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Kitchenware - Bread Machines

A guide to choosing and buying Breadmakers

Jump to: Benefits of using Breadmakers  |  What you need  | How Much to spend  | Cooking & Safety Tips

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Breadmakers have become a popular addition to many households. Once thought of as just a fad piece of equipment, many people have now substituted commercially made bread with fresh homemade bread cooked in a domestic breadmaker on a regular basis.

This guide to breadmakers will tell you everything you need to know to understand, choose and use this useful appliance. This guide will help you to choose a suitable bread maker and will give you lots of ideas for home made breads, some of which can be made in under 1½ hours (depending on the machine you buy) with no need for you to knead or "punch down" or even hang about whilst it's rising and baking.

What are the Benefits of Using a Breadmakers?

• Control over the ingredients used including salt or additives

• Can save you money especially if you like speciality breads containing more unusual ingredients which are more expensive if shop bought

• Flexibility and choice of what type of fresh bread you want and when you want it.  Most machines can also be used to just make dough e.g. for pizzas or rolls.

• Cleaner and often quicker than conventional bread making

• A sense of comfort, satisfaction and fun - this may sound odd but most people who use breadmakers will agree that the feeling they get when smelling freshly baked bread and turning out a wonderful home cooked loaf is very satisfying, especially if some experimenting has been done with regards to the ingredients used.

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What Should you look for in a Breadmaker?

Most breadmakers on the market have much the same features. The main differences are in the size and shape of loaf produced and added functions such as alarms and fruit dispensers.

To ensure you make full use of this handy appliance,  below are some things that you should consider before making a purchase.

Good Reviews.  Check cooking magazines and websites to read microwave reviews from other consumers and businesses.

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How much should you spend on your bread machine?

Although there are some very cheap and very expensive models on the market, always be guided by what you think you will need based on the above criteria, rather than on price. If you are unsure, it's best to pay a little extra and get more functions as once you start using your bread machine, you'll probably want to expand and experiment with different types of breads and flours.

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Breadmakers Cooking and Safety Tips

• Make sure you leave air vents clear when the machine is running;

• Take note of the order in which you add ingredients to the pan as this could have dramatic effects on how your bread turns out;

• Don't be tempted to use more yeast than the recipe calls for;

• When using shop bought bread "mixes", make allowances for your particular machine's capacity which you will find in the manual. Many mixes come in 500g packets, but this amount will be too much for some machines;

• Unless you have a machine with a "keep warm" setting, remove your bread from the machine as soon as possible;

• Bread straight from breadmakers is deceptively HOT as is any removable baking pan. Use a tea towel or other protection when handling;

• When leaving bread to cool, if it has a hole in the bottom of the loaf which has been left by the mixing paddle, place the loaf hole-upwards so the steam can escape.

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