Breadmaker

[Chris H]

Thought I'd buy a breadmaker. Can't go wrong. Even an idiot could use one. So they say.

1 - add water and a bit of olive oil as per instructions.

2 - add flour as per instructions

3 - close the lid and hit start, as per instructions.

4 - shine torch into the top every 10 minutes to see how it's going, do this for the 3 hours it takes to bake a loaf

4 - when done remove pan and leave to cool for 10 minutes

5 - turn pan over, tap bottom and bread should come out

5a - insert every plastic/wooden pokey thing you can lay your hands on to get the fekker out of the tin.

6 - piece the bread back together.

7 - serve with houmous and the fragments aren't big enough to put butter on to.

8 - consider using a hammer to straighten the paddle thingy out as this was what was clasping onto the bread

  So where did it/I go wrong?

[Rosco]

was it a 3M breadmaker?

[slaughteredlamb]

Ours works perfectly every time and produces some of the best bread we've ever tasted!

Where are you going wrong? Dunno ours doesnt say to add olive oil, perhaps this is making the dough too sticky?

Are you using fast acting yeast? Normal yeast won't work in a bread maker meaning that the bread won't raise as much and the dough could still be too sticky

You don't say that you are adding any salt or sugar. The sugar is needed to activate the yeast.

You say that every 10 mins you are checking the loaf. If that involves lifting the cover than DON'T do this as you'll constantly be letting the heat out causing the dough not to cook properly.

[Mantis]

I see no mention of yeast :S

[Chris H]

The yeast is already in the flour, tis ciabatta or however you spell it. Wrights stuff for breadmakers.

Taste and texture was 10/10, it was just getting it out of the tin in one piece. Tis a Tesco job, stainless.

I'm wondering if I needed to let it cool a little longer.

I'll do a mixed grain loaf overnight and see how it comes out.

[Tony]

go to shop - buy a loaf - job done - 3 minutes, no torches or other fangled machinery

[Rosco]

WTS

[sarahA]

I'm sure it wouldn't make a difference but the flour should go in before the water and oil.

As for 'tap and the loaf will fall out' is the biggest load of rubbish going! However with a bit of force and then teasing (and not taking the mick out of it..!) it should eventually come out.

I presume the paddle comes out of the mixing 'bowl'? Does it fold down too or is it fixed?

What I tend to find with ours is that a bit of the dough gets in between the paddle at the very bottom and this it pretty much what holds the bread in place. I tend to take it out as soon as it's cooked. I use a flat plastic spatula/slice thingy and slide it down all four sides to ensure they're not stuck to the side. Then I'll turn it upside down and give it a good bang on the draining board which usually loosens it, sometimes it comes out at that point. Otherwise I'll have to pull it out.

I've found that dipping the paddle in some olive oil before putting it into the 'bowl' makes it easier to get the bread out.

However, you did nothing wrong. Just need to use a bit more force. My Dad told me he turns the whole metal bowl upside down and drops it on the draining board to get the loaf to shift. I've not gone that far yet!

Alternatively, let it go cold as you say, as the bread will shrink a little and then you can get your fingers down the sides and pull it out.

However... as a side note. The Ciabatta wrights mix is best done as rolls or away from the bread mixer, as it becomes a bit light and airy (and therefore falls apart easier when you're trying to take it out). With that mix I usually go through the process of getting it mixed, I think it stops/rises for 10 minutes then mixes again (I've not got my manual with me so just guessing here), and then I take it out as dough. I tend to get about 10-12 rolls out of half a pack, leave them to rise for 25 minutes over the radiator or somewhere warm, and then cook them in the oven for however long the packet says (pretty much I follow the packet instructions for rolls). The rolls are gorgeous and freeze/defrost fine

The best pre-done mix I've found for the bread maker is the Hovis granary and Hovis white bread mixes which are a little cheaper than Wrights too

[slaughteredlamb]

Maybe we just got a really good breadmaker but with hours we just turn it upside down, give a very gentle shake and out it pops. Very occasionally the paddle might be embedded into the bottom of the loaf but that doesnt stop it coming out of the bowl and the paddle just pulls out of the loaf very easily.

I've never used flour with yeast already in it and just use very strong flour and fast acting yeast.

[Dom]

I always find that bread from breadmakers is a little heavy. Then again, I only know one person that uses one so perhaps they're just doing it wrong.

[sarahA]

I always find that bread from breadmakers is a little heavy. Then again, I only know one person that uses one so perhaps they're just doing it wrong.

Could be. It's a bit hit and miss on occasion. The last time I did a normal loaf it didn't rise as usual. Probably the water was too warm or something and killed some of the yeast. However the white bread/ciabatta always comes out very light. The only probably is you want to eat the lot rather than just a couple of slices!

[MattC]

Do what everybody who buys a bread maker does, use it once (maybe twice if you're really keen) then put it away in the cupboard and never use it again.

hth


Matt

[Chris H]

Got the hang of it now. Almost.

The bread's coming out of the pan fine with a little jiggle of the paddle from below although my first white loaf came out with the consistency of a large crumpet.

[Mr Anderson]

Ours gets used quite a lot, and apart from the occasional failure (usually from heavy granary flours or slightly older packs) we (Sarah) get(s) good results.

[sickpuppy]

Breadmakers make great nan breads. Much better than the cardboard discs you get in the supermarket.

[Dom]

Breadmakers make great nan breads. Much better than the cardboard discs you get in the supermarket.

I love naan bread, but you're right, the supermarket ones just don't cut the mustard. Peshwari is my fave I think.

[MattC]

Ours gets used quite a lot, and apart from the occasional failure (usually from heavy granary flours or slightly older packs) we (Sarah) get(s) good results.

Ok, so I'll take back a little of what I said

Maybe you (Sarah) are (is) the exception though and I bet most people give up after a few attempts.

We were given one that'd lost it's virginity (just) and I don't think we even bothered to power it up. I think it's somewhere in my house doing bugger all.

[Mr Anderson]

Ok, so I'll take back a little of what I said

Maybe you (Sarah) are (is) the exception though and I bet most people give up after a few attempts.

I'd give up without trying and go to the shop instead.

[yawner]

Breadmakers make great nan breads. Much better than the cardboard discs you get in the supermarket.

Really? I just luuuurve proper nan bread 

[MattC]

Ok, so I'll take back a little of what I said

Maybe you (Sarah) are (is) the exception though and I bet most people give up after a few attempts.

I'd give up without trying and go to the shop instead.

 

[sarahA]

Breadmakers make great nan breads. Much better than the cardboard discs you get in the supermarket.

Ooo got a recipe? I know my brother makes them but think he makes them by hand

My Dad uses his 2-3 times a week. Then again he's retired and bakes fresh scones every day and everything else going! It's been ace staying here for the week

Chris - sorry if I've already said this (even I can't be arsed to read my own replies! laptop battery is running low here!) but the ciabatta mix doesn't make a really good loaf to be honest. We use it to make rolls (think I mentioned that bit, get the maker to mix it then cook them in the oven). Tescos or Hovis white bread mix however makes nice loaves. Think the ciabatta one is a bit too light and airy.

Next thing to try for me (at some point) is making jam in the mixer. Anyone tried it?

[sickpuppy]

Breadmakers make great nan breads. Much better than the cardboard discs you get in the supermarket.

Ooo got a recipe? I know my brother makes them but think he makes them by hand

It's the recipe that came with the breadmaker.

I think it's post #11 on this page
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=692685&highlight=naan

Some of the others seem interesting. I add garlic and coriander to mine.

[samhs]

Look for the hairy bikers recipe on the bbc website - works very well and creates tasty naan. You do need to make sure you stock up on onion seeds and (ideally) ghee

[sarahA]

Cheers both

[marionsmith]

Husband swears that the water needs to be hand-warm, not hot and not cold, so that the yeast can grow properly.

He has made enormous fluffy loaves using this method, using the quantities for a small loaf and yet it rising so big that it is the size of a large loaf.

He sometimes also starts the yeast and water in a cup in advance (I suspect he puts the sugar in there as well).

Loaves come out if you hold the tin upside down and give it a short sharp jerk.

DON'T LEAVE THE LOAF OF BREAD ON THE SIDE TO COOL IF YOU HAVE A PET DOBERMAN. 

[Chris H]

 

I do have a chocolate lab whose deviousness knows no bounds when it comes to food.

I'm starting to get the hang of this breadmaker now that I've realised I can tweak the recipes.

I'm managing to get bread that falls between chipboard and slimcea now.

[sickpuppy]

I do have a chocolate lab whose deviousness knows no bounds when it comes to food.

I thought you were running an evil chocolate laboratory for a minute.

[Chris H]

I do have a chocolate lab whose deviousness knows no bounds when it comes to food.

I thought you were running an evil chocolate laboratory for a minute.

He does evil!

[Chris H]

So what do people store their bread in? I'm using old carrier bags but somehow it doesn't seem right.

[sickpuppy]

Get a bread bag from lakeland (or similar)
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/lakeland-bread-bag/F/keyword/bread/product/13925
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/bread-bags/F/keyword/bread/product/1307_6091