Bread machine rec?

[SheltieLover]

I have this wonderful new Instant Pot & have decided to try to find a readonably priced bread machine to round out meals.

I primarily want to make Italian and northern (sweet, cake-like) cornbread.

I would like to keep the cost under $125.

I've read lots of reviews & the ones that initially look / sound like viable oprions end up not being so for various reasons.

The lower end Oster ($70ish) looks good, but the flat top coupled with the design apparently causes center of loaf to stick to lid.

Anyone have one that works well, relatively quietly, with little to no walking off the counter?

TYIA!

[Kali]

1. most people stop using them shortly after getting them

because it is easier to do by hand, or use a stand mixer. once you have a recipe and a routine, your oven does a better job and the shape can be whatever you want instead of a square bread machine shape.

look for a used one they are everywhere - check craigslist or other sites

[SheltieLover]

2. Ty

I've wondered why people stop using them. Lol

I don't have a stand mixer & would prefer a dump ingredients & forget about it scenario.

[Kali]

4. yeah and they do a fair job mixing and kneading

after a few loaves (maybe 4 or 5 months?) I would just use it for that and then bake whatever in the regular oven. when the motor died I did not replace it, just figured out low knead recipes.

[SheltieLover]

6. That's a good idea!

Last edited Mon Jan 4, 2021, 08:42 AM - Edit history (1)

My oven isn't the greatest either.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could purchase reasonably-priced consumer goods not made out of plastic or Chinese pig metal?

I cannot imagine gears / bearings holding up...

[happybird]

5. I have an easy, no knead bread recipe

if you are interested. Mom gave it to me years ago and I use it a lot. It’s Italian bread-like and very versatile- I’ve added cheese and different spices, and have even used it for cinnamon rolls.

[SheltieLover]

8. Gasp!

Yes, please???

I'm a Chicagoan relegated to the south...

Every type of bread here is guumy & tastes like biscuits. Hardly worthy of Italian Beef! (Can't get Italian beef here, either, sadly.)

[happybird]

10. I'm at work now

Will post it when I get home in about 4 hours.

ETA: I’ve made it so often, can’t believe I don’t have the amounts memorized!

[SheltieLover]

14. Ty so much!!!

[happybird]

15. You're Welcome!

[SheltieLover]

16. :-D

[happybird]

32. OK, here we go:

2 yeast packets
1 1/2 C. warm water
1 tsp. salt
1 TB sugar
2 TB canola oil
4 C regular flour

I’ve tried to make the instructions as clear as possible. Mom’s recipes shared with me and my sister are notorious for directions like, “Remember the (fill in the blank) Grandma used to make? Do it like that,” and other colorful stuff, lol!


In a big bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar, stirring until the yeast is dissolved

Add salt and oil, stir till the salt is dissolved

Add the flour, one cup at a time, and mix with a big wooden spoon until the dough is smooth and elastic. Don’t overmix or the bread will get tough. If the dough is still super sticky, add another 1/2 C. of flour.

Grease a medium bowl. Place the dough in there and cover with plastic wrap.

Let rise for 10 minutes then punch down (sometimes the first rise takes longer than 10 min)

Let rise 5 more times, punching it down every 10-15 min.

Divide the dough in half. Roll one half out on a floured surface. Roll to about 1/4” thickness and try to make it a perfect square or rectangle. Don’t push too hard with the rolling pin, it should roll out quickly and easily.

Starting at one end, roll the dough up jellyroll style. Roll it pretty tight. Tuck the loose ends under. Gently transfer to a baking sheet.

Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.

Loosely cover the loaves and let rise for another 30 min. (Preheat oven to 400)

Uncover and bake for 20-25 min. It’s done when you tap on the top and bottom of the loaf and it sounds hollow.

That’s it! I sometimes divide the dough into quarters and make 4 small loaves, each one with different herbs or whatever I feel like tossing in there. Sweet or savory both work. I sprinkle or spread the additions on before doing the jellyrolling part. Also, subbing in one cup of whole grain flour gives the bread a nice texture. Two cups makes it a bit too rough for my taste. It’s a fun recipe to experiment with.

[SheltieLover]

36. Ty so much!!!

Sounds labor intensive, but yummy! Lol

[happybird]

38. You're welcome!

It looks labor intensive, but the active time is maybe about 10 min, total. A couple minutes to mix the dough and 5 or so min to roll it out and make the loaves. The hardest part is remembering to keep coming back to punch it down during the rising.

[SheltieLover]

39. As forgetful as I am these days...

Ty!

[Major Nikon]

19. Even if you don't do the no-knead method it's still easy if you have a stand mixer

You still dump all the ingredients and the stand mixer does all the kneading. All you have to do is form it into the general shape of a loaf, dump it into a loaf pan, give it some time to proof, then pop it into the oven.

The no-knead method is almost as easy.

[SheltieLover]

31. Ty!

Thinking a stand mixer would be a better use of $.

[Major Nikon]

33. I had a bread machine. I used it for a few months and haven't since

I have two stand mixers I've been using for the last 30 years or so at least a couple of times per week.

I try to stay away from things that only have one purpose in the kitchen.

[katmondoo]

3. My success with my bread machine is to use the dough selection only and finish off in the oven. Yes

it takes longer but all the hard work is done in the machine. I am using a Kenmore. Not for sale now that Sears has closed. I love my bread, too much. I want to eat it all day.

[LiberalLoner]

7. That's what I do, too. All my appliances are zojirushi because I love that brand, so that's the

Breadmaker I use. Not cheap though.

[SheltieLover]

12. I've looked at that brand.

Way too expensive for me at this time. Ty!

[SheltieLover]

11. Ty!

Oh, me too...want to eat it all day!

Bread here in south is gummy & all tastes like biscuits. Yuk.

[SheltieLover]

17. Ty!

Yours is likely old enough to not be made of plastic or Chinese pig metal. Lucky you!!

Ty!

[Blue_playwright]

44. Same here

I love my bread machine and it gets used regularly!

[procon]

9. Skip the bread machine, they are more of a problem

than a help. If you have a stand mixer just follow the instructions in the owners manual for basic bread. It's simple, easy and requires very little work and you can add your own custom touches.

If you don't have a stand mixer use your bread machine money to buy one. There are a lot of good sales to buy one plus you'll have a very useful kitchen gadget that can do many things.

[SheltieLover]

13. Good point!

I might very well do just this!

Now to find one with good quality material for bearings that's reasonably priced.

Ty!

[justhanginon]

18. I have one given to me used about 25 years ago and still works fine..

I use it primarily in the heat of summer when it is too hot to use the oven. I don't care for the texture of the bread but it is okay. The rest of the year it is the trusty Kitchenaid which gives a much better loaf. Bread baking can be a fun adventure.

[SheltieLover]

21. Ty!

Your machine is old enough to be well made (no plastic or Chinese pig metal).

[Callalily]

20. I don't use a bread machine, but . . .

my brother does. Has been making bread for years in his bread machine. I don't know what kind he has. Additionally, he lives alone and has a recipe that makes a small loaf that he typically uses up in a day. Bread from the bread machine does not taste all that great on day 2, 3, etc.

Making bread the "old fashioned way" is really easy. I've been making bread from scratch years.

Just my two cents.

[SheltieLover]

22. Ty!

I cannot do the kneading.

But am thinking about getting a stand mixer to knead as bread machines don't seem to work that well.

[Callalily]

23. Check out no knead breads

Right now I'm making one that uses a dutch oven. The bread turns out great.

I do not have a dutch oven and am using a large pyrex casserole dish. Works great.

Pictured is my first attempt (since I've made many), but in the background is the pyrex casserole that I used, just to give you and idea.

Happy baking!

[SheltieLover]

24. Omg!

Looks delicious!!!!

I'm from Chicago &, sadly relegated to TN where every bread I've tried is gummy & tastes like a biscuit.

I need, realllllyyyyyy need some Italian bread & Italian beef to put on it.

Do you have a fav recipe,

Ty!

[Callalily]

25. Here is the recipe that I've been using.

The best compliment I received from my SO when he tasted the bread; "tastes like the breads that we ate in Europe". What a compliment, huh!

It's an easy recipe and is very forgiving so I'm confident that you'll be able to get the same results that I have been getting.


https://jessicainthekitchen.com/no-knead-bread-dutch-oven-bread/

[SheltieLover]

26. WOW!

That is quite a compliment!

Ty so much!

[SheltieLover]

37. Which type of yeast do you use?

Tyia!

[Callalily]

40. I use instant yeast.

Doesn't really matter what brand as I have used Fleichmanns and the brand that Aldi's carries

[SheltieLover]

41. Tyvm!

Is this refrigerated or dry packet type?

Sorry, this is all new to me.

[RicROC]

42. Platinum yeast .

I discovered Platinum yeast by Redstar. No other yeast seems to compare. Unfortunately, I've only found it online so needs to be ordered. Breads rise faster and fuller.

[Backseat Driver]

27. I have an Oster - use it fairly often and mainly to add fresh bread w/beef stew

I've used it to make the dough for cinnamon rolls that then rise and bake in the regular oven; I've done whole wheat and rye breads in the machine as well that came out pretty good. Hate to have the flour all over the kitchen. I used to make it from scratch sans machine, and it took all day. Back then, I had a butcher block countertop that worked so well for kneading to perfection. I don't own a stand mixer.

I received it as a gift after our ELCA pastor made the communion bread once a month. Yay, no more fish food wafers; tasty crusty bread! That was about 20 years back.

[SheltieLover]

30. Nice!

Last edited Mon Jan 4, 2021, 08:41 AM - Edit history (1)

Ty!

Is your Oster older then? Ae in old enough to not be made with plastic & Chinese pig metal parts? Wish I could find an old one...

I was looking at Expressbake by Oster.

[RicROC]

28. no bread machine.

I bake bread at least twice per week. Today I made English Muffins. You don't need a bread machine but if you have your heart set on one, there are plenty at the GoodWill stores and other good will shops. Might cost you $5-8 instead of a new one for $125.

I do use my IP for the 1st and sometimes 2nd rising, by placing the bowl in the IP set on Yogurt setting, which also tells you how long the machine has been on the yogurt setting.

[SheltieLover]

34. Great idea to use IP!

And I thought of Goodwill, too, but am hesitant to run in & out of stores with such high case #s.

Sounds like no knead bread is the way to go for now.

Ty!

[Backseat Driver]

29. I have an Oster - use it fairly often and mainly to add fresh bread w/beef stew

I've used it to make the dough for cinnamon rolls that then rise and bake in the regular oven; I've done whole wheat and rye breads in the machine as well that came out pretty good. Hate to have the flour all over the kitchen. I used to make it from scratch sans machine, and it took all day. Back then, I had a butcher block countertop that worked so well for kneading to perfection. I don't own a stand mixer.

I received it as a gift after our ELCA pastor made the communion bread once a month. Yay, no more fish food wafers; tasty crusty bread! That was about 20 years back.

[SheltieLover]

35. Lol

Ty for sharing! Guessing ypur Oster is old enough to be well made. Lucky you!

[csziggy]

43. Because most people only use their bread machines for a short time

They end up at thrift shops. Years ago I bought an almost new Oster bread machine at a thrift shop for $10. Then I found a vintage KitchenAid mixer on Craigslist for $40, bought a dough hook for another $40 and the bread machine hasn't been used since.

I used to make bread entirely by hand but after I had a shoulder rebuilt I just couldn't do it any more. The bread machine was great for mixing up the dough, but not too good at baking it, so I would let it mix, do the first rise and second "knead" then take the dough out and put it into a bread pan for the final rise and baking. Now I just use the KitchenAid mixer and let it do all the work.

So if you want to try a bread machine without spending a bunch, check local thrift shops or Craigslist. Or look for a good, solid stand mixer and skip the bread machine.