Bread machine ... Can you help?!
I realize that there are some folks who feel that using a bread machine is sacreligious and should probably be banned from the land. However, I have a serious dilemma, and I am hoping for your help.
I have had rheumatoid arthritis for several years. Because my hands and wrists are not what they used to be, I have really had to curtail my baking. I just can't handle the kneading at all anymore. The dough hook on my KitchenAid helps, but it cannot do all of the work. I have had to adapt to making changes over the years, and I have run out of ways to work with breads - short of hiring an assistant!
I am seriously considering purchasing a bread machine, but I have no idea what's good out there. I would prefer not to completely give up doing something I enjoy so much. That would be a huge bummer! Can you help?
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18 Comments:
I have a sunbeam. Simple. 100 bucks. 10 cycles. I use it all the time. Sometimes, I let it bake the bread (if I have 3 hours I need to kill) or I let it just do all the dough work and I shape and bake off myself.
I cannot tell a lie when I say that I make the clone of a cinnabon from allrecipes.com in my bread machine all the time and I get huge compliments from it.
I also cannot tell a lie when saying I have never gone past dough, white, wheat, challah, raisin, rye and cinnamon roll dough in mine but that just cause I am a lazy ass!
I suffer from insane carpal tunnel so take the help when you can. Bread machine haters be damned.
ChelleyD01 at 10:54PM on 12/16/08
I have a Cuisinart and it is GREAT.
producestories at 11:44PM on 12/16/08
I'm a bit of a bread manic and I love my kitchenaid, but if I had my choice between bread machine or no more homemade bread, you'd better believe I'd get a bread machine. Doesn't matter what anyone else says, you do what you can do. I've had people tell me I should knead the bread by hand, because the kitchenaid is cheating.
In any case, I've read some reviews that say that the bread machine actually does a better job kneading bread dough than either doing it by hand or using another machine. The downside is the way it bakes and the fact that you don't have the sort of freedom to mess with the recipe the way you do when it's all done outside the machine.
But really, you could use the machine for all the kneading, and when you feel like it, take it out and bake it a different way. Otherwise bake in the machine, too.
If I was looking for a bread machine, I'd try to find one that bakes loaves in a more conventional shape. And I'd want more settings and more ability to customize the mixing, baking and rising. And I'd get the best I could afford.
Do you have a food processor? Have you tried kneading in there?
Also, you might want to look into some of the no-knead recipes. I doubt you'd want to do that all the time, but it might be a nice change every now and then.
dbcurrie at 11:49PM on 12/16/08
love my zojirushi. i too love bread making, but have serious wrist problems and cannot do all the work. the dough cycle is a life-saver. normally i let the machine do the majority of the work for me and finish by shaping & baking in an oven.
supersu75 at 1:02AM on 12/17/08
I use a bread machine on and off mostly for the dough cycle.
I also use my KA dough hook. If you have RA you have to work around it with whatever appliances and tools you have. Bread is labor intense and no one will blame you for using the assistance of a bread maker.
Amazon.com has reviews of the breadmakers and mostly everything they sell. Go type in breadmaker and read. The Zojirushi is a popular machines and King Arthur/Baker's Catalog sells it.
JerzeeTomato at 5:32AM on 12/17/08
I don't see anything wrong with using a bread machine unless you stick a tube of Pillsbury biscuits in it. You add the ingredients you like and let the machine do the work. Nothing wrong with that.
Lots of people I know have bread machines but only use them for the dough kneading and rising cycles. They don't like the little block of bread that emerges when you let the machine do the whole job. If you can manage it, let your machine do all the work and maybe you can gently shape a loaf, then bake it off. It doesn't have to be a woven bread basket but maybe a nice simple boule?
And even if you can't - I think it's great you're using a bread machine to make your own bread. Varying the recipes will keep it interesting, even if you use the machine to the end cycle and wind up with a very tasty, crusty, steamy block of bread :D.
therealchiffonade at 6:51AM on 12/17/08
I've never used one but I love all the recomendations. May have to ask for one for Xmas lol Its getting too hard to make bread anymore. I love the ideas of using the machine just to knead and prep the dough and actually shaping and baking it myself. I always hated the look of bread machine bread. Ya'll are wonderful!
huneybumper at 7:05AM on 12/17/08
I recommend the Zojirushi BBCCX20 Bread Machine:
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-BBCCX20-Bakery-Supreme-Machine/dp/B0000T6J3I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1226758713&sr=1-1
My dad has one and loves it (and he's gone through a number of different brands before this one), and he likes it so much that my bf and I are getting it for his mom for the holidays.
I don't see anything wrong with a bread machine. One day when I have the space, I'll be getting one myself!
NYCEater at 7:20AM on 12/17/08
My daughter asked for one I was considering a Black & Decker, the reviews looked pretty good. I had one for a while but the blade was baked into the loaf ( I guess with most machines it was). And someone in my house tossed out the last chunk of bread along with the blade- Duhhhh
joanpieroni2 at 8:15AM on 12/17/08
I've made hundreds of pizzas over the past few years and every one started with making the dough in a bread machine. A cheap Black & Decker served me well until just recently. An early Christmas present of a Zojirushi has kept the pizzas coming. They both make a beautiful dough, but I think the new one (with its double paddles) is a tad better. It also makes a real nice, traditionally shaped loaf of white bread. Most breads and rolls, however, are hand shaped and baked in my oven on a Fibrament stone. If I had to hand knead, pizza and fresh bread would happen much less often.
grampart at 8:23AM on 12/17/08
I have owned a BREADMAN PLUS bread machine for about 10 years, and it is all I use to make pizza dough, which I make at least once a week. I have heard about the Zojirushi, it is highly recommented by the folks at King Arthur. I have baked bread in my machine in a pinch, but would rather bake in conventional oven. The fact that the mixing paddle usually gets baked into the bread is kind of a nuisance. The machine makes a very nice well kneaded dough, and mine can handle enough dough for a generous 2lb. loaf. Can't go wrong with one of these machines, and they are much cheaper than they used to be.
dmcavanagh at 9:09AM on 12/17/08
Zojirushi. We're only two so we have the 1 pound model. We don't really buy bread anymore.
bobbob at 9:32AM on 12/17/08
With my Cuisinart, there is an alert that goes off before it starts baking so you can take the paddle out and avoid having it baked into the loaf, which I acknowledge is annoying.
producestories at 9:40AM on 12/17/08
I second (or third, etc.) the Cuisinart suggestion. I love baking bread . . . but sometimes it's just nice to have the work done for me! Good luck with your search.
-- Ashley
makemethod.vox.com
makemethod at 11:27AM on 12/17/08
We have a Breadman Pro and we love it. It will bake up to a 2 pound loaf. The loaves, should you choose to cook them in the machine, come out more or less bread loaf shaped as well!
Amandarama at 11:54AM on 12/17/08
@joanpieroni2 - if you still have your bread machine, just call a distributor's store (yellow pages) which services your type of bread machine. You will be able to buy a replacement for your paddle. We did the same thing.
bareneed at 3:18PM on 12/17/08
i have a sunbeam. its about 8 yrs old and i use it every weekend. i prefer to let it rise on a baking stone, greased and dusted with cornmeal. the machine bakes just fine. i just prefer the oven. i love mine.
dearrie at 7:24PM on 12/17/08
ThankyouThankThankyou all so very much! I like the idea of letting the machine do all of the hard work - which I can't. I can't wait to try all of tips and hints. I will be baking bread, etc soon! Yippee!!!!!!
lindy123 at 9:07PM on 12/17/08