White Elephant ..or Useful Healthy Option ???

We don’t eat much bread so it wouldn’t be worthwhile is getting one.

We had one, but it wasn’t very successful in making gluten free bread which is what we needed. We now bake bread in a Nina 15 in 1 instead, after mixing the dough in a Kenwood chef. The Ninja has a great proving setting, then steam bakes a loaf in half and hour

I use mine all the time. Well worth the initial outlay.

rocketstop

Charleygirl5

I have never owned one for the same reason as you rocketstop, but if I saw one being sold cheaply in a charity shop, I would give it a go.

Didn't think of that but it would still have to have it's instructions !!

If it was a Panasonic, the instruction book would probably be on this website.

I’m another one that uses my hands.
Easy, cheap, cathartic and perfect loaves.

Coeliac here also and used to make bread using a breadmix/yeast with Panasonic that had special gluten free cycle. I added in lots of good extra such as seeds, goji berries etc. But nowadays decent bread can be found in supermarkets and I have a simpler soda bread mix that just takes 40 mins in regular oven.

rocketstop

I'm still swithering ! All these replies are good, keep them coming.
Do they cost a lot to run ?

No, I’d say not.

madeleine45

I have known friends enjoying using them, but i had an easy single rise wholemeal loaf recipe, which I enjoyed eating but also it was the greatest remover of stress and hassle. Trump annoying you, or the cost of everything going up? Cant beat a good thumping of the dough , leading to lovely bread to eat the more you bashed it and a calmer person to eat it. However it was so good and now I live alone and am diabetic, dont make it often as it is irresistible.Do you have a friend or an acquaitance who use a machine who would let you watch them use it so that you could judge it for yourself?

No , I know of people who have them but they aren't people I know well enough to ask .
I know actually physically making your own is best but the time it takes and heating up of the oven, proving etc, can't see me doing that say three times a week. I used to make bread but only on a whim really .

I have one and for many years I used it 3 or 4 times a week when there were two of us but, after my husband died, even the smallest loaf it makes was too big for just me. Without the preservatives used in commercial bread, it quickly goes stale and there's a limit to how much you can slice up for toast and keep in the freezer!

Current partner doesn't eat a lot of bread and I'm trying to keep my carb consumption within sensible limits so, much as I love it, it's now only used if I'm expecting company and want to make something special, fruit loaf or tomato bread or whatever.

I like my bread maker. I use it to make a pizza base dough quite regularly, and it also makes a nice ciabatta loaf. I make a mixed brown flour and white flour loaf, too.
I’ve occasionally made a fruited loaf and hot cross bun dough.
So yes, it’s a useful addition to my kitchen.

Alypoole

I've got one. Bought second hand from FB Marketplace. Love it. Very simple to use. It IS a temptation to eat too much because the bread is delicious. Bought 2 more... both also secondhand..... for my 2 sons.

Interesting, but yes, would have to rein myself in with the scoffing of said bread !

LovesBach

I wouldn't be without mine. The bread is so superior to any you can buy in a shop, and it could not be easier - you don't even have to grease the pan, or stir ingredients. Put the yeast, flour, salt suger and butter in, add water, and switch on; takes only a minute or two, and in a few hours there is the delicious aroma of baking bread . There is also a timer so you can wake up to the aroma too. I make pizza dough, rolls, jam is possible - it's an excellent gadget. I would suggest a Panasonic, as previous threads seem to suggest it is by far the best. No nasty ingredients, and half the price of a bought loaf.

You make a good case for the bread maker ! Thank you

I have known friends enjoying using them, but i had an easy single rise wholemeal loaf recipe, which I enjoyed eating but also it was the greatest remover of stress and hassle. Trump annoying you, or the cost of everything going up? Cant beat a good thumping of the dough , leading to lovely bread to eat the more you bashed it and a calmer person to eat it. However it was so good and now I live alone and am diabetic, dont make it often as it is irresistible.Do you have a friend or an acquaitance who use a machine who would let you watch them use it so that you could judge it for yourself?

I've got one. Bought second hand from FB Marketplace. Love it. Very simple to use. It IS a temptation to eat too much because the bread is delicious. Bought 2 more... both also secondhand..... for my 2 sons.

I wouldn't be without mine. The bread is so superior to any you can buy in a shop, and it could not be easier - you don't even have to grease the pan, or stir ingredients. Put the yeast, flour, salt suger and butter in, add water, and switch on; takes only a minute or two, and in a few hours there is the delicious aroma of baking bread . There is also a timer so you can wake up to the aroma too. I make pizza dough, rolls, jam is possible - it's an excellent gadget. I would suggest a Panasonic, as previous threads seem to suggest it is by far the best. No nasty ingredients, and half the price of a bought loaf.

Charleygirl5

I have never owned one for the same reason as you rocketstop, but if I saw one being sold cheaply in a charity shop, I would give it a go.

Didn't think of that but it would still have to have it's instructions !!

Tuinoma

Once you get into the habit it takes no time, 5 mins maybe..
When we lived in france i used to get my wholemeal flour direct from our local mill, a big water wheel it had, fascinating place.
I always came home with a layer of flour dust all over me.
I bought 2×25kg bags at a time. All the other ingredients plus measuring tools etc in a plastic storage box together.
Yes i love their baguettes but after a month non stop of the stuff I'd had enough and wh.meal bread wasn't really a thing there at the time. I baked 3 or 4 loaves a week and always came out perfect (except for the first few times of experimenting)

The mill sounded great, at least you knew the ingredients were fresh as could be !

Witzend

I wouldn’t have one - at least partly because of a shortage of worktop and cupboard space.
I used to make bread the old fashioned way - it was quite enjoyable.

yeah worktop space is a consideration isn't it ?

I'm still swithering ! All these replies are good, keep them coming.
Do they cost a lot to run ?

I wouldn’t have one - at least partly because of a shortage of worktop and cupboard space.
I used to make bread the old fashioned way - it was quite enjoyable.

I have never owned one for the same reason as you rocketstop, but if I saw one being sold cheaply in a charity shop, I would give it a go.

Once you get into the habit it takes no time, 5 mins maybe..
When we lived in france i used to get my wholemeal flour direct from our local mill, a big water wheel it had, fascinating place.
I always came home with a layer of flour dust all over me.
I bought 2×25kg bags at a time. All the other ingredients plus measuring tools etc in a plastic storage box together.
Yes i love their baguettes but after a month non stop of the stuff I'd had enough and wh.meal bread wasn't really a thing there at the time. I baked 3 or 4 loaves a week and always came out perfect (except for the first few times of experimenting)

I take it the Panasonic is an all singing all dancing machine then !

Not at all but It deservedly gets the best reviews and is very easy to use.

I’m 😂 at Elegran’s description of a bread maker being like a washing machine!

I go through phases of using mine - partly depending on my waistline as the bread is very yummy. It’s easy to use, I know the base recipe off my heart now so just lob in the ingredients and off it goes. You can buy mixes in the supermarket, where it’s all weighed out for you though I’ve never tried those.

Mine's a Panasonic..