Breadmaker

I'm on to my third bread maker in 20 years. Sometimes I don't use it for months and then I'll have a few months of using it non stop.

I have a Panasonic too and wouldn’t be without it. It takes me less than 5 minutes to put the ingredients in the pan before going to bed, setting the timer to produce a freshly baked loaf for the morning.
I use some of the other menus too and have made pizza bases, fruit loaves, cakes, buns and rolls.
I ring the changes with fantastic bread flours such as multi-grain wholemeal, seeded malted flours as well as plain flour and wholemeal. Every so often, we slice a few rounds from a loaf and freeze them in case we run out of bread or go away.
The bread doesn't keep as long as shop-bought but doesn't get the chance.

Thanks guys...off to Lakeland tomorrow, they have a three year guarantee....

We had a number of Morphy Richards ones until we bought a Panasonic half price on Ebay to see it was "worth the extra money."
It was. I use wholemeal flour and put it on the 5hr cycle. The flavour is so much better as the yeast takes longer to works and the flavour has time to mature. The difference in the flavour of a slow rise and a fast one needs to be tried
We tend to slice it stick in in the freezer and then take out what we need at the time.
We have easily got used to putting it on earlier. There is no more effort needed.

Good luck, Shirleyw. You won't regret it.
I'm on my 3rd breadmaker but my first Panasonic and it leaves its predecessors standing. I use it 3 or 4 times a week and ring the changes with different kinds of bread. I'd hate to be without it!

Just to say I did buy a Panasonic and I'm soooo pleased with it. Had it a few months now and I use it once /twice a week. Wish I bought one years ago.....thanks for the replies guys.....

Am thinking of buying one for the first time but don't want to spend a lot of money in case i don't use it Any thoughts on that would be welcome

I’m still on my first breadmaker, a Panasonic. I’ve used it a lot in the last 20 years and it still works as good as ever. I didn’t know anyone else with one when I bought mine. I see newer models have all sorts of refinements, which I’d like, but as long as this one keeps on churning the loaves out I’ll stick with it. Favourite is the 3-hour 100% wholemeal loaf. And yes, I blame all my weight problems on it!

We weren't sure if we would use one often enough to splash out, so bought one for a tenner in Cash Converters. It's not the latest model but it does the job and is used at least once a week. Lovely fresh bread. The small loaves are gone in a flash.

I've been looking at getting a breakfast for a couple of years now but I've always enjoyed the hands on method of breaking but arthritis is stopping me doing it well now. So....I know Panasonic are best brand to go for but what about the features on newer models, what are the features and are they just gimmicky or really good features?
Does anyone on Gn have one they don't use and would like to sell on ? Panasonic of course!

Flipping predictive text I did type breadmaker honest but it changed it to breakfast , which I must go and eat now as tummy is rumbling

I had one but found the limitations of only one shape of loaf and having to take the fiddly paddle out too much. I used it for years but only for mixing/kneading the dough and then proving and baking as normal.
When it died, I bought a long desired Kenwood Chef and use the dough hook on that to mix and knead. I have much more flexibility in quantities and recipes.

I do have a Kenwood chef and have used it in the past for mixing and kneading but always did even more kneading to get the elasticity dough needs. Do you just use the dough hook and machine alone , how long do you machine knead it for tweedle ?

love mine. I thought I was gluten intolerant as felt so ill and bloated after eating bread. friend and I were talking about how shop bread doesn't taste the same as it did when we were young plus it can last for weeks!!!!!

Decided to make my own additive free bread and have never felt better. Make a loaf every other day as there are only 2 of us here.

It is hard not to eat lots of it though, as the smell when it's cooking is so tempting

Nannabilly, I follow the directions given for the Kenwood and check the elasticity and smoothness and do more if necessary, I do use the dough hook. I have arthritis in my hands so cannot hand knead for long.
I am finding that shop bought bread, even the freshly baked ones, do not taste too good. The wholemeal tastes too sweet and the white too salty.
I was directed towards Ocado’s own wholemeal which seems to suit best if the bought loaves.

I use mine on the "dough" setting, which does the hard work. Then I shape it into rolls or batons and pop in the oven. Think I'd need 2 lots to make a large loaf or full sized baguette. Only rarely cook in the machine as the square loaf is not appealing to the eye....but tastes delish.

Just have put my Lakeland breadmaker up for sale on Gumtree. Like the idea, but not really useful. I live by myself, have local excellent bakeries, and with an on-going battle with my weight do not want to encourage myself to eat more bread laden with butter.
Many years ago, when had a large family, I used to make a lot of my own bread, no bread making machine, but I did use my large Kenwood mixer, the rest by hand.

Franbern - "but I did use my large Kenwood mixer, the rest by hand." With a dough hook.
That's what I do now (or will do when I get my own kitchen back after a housemove.)

I have one, the bread I used to make in it was lovely (but yes, it can pile on the pounds!)
However, I now eat gf bread and find that comes out of the breadmaker like a brick so the machine is sitting in the utility room unloved and unused at the moment.

I also have a Panasonic. It's a great breadmaker though I rarely use it now.

I also have a Panasonic and have used it regularly for 9 years now. I keep all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and it takes no time at all to measure them out and get a loaf going. I rarely eat shop bought bread now.

That's how I want to be parsley . Just eat my home baked bread. Yum.
I am sick and tired of buying loaves from supermarket bakeries , never the pre sliced bread that is like polystyrene and they fall apart when slicing or have a lump of cough at the bottom of a huge hole somewhere that makes a funny bit of toast or sandwich.
We are currently favouring morrison s bakery and are quite enjoying the bakery made loaf with spelt in it though I would much prefer to make my own . We do have an artisan bakery in a small local..ish town but at nearly £4 for a medium sized loaf I resent paying it.

Franbern I have just bought your bread machine! I don't suppose you have any instructions for it do you? as I haven't got a clue what to do with it!

I love my bread maker. Gets a lot of use. Panasonic.

I love my Panasonic. I use it twice a week and it makes a lovely loaf. Rarely buy bread now and regret it if I do.