Bought a bread maker

I got myself a cheap second hand bread maker today from the charity shop for £15. Any tips on how to use it please? Any thought at all. I've never had a bread maker before. I'm hoping to stop wife from buying that orrible not-bread stuff from the corner shop.

 

Why?

Today's loaf without bread maker, sorry about pic quality.

 

Hiya C1.

For starters, try the ready mixes available from pretty much all the supermarkets. They're pretty good

 

Its got a number of different buttons that I can press, so it might have a timer. I haven't learned about it all yet.

Zigs, home made bread is excellent, but too much like hard work Apparently with a bread maker, you just put the ingredients in, set it off, and come back later. No actual work needed, or some I'm given to believe.

Hey it will be great if it does have a timer. Between that and the slow cooker I could have nice stew and fresh warm bread to mop it with all without any actual effort

 

Wow, £15
I paid £14 for one in a Wilko's sale around the time Charles and Chamilla wed

Ok, first things first:

What make is it? This is relevant because, depending on the make, no matter what the recipe, it will dictate which ingredients get put in there first! So, as an example, my one has to have the fluids put in first and the dry ingredients added on top; other machines do the opposite.

Next thought is: bread machines require "dried" yeast ... fresh yeast isn't as easy to work with a BM.

Next thought: did you get any manual with it at all? If not, do a Google for your make and model and you may find a PDF manual, which will include recipes.

Next thought: because it is so E.A.S.Y to use the timer facility to make your bread and wake up to a fresh loaf (well, a basic one, not a fancy thingywotsit) you do need to be wary of just how much you will eat! Cue: waistline watch!

Next thought: homemade bread produces its own level of "breadcrumbs", so, do have recipes in mind that will use those up too (think coatings for fish/chicken; think desserts - I have a recipe somewhere for something I called 'fruit wot-not' based on breadcrumbs, but it will take a bit to sift it out). Also, breadcrumbs freeze beautifully!

Next thought: consider baking a loaf and freezing half (with your size family that will be more economical).

Next thought: Bread machines make more than just bread! All models should make "dough" ... so, your repertoire is automatically increased to making things such as: pizza, Chelsea buns, ciabatta, focaccia bread etc., just so long as you don't mind finishing it off in the oven.
Some models bake cakes; other models will make jam too (bonus!)

But, I come back to my original question: What make and model have you acquired?

 

Just been to have a look. Its an Argos Cheapo, but I've found the manual and recipe book inside it

Apparently it does have a timer, and can make lots of different things, including cakes but most interestingly, 'Program 11' is to make a sandwhich

 

Oh dear Clueless,
The problem is the bread is so delicious you eat it all at one sitting, and as M said watch the waistline grow

Jack McH

 

Wife was given a new bread maker about a year ago ,panasonic I think.A few false starts with a tad too much water and off she went.Nothing beats the warm soft bread that it makes, so warm bread with home made strawberry jam with a nice cup of tea went down well.
The problem is home made bread does not stay soft more than say 2 days so the birds were fed well.Overcame this by making a smaller size loaf and cutting doorstop slices.
Now it is only used as a back up if we run out of bread and save going down shops.It does make nice pastry and she makes a base for a sort of pizza ,well that is what I call it.
Rolls come out nice but they are huge but very soft.When this one gives up the ghost she will get a new one but again mostly for back up.At the moment I am into freshly baked Tesco Tiger bread,cut about 1 1/4" (32mm) and covered in honey

 

Look up the make on line, see if you can download the instructions.

I have avoided buying one for the same reasons as Jack's. Fresh warm bread with melting dripping butter rolling down my hand would happen too often, causing me to break out in fat on waist and hips. So hand made once in a while is enough.

 

Funtastic!!!!
Hopefully, that means you have now cooked Mrs CL1 her first BM loaf today, as a trial?

Sandwich style LOAF! They're good, but, they're not that good to rustle you up a sandwich!

 

Not made any yet. I need to go out and buy the ingredients first

 

Well lad and I have been out for the ingredients, and the bread maker is on now. Very exciting stuff.

Fortunately it has a window in it, otherwise I'd ruin the rising stage by opening it to have a nosey.

 

Get the butter ready - sounds like you'll be having a midnight feast! Is it starting to get that lovely home baked smell?