PrintBread Maker Help!
In an attempt to reduce preservatives, HFCS, etc in my family's diet, I've started making bread using an automatic bread maker. I've been successful making white bread but when I've tried whole wheat, the loaf turns out comically bad- heavy, dry and falling apart. Any suggestions or recipes?
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5 Comments:
What ratio of flours are you using?
kjgibson at 4:47PM on 02/09/08
The bread maker may have some sort of intrinsic problem but if not, have you tried any of the recipes that usually are included with the bread maker? Sometimes equipment like bread makers or pasta machines require a different approach and consistency than would be standard when baking by hand.
At a guess, though, you may need to reduce the ratio of flour to water, so the dough is softer, nearly pourable (since it's contained within the bread maker, you won't need to worry about the one issue that comes up with loose doughs, that of excessive spread). Or, you may need to increase the amount of yeast/increase the rising time.
mongoose at 4:58PM on 02/09/08
I have been trying is the whole wheat bread recipe from the manual that came with the bread maker. It calls for 4 1/3 cups whole wheat bread flour. I am using stone ground whole wheat flour and adding 1/2 cup wheat gluten, per the instructions. Should I mix the whole wheat with white flour?
hammondcheese at 6:18PM on 02/09/08
find a copy of electric bread. It has all the ratios figured out.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-7933813-4176010?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=electric+bread
Once you get the hang of it you can change out your sugars to demara, muscavado, turbinado, molasses etc.
I also have cut HFCS out of our diets it was my Ny's resolution.
JerzeeTomato at 9:14PM on 02/09/08
Most whole wheat bread recipes include some white flour -- to lighten the resulting loaf. Using all whole wheat can make a very heavy, dense bread. I would try replacing part of the whole wheat with some white flour.
kjgibson at 2:45AM on 02/10/08