Bread Machine

[Food Network Fan]

I could see myself enjoying that as a toy for a while.

[Clove]

Originally Posted by bluejeanz

Does anyone here use a bread machine to mix your doughs?...

About 20 years ago, I started baking breads in a bread machine after eating some bread machine bread at a friend's house.
It reminded me of how great fresh baked bread tastes.
I probably "baked" 6 to 10 breads in it and then resorted to using it as just a mixing, kneading & rising machine.

I found that I got better results (crisper crusts and no mixing/kneading hole in the bottom) if I took the kneaded dough out of the machine and shaped it and then baked it in the oven. By adjusting the humidity in the oven, I could get the crusts I wanted.

From there, I bought my first KA stand mixer and started raising (and keeping) my sourdough starter in the refrigerator. That's like a small science project.
Now I don't have a bread machine anymore but do all of my dough making in the KA.
bluejeanz, you are right! The dough does sometimes climb up the dough hook, but I just drop the bowl and keep the machine running and the dough usually rolls down the hook. Then I raise the bowl and keep kneading. In more suborn cases, I'll stop the machine and push the dough down and restart. It doesn't make a big difference as I usually hand knead for a few minutes to be sure that I have the texture I want.
I like the idea of being able to clean up the prep area while the KA does it's work.
Then I move the dough into a bowl and let it rise before I shape it.
I must admit that today, I am rarely able to bake "real" bread.
My wife loves to eat it but is watching her weight and doesn't want the temptation around.
I mostly make pizza dough, which I covert to focaccia from time to time.

[bluejeanz]

Originally Posted by BerryBaby

I know people who love their breadmakers and they sound amazing. My problem is, "Where would I store it?" They seem big. I just go to Panera.

Panera? Oh, boy! A few years back one of the patients of the doctor my daughter Steph works for brought a dozen cinnamon crunch bagels in for the staff. My daughter has been 'hooked' on them ever since. A few weeks later, Steph and I stopped at Panera's while shopping one day and got a couple to munch on and now I've been hooked as well.


I don't go out shopping very often at the mall where the closest Panera's is but, when I do, I have to practice self-control and just look straight ahead, 'put the pedal to the metal' and burn rubber past the place. Honestly, I can't eat just one. And they're enormous.

[bluejeanz]

Originally Posted by Clove

I mostly make pizza dough, which I covert to focaccia from time to time.

I usually decide I want to make pizza at the last minute and throw a batch in the machine but, when I'm able to plan ahead, I found that you get more of a pizzeria-type crust if you put the dough in a ziploc bag and stick it in the fridge for a day or two. I've left it in up to 3 days and it still made excellent crust.


You just have to punch it down the first few hours and when it gets chilled it stops rising. When you want to use it, let it set out on the counter for a few hours till you can work with it. (Clove, but then I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.)

[Chap]

I make focaccia and use it for pizza dough too Clove.

So easy to use the bread machine to make the dough. I then take it and shape it as I like, (usually in the next day or 2, I like to let it rest) and get the crust like I want.

My machine is getting very worn. Have to decide to use the KA or get a new machine. Maybe I need to learn new tricks.........something about an old dog......

[isilzha]

I bought a bread machine and a bread machine cook book last night on amazon, should be here the beginning of next week.

[Pluff Mudder]

Which one did you get? I got the latest Chef's catalog in the mail today and was looking at several bread machine they have. I'm on the fence about getting one because of my limited storage space.

[Chefnot]

Alright!

[Food Network Fan]

Yay. Now you can take pictures and show us all how well it works.

[Sukie]

My mom bought me one for my 30th birthday. It lasted almost 9 years. I used it all the time. I pretty much used it to make dough then shaped the bread/dough myself. Am really missing it.
Saves so much time. Worth the investment. Plan on getting a new one this fall.