Bread makers

TH makes our bread in the Panasonic breadmaker. It is much cheaper than a good shop bought loaf. Because there are no additives it doesn't keep as long but it freezes well. We use Waitrose flour with"bits" in. The only bread I buy now is the occasional baguette.

Another Panasonic user here , the bread is great and freezes well ( otherwise I eat it all )

Another Panasonic fan here, always use it, never buy bread.

Another Panasonic fan. Made seeded loaf overnight for breakfast this morning. it's all eaten!

Panasonic. Had one for seventeen years. Everyone loves the bread. DD1 also has a Panasonic breadmaker. She says the bread I make in that tastes like my bread and is different from the bread she makes in it. This is surprising because there are two missing ingredients when I make bread at her house: a knob of lard and a heaped tablespoon of ground linseed. I must breathe my own bread soul ?

Another vote for Panasonic here! I use mine 3 or 4 times a week and would hate to be without it. Originally, I bought it because there wasn't a decent bakery within easy reach but, since the house move, there are several - and I'm still making my own!

I have written numerous cookbooks and some years ago I was asked to write a breadmaker recipe book, so I bought a breadmaker in order to test the recipes. I still prefer to make bread by hand, particularly specialist breads – a (home-grown) courgette and Parmesan bread is on the menu for New Year's Day – partly because I have more control about the texture because I can feel it and partly because I love kneading the dough.

However, breadmakers make tasty loaves, albeit a slightly odd shape, and are hugely useful for mixing and kneading the dough when you are very busy, even if you then bake the loaf or rolls in the oven. I think mine is a Panasonic too. They are quite bulky and take up a fair amount of storage room.

P.s. Cook's Tip: Lightly brush the bread pan and paddle with sunflower or other mild oil before adding the ingredients.

I had one for some years and gave it away via Freecycle about 3 years ago. I never did like the results must have been doing something wrong. I always used cheap plain flour so perhaps that is why.

I make bread by hand. Varying results. I can make a good focaccia and a brioche (both with cheap flour) but everything else I have tried I haven't liked the results.

I've given a Panasonic as a gift after asking on here a few weeks ago and checking back copies of Which magazine at the library. I haven't heard how it is going yet.
I had a machine years ago which I bought 2nd hand and gave away . Its bread was hard on the outside and too soft inside. I used to bake my own bread by hand but I could see if you have little time or energy a machine would suit and if you eat a lot of bread.

I also have a Panasonic and use it every other day. Bought it over 2 years ago and have only bought "commercial" bread a couple of times since. I found the secret to keeping the loaf fresh was to put it in a bread crock (not in a plastic bag) and yes, it freezes very well. As for flour, top brand Allinsons is great but I have also used some from Aldi with brilliant results.

Dust gatherer?

Not dust gatherer at all. Never buy shop bread any more.

craftergran you DO need to use the correct flour ?

I use Lidl's bread flour, with great results.

Love my Panasonic. Made a loaf for breakfast overnight every night while we had Christmas guests here. Normally make rolls for lunch and freeze. Flour is crucial I agree, cheaper ones may be lower in gluten, so I usually buy the large bags of Allinsons. Favourite loaf is walnut loaf, made with a mixture of white flour and Granary. ?

I agree with you husband. I had a breadmaker but tbh the bread was nowhere near as good as I was making myself. I use my Kenwood to do the kneading with a dough hook so it is very easy & quicker than machine too. My breadmaker is now in the loft!

BTW my machine was a Panasonic.

But then you didn’t use the correct flour you said ??

Panasonic for me all the way. I had a morphy Richards for many years but the Panasonic does the best bread. I make a loadevery other day, the medium which is the smallest it does. Can't see the point in the bigger loaves as you don't get any more slices just taller ones. Well worth the extra for Panasonic.

Panasonic here, too. I can't knead by hand any more due to arthritis but I'm very happy with the bread from my Panasonic.

Waitrose Essential strong wholemeal and strong white work well for me. The Panasonic I referred to upthread is my second, the first Panasonic died an honourable death after about twelve years of being used two or three times every week.

I use my bread maker frequently. It, too, is a Panasonic.

Craftergran With a username like that, you know that if you make something in inferior material you won't get a good result.

1) It’s so simple. A few minutes weighing/measuring out ingredients and hey pesto! 4-5 hours later a lovely fresh loaf.

2) It’s cheap too. Flour lasts for ages as does the dried yeast.

3) You know exactly what’s in your loaf and what’s not. Nearly all shop-bought has palm oil.

4) no plastic wrapping

What’s not to like. Mine must have paid for itself very quickly even if I factor in electricity.

Just as easy to use a mixer with dough hook to do the kneading, you don't need another machine.