Are Bread Makers Worth It?
To answer this question, we are going to take a look at the answers to some of the questions that people ask about bread makers.
What are bread makers?
Bread makers are machines that bake bread without you having to do most of the work. You add in the ingredients, either ready mixed or following a recipe, and the machine will knead and prove the dough before baking it. The whole process can take around 2 to 4 hours before your bread is ready. There are bread makers that you can add in the ingredients and set it to start working at a later time. Won’t it be great to have freshly baked bread timed for breakfast?
You can only make a single loaf at a time but the bread will turn out great as the machine kneads, proves, and sets the correct temperature and time. The shape of loaves tends to be square shaped as it follows the bread pan.
If you are new to baking bread and have been using an oven, you would probably have experienced bread that does not turn out the way you thought it would. If the kneading and proofing is not done properly, the bread will turn out dense and moist or dense and hard. It does take a lot of effort and experimenting to get a perfect loaf when baking in an oven.
How easy are bread makers to use?
As mentioned earlier, using a bread machine is very easy. You just add in the ingredients and the machine does all the rest. And you do not have to experiment with your kneading techniques, proofing times or what temperature to set and for how long. Even the first time user can bake an almost perfect loaf.
Why do I need a bread maker machine?
Baking bread takes a lot of time and effort. With a bread maker, you save the time and effort. This allows you to do other things while the whole process is being done by the bread making machine. And the usual mess of having flour everywhere is eliminated.
Is bread made by a bread maker healthier?
With a bread maker, you control what goes in the loaf. Some loaves you get at the stores contain high fructose corn syrup and other additives and fillers. With a home baked loaf, you will get healthier bread.
Are bread makers energy efficient?
According to experts, bread makers use about 0.4kWh of electricity for making a standard loaf of white bread.
What is the difference between bread baked in an oven and a bread maker?
In an oven, you can cook a few loaves at a time, whether you are making a batch of white bread or different types of bread. A bread maker only allows you to get a single loaf in the machine.
With oven baked bread, you have a lot of kneading and proofing as well as needing to set the right temperature and time for baking the bread. Get it wrong and your loaf will turn out dense and hard. Most people would rather opt for the convenience of having a bread maker that does almost everything automatically and still get a great loaf every time.
Is baking bread in a bread maker cheaper than that from the store?
This depends on the type of bread you usually buy. If you are one who goes for the cheapest bread from the shops, then you may not find the bread maker bread cheaper. But if you prefer to have the more expensive or specialty breads, then you will find that investing in a bread making machine will save you a good sum of money in the long run.
What else can I use a bread maker for?
Other than baking white bread, you can also get different types bread with ingredients like fruits and nuts. You can also make rolls, cakes and brownies. The kneading function of the bread makers can turn out pasta dough, pizza dough or dough for rolls and pastries. If the machine has a jam setting, it can even make jams, jellies, syrups and puddings. And these days, there are even bread makers that can make ice-cream!
Is a bread maker easy to maintain?
Do not use a dishwasher to clean the bread pan. The non-stick surface may scratch and cause the bread to stick. To clean the pan, soak it in warm soap water and hand wash.
You can put the other accessories in the dishwasher or you can wipe them down by hand.
The best part about having a bread maker is that I don’t have to clean up after kneading the dough. Usually I have flour all over the table, on my hands, clothes and sometimes in my hair too. Then there’s the extra washing of the mixing bowl and the accessories, as well as the baking pan.
What do I look for in a bread maker?
If you do not bake frequently, go for a more affordable machine. But if you love to bake and do it frequently, then you would be better off going for a more expensive model that is more durable and last longer. The better bread makers are automatic so you will not have to do any settings for the baking process.
A consideration that you should make is the space you have on your counter. Bread makers can be bulky. If you do not have the space on your counter, can it fit in anywhere else for storage?
If you have a large family, get a larger bread maker. You may want to choose a bread maker with a 2lb capacity.
Choose a bread maker with two paddles instead of one. Single paddle machines require taller bread pans and this result in odd shapes of your loaves. Twin paddles do a better job of kneading and shaping the bread dough.
Ensure that your choice of bread maker has a non-stick pan. You don’t want your bread sticking to the sides of the pan.
Get a model that comes with an alarm. It will alert you when your bread is ready so that you can remove the loaf to prevent sticking to the pan as it cools down. The alarm can also prevent over-baking.
Get a model that allows you to adjust the size of your loaf. Most models only allow you to bake one size, but there are those that allow you to adjust to a smaller size loaf for two, or a larger loaf for gatherings.
A machine with a delayed start allows you to add all the ingredients and set the machine to start at a later time when you are not around or asleep.
A bread maker that is programmable is important for getting an even and thoroughly baked loaf. The bake times for different types of bread can be adjusted for with programmable models. Cheaper machines may not have this feature.
A bread maker with a delayed yeast dispenser is very handy to ensure that the yeast is added to the dough at the right time for your bread to rise correctly.
A warming setting is another handy feature to have as warm bread tastes best. But sometimes you may not be around when the bread is ready and the machine shuts off. The warmer keeps the bread warm after baking for about an hour and a half without drying, hardening or darkening the colour.
Another feature you may want to have is a fruit and nuts dispenser. If you love having your bread with dried fruits and nuts, this feature will ensure that these ingredients are added to the dough at a later time so as not to hinder the rise. Once added, they will be thoroughly mixed throughout the dough.
More people have turned to home baking because they want gluten-free bread and want to save money. But just adding gluten-free dough into the bread machine will not ensure that your bread will come out nicely. Gluten-free dough requires specific baking times. Make sure your machine caters for this if gluten-free is what you want.
Conclusion
So, is a bread maker worth it? If you love bread and want to have specialty bread that will save you money, then a bread maker should be a good investment. You will be saving effort, time and money. No more kneading, proofing, fiddling with the temperature and timing settings, to get bread when you want, the way you want. And when a loaf of bread is not on your mind, you can use your bread machine to prepare other goodies, depending on the model you choose.