineers slightly changed the shape of the inside of the container, adding additional cutter projections. This change made it possible to successfully simulate the work technique of a master baker. As a result, the bread machine began to bake bread of the same quality as that produced at the hotel in Osaka.
Thanks to the unique "twisted dough" method, the Matsushita bread machine produced bread of amazing quality. During the first year of sales of such complex and new kitchen equipment as a bread machine, an absolute sales record was set.
In 10 years, Panasonic's invention conquered the whole world. It began to be successfully sold in the USA, Australia and Europe. Panasonic is still the best manufacturer of home bread makers in the world. Moreover, in modern devices, in addition to the baking function, there is also a function for making jam from fresh fruits!
We will end this interesting story of an interesting invention with a practical question : is it worth buying a bread machine?
Let's give a practical answer to this question. That is, based on personal experience.
Photo: Depositphotos
A few years ago, a friend of mine made such a purchase. The cost of the bread machine was within her means, although the new kitchen utensils were not at all cheap. The device looked impressive, but did not give the impression of a bulky “cabinet”. The bread machine came with a thick brochure with recipes for a variety of breads, pastries and jams. And this book was not superfluous! Moreover, reading it caused profuse salivation and called for the conquest of new culinary heights.
A friend of mine, a woman with a technical education, quickly figured out how to control the baking unit, which - we should give credit to the creators - was not at all complicated and accessible even to people with a humanities education.
The process of making bread in its simplest form took three and a half hours. The taste of the product was amazing. In addition, additional positive emotions like “Yes, we did it!” multiplied the solemn taste sensations. Over the next few days, new recipes were tested and new tastes were mastered. Homemade bread was enthusiastically appreciated by relatives and friends.
These are all advantages. Now about the cons. They emerged almost simultaneously with the positives.
In 3-4 hours, the bread machine makes one bread “brick” (or, as they say in St. Petersburg, “a loaf of bread”) weighing 500-700 grams. For a family of 4 people, this was enough for 2-3 days. Accordingly, for a family of two people, a “brick” was enough for 4 or 5 days. Despite advanced culinary technologies, during this time the bread became stale and lost its taste. Throw it away?
Photo: Depositphotos
The entire Soviet experience rebelled against this, such as “Every crumb is in the palm of your hand” or “Bread is a treasure, don’t waste it.” There was no desire to use the leftovers for breadcrumbs or breading (thanks for the invention, Mr. Joseph Lee!). And how much of that breading is needed in an ordinary household? Therefore, they ate the stale bread without any pleasure. The woman was even less pleased with the noticeable increase in body weight. Bread makes you look fat!
Thus, the bread machine was soon run overnight once a week. And then they completely returned to buying bread in the store. It turned out that it is cheaper, simpler, and has more variety.
Another friend of mine bought the same Panasonic bread machine almost simultaneously with the first one. But her kitchen unit did not stand idle. The fact is that the cafe that the woman ran became the consumer of bread. This is a small eatery. Visitors liked the fresh bread made from whole flour. The woman even began baking bread to order. The home bread maker worked around the clock with almost no rest, but also without breakdowns. The housewife almost didn’t consume her own bread and didn’t gain excess weight, which she was terribly proud of.
Photo: Depositphotos
Conclusions? You should buy a home bread maker if you need to turn it on at least once a day. That is, if there is a circle of regular buyers of fresh bread or the number of eaters in the family exceeds 6-7 people.
What else to read on the topic?
How to bake the perfect bread? Bakery at home. How to choose a bread maker? How to make Irish soda bread?
Tags: bread machine, bread making
What you need to know about the bread machine
Some housewives are hesitant to purchase a bread machine, believing that it requires special, expensive ingredients. Of course, a lot depends on what kind of flour was used to knead the dough. In every city you can find a specialized store where you can buy any raw materials for home baking. There are different types of flour and yeast for every taste. But, as practice shows, very tasty bread is also obtained from simple first or highest grade flour using ordinary dry yeast.
There is a lot of discussion about the question of which yeast is preferable to use in a bread machine: fresh pressed or dry. There's really no noticeable difference. The main thing is that the yeast is not expired and of good quality. When adding, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. It is also necessary to remember that the consumption of dry yeast is half that of fresh yeast. The ingredients must be at room temperature for the yeast to start working.
A simple test allows you to check the quality and activity of yeast. Its essence lies in the fact that a small amount of yeast is dissolved in warm water and left for 10 - 15 minutes. The yeast is suitable for use if a foamy head is observed after a while. Otherwise, don’t waste your products.
Another controversial issue is whether to immediately remove the bread from the bread machine? Many bread machine models have a function to maintain temperature for an hour, which allows you to always have warm and fragrant bread on the dinner table. However, experienced users claim that it is better to remove the finished bread immediately, place it on a wooden wire rack and cover with a towel. In half an hour it will be ready to serve. If the bread is left to cool in the oven, it will sweat, the crispy crust will disappear and the top will settle.
In general, to bake delicious homemade bread, you just need to gain a little experience, perfect a couple of recipes and find a bona fide manufacturer of raw materials.
Why buy a bread machine?
As the years passed, technological progress allowed us to enjoy completely natural bread without any effort. Humanity came up with an extremely interesting device a couple of decades ago. Simply by putting all the necessary ingredients in a container, after a couple of hours we get fragrant, crispy bread. This invention is called a bread maker.
Bread makers are a godsend for modern life. Of course, due to the fact that it is not always possible to buy bread of the proper quality, and the taste and smell of homemade bread cannot be compared with any store-bought counterpart.
If a bread machine is not yet part of your purchase plan, you need to familiarize yourself with its advantages and disadvantages.
Of course, housewives who do not like to please their family with natural homemade recipes can continue to buy products with unknown composition in different stores and not think about purchasing a bread machine. But to experience the pleasure of waking up early in the morning to the aroma of toasted bread, you need to buy a bread machine. Such a miracle can happen if you load all the necessary products into a container and set the bread maker on a timer. This is how, without waking up yet, you can bake fresh bread, using the services of your new assistant.
It may immediately seem that using a bread machine is not much cheaper than buying ready-made bread in a store and is not at all economically profitable. In reality, bread machines pay for themselves only after a year of use, but the benefits of a homemade natural product are obvious, and labor costs are generally minimal.
From one kilogram of flour you get 4 rolls weighing 400g - isn't that a saving?
What to look for when buying a bread machine?
Any bread machine is equipped with a timer that will notify you when the product is ready. Adding the ingredients required by the recipe is very simple: not only do you not need to mix them, but you also cannot do this. If you decide to buy a bread machine or at least take a closer look, then immediately pay attention to the functions and price.
In addition to the main function of baking bread, the bread maker can knead dough for buns, pizza, bake muffins, and, most unexpectedly, make jam, which, judging by user reviews, is very convenient.
In almost all bread machines you can set the crust mode, that is, you can even choose the color of the crust. If you need a bread machine with the largest number of functions, then there are such as the program shift function or the function of keeping the bread hot. Bread makers also come with a viewing window to observe the cooking process.
Of course, such functions depend on the price of the bread maker. The better the technical parameters of the bread machine and the more functions, the higher its price. An interesting option for preparing dough with raisins: after the first kneading, the bread maker beeps and loads the raisins itself.
Another great feature is express baking, which also affects the price of the bread machine, but is also very necessary in our turbulent age. Be sure to consider purchasing such an assistant in the kitchen, because it is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
This miracle oven is a natural, aromatic bun with a crispy crust, new delicious recipes for baking and jam, saving money and time.
This is simply a necessary thing in a country house, in a country house, in a village where there are interruptions in the supply of bread due, for example, to weather conditions.
Basic criteria when choosing a bread maker
- Maximum weight of finished products. This option starts with 450 grams and ends with 2 kilograms. If there are 2-3 people in a family, then there is no need to buy a model with a maximum weight that is too high. It still won't be used to its full potential. A kilogram of finished baked goods is enough. If there are 6 people living in a family, then the maximum weight can reach 1.5 kilograms. It is important to consider that the weight of the oven depends on the maximum weight of bread for which it is designed. At the same time, many modern models are able to control the weight of the product. The duration of bread preparation depends on the selected mode.
- Power. This parameter can vary from 420 to 1650 W. Power directly affects the time it takes for the bread to cook. The characteristic also determines how much electricity will be consumed during the cooking process. If the oven power is from 600 to 1000 W, then this option is quite suitable for the average person.
- Baking dish. In general, the devices do not differ much on this point. But some models may have round or square shapes. Some ovens, which are quite expensive, are equipped with a stand that allows you to bake four baguettes at the same time.
- Provided programs. Bread makers are designed for preparing different types of bread. Depending on the model, their number varies from 2 to 19. The most common options: baking mode without yeast, muffins, Borodino bread, sweet pastries, baguette, quick baking, wholemeal bread, and so on. Other bread makers are programmable. They make it possible to prescribe in detail each process, starting with kneading and ending with baking temperature. This allows you to look up a bread recipe on the Internet and cook it, or come up with a cooking method yourself. Some ovens provide the ability to prepare jam, yoghurt or butter.
- Functions. Bread makers can be equipped with various functions, ranging from memory storage in case of failure to selection of crust color and child protection. The set of necessary capabilities should be selected for yourself.
Bread machine: dough recipe
Many housewives use a bread machine more often to knead dough, which turns out airy and elastic. This excellent dough makes any kind of pastry possible, and while the dough is being prepared, you can start preparing the filling.
You can prepare yeast dough for pies or buns according to the following recipe:
- 1 glass of warm milk diluted in water in a ratio of 1:1;
- egg;
- 100 g butter;
- 1/3 cup sugar or powdered sugar;
- 1 teaspoon salt;
- ¾ cup wheat flour;
- 1 packet of dry yeast.
We add the ingredients in the order required for this model and wait for the program to complete.
What else do you need to consider?
The weight of the baked goods you need and the dimensions of the bread machine itself
Why should these two criteria be considered together and not separately? Because you need to find a balance between the size of the loaf and the space in your kitchen that you will allocate to your helper. The greater the maximum weight of the baked goods, the more space it will take up. Here, of course, everything is individual for each family. Every family, and every person, has their own need for bread. Just keep in mind that the bread will be fresh, incredibly smelling and delicious, so make allowances for the fact that at first you will eat much more of it than you are used to.
Modern bread machines can bake loaves weighing from 450 to 1800 grams. Focus on how much bread your family consumes in a couple of days.
Now about the place where the bread machine should stand
Of course, there should be an outlet nearby. Be sure to have an outlet, not an extension cord. Because the device is powerful, and it will be unpleasant to throw away food (under-baked bread) if the bread maker turns off in the middle of the program.
Under no circumstances should the bread machine be placed next to the refrigerator. Remember - the appliance gets very hot during baking. It's essentially a mini-oven. It is also important to provide it with enough space for ventilation and opening the lid.
If you have small children, make sure that children do not have access to the device to prevent burns and injuries!
It is also important not to place the device on the edge of a table or work surface, since when kneading dough it produces enough vibration to simply fall over.
Pay attention to the power of the stove!
Different models have power ranging from 450 to 1000 watts. The power of the device determines how well the bread machine will cope with kneading dough and how quickly and efficiently the bread will be baked.
Options that you can refuse if you still want to save on something
This is the presence of a dispenser and a delayed start. If this is critical for you, you will have to overpay a little.
Manufacturer
There are enough ratings of the best bread makers on the Internet, reviews, testimonials, etc. For the most part, the leaders are: Panasonic, Redmond, Moulinex, Philips. This doesn't mean you shouldn't consider other manufacturers. Perhaps the model you need was released, for example, Kenwood or Supra. Or maybe Midea...
We suggest that you do not get hung up on the manufacturer, but pay attention to reviews from other customers on a specific model. Because even a good manufacturer has unsuccessful models. And vice versa.
We have listed the points that we recommend paying attention to when choosing a home bread maker. Good luck with your choice!
What is a bread maker
A bread maker is a small household appliance with rich functionality. Mid-price models include about 12 programs, but there are modifications with 19 of them. The capabilities of the device directly depend on the built-in and additional options. Standard oven programs include:
- baking yeast or yeast-free bread;
- quick program (no dough);
- baking a French baguette;
- several modes of “friedness” of the crust.
Additional options may include making products from different types of flour, gluten-free and sweet baked goods, and making jam.
The design of the oven includes a baking chamber equipped with a rotating mechanism and a temperature sensor, into which a molded baking bowl with a non-stick coating is placed. At the bottom of the bowl there is a rotating blade for a bread machine, which thoroughly mixes the dough. In addition, the device can be equipped with a timer, protection against accidental start-up, a dispenser for various dough fillings, and a sound timer. The bread machine blade can be installed one or two.
Note! A review of many reviews showed that the bread machine spatula creates inconvenience because it remains in the finished product and complicates the removal process. Some models are equipped with folding blades, eliminating such trifles.
The cost of bread machines varies greatly depending on the brand and different options. Famous brands are presented in the range from 4,500 to 19,000 rubles, while less popular ones, such as SUPRA or Midea, offer models of average functionality costing about 3,500 rubles. A bread maker spatula is a relatively consumable item; a replacement one will cost about 700 rubles.
