Bread Making Newbie

A

Archive7

Guest
I agree, not bad looking at all. Possibly the AP flour that you have is stronger than expected.
Thanks.
Do you think I should try again using the AP flour?
I am not happy with the loaf because each slice isn't strong enough to hold anything.
I skipped adding dry milk. Not sure if that can make a big difference.
 

PaulR

Dazed and Confused Admin
Staff member
Joined
Jun 28, 2003
Messages
18,023
Reaction score
4,046
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
-----------See sig-----------
My Location
Wirral, NW UK and Vaucluse, France.
I'd certainly have another go. No recipe for ordinary bread that I've seen has dried milk as an ingredient so that shouldn't be a problem.
 
A

Archive7

Guest
Most of the above is key to why the bread maker is sitting back in its box on the shelf. I never calculated the electricity required to make one loaf buut the raw ingredients alone put making something other than a really special loaf a non-starter, in particular the cleaning afterwards.

The local Tesco has a built in bakery and all loaves at the end of the day are reduced to sell, with a large olive ciabatta or 100% rye going out the door at 50p.
I think the knowledge of how to make bread is essential in every household, especially in cases of emergencies when fresh bread supply can take days until it arrives to grocery shops.
Having essential ingredients like flour, salt and sugar and oil doesn't cost a lot of money and in the worst case throw them in the dust bin if they go past the expiry date.
The bread machine didn't cost much in electricity. The baking stage lasted about an hour assuming at 500 watts that's not such a big deal.
I am not so lucky to have a shop near by that sells so cheap and I want to save money by not paying outrageous prices for a small roll that doesn't taste so good.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
My rough costing for a 400g loaf made with 80% Strong White and 20% Seed & Grain came to around 40p, plus maybe 5p leccy.

And the pan and blade are Teflon coated, so a very quick wipe taking a couple of seconds is all that's needed.

The Panasonic programmes all seem fit for purpose, so about a minute to weigh and load, and that's it.
 
A

Archive4

Guest
On the way to the office, to do today´s paperwork, I stopped by the local super value. It had a good range of flour, normal corn flour, flour for " postres " ( puddings and cakes ), gluten free and " strong flour " for bread making. Price varied from 40c to 90c for the strong flour. Do have a bread maker, albeit she is out at the moment, but upon her return I will get her on the case.
Do have a machine as well;)
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Oh, yes? And what, pray, is the machine for? Do you only flash it up when the wife is out?
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
So, here's tonight's effort

b3212772fce2b1ea64c26bfa077391ac.jpg
 

PaulR

Dazed and Confused Admin
Staff member
Joined
Jun 28, 2003
Messages
18,023
Reaction score
4,046
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
-----------See sig-----------
My Location
Wirral, NW UK and Vaucluse, France.
The dual paddle type are definitely much superior to the single paddle ones.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Looks really great.
I am not happy with the shape of my loaf and if I get the chance I will buy a bread machine with dual blades that make a standard loaf shape.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-Jam...04380&sr=1-1&keywords=bread+maker+dual+blades

View attachment 96903
Not had any issues with my single blade Panasonic, but the twin blade config sure looks interesting.

Minor issues with my loaf:

Uneven colouring - doesn't affect taste, texture etc.

Vertical U-shaped indentation is caused by slight projection inside pan, which helps grip the loaf. Need to let it cool for 5 mins before tipping out, to give it time to shrink back a little.

Otherwise ... Yum Yum!
 

battenfan

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
493
Reaction score
341
Points
63
My Satellite Setup
1.2m pf
My Location
60N 18E
I'm thinking of building a wood fired pizza oven, they can also be used for baking bread. But as summers are so short it is a questionable investment for such a single-tasker. I should make it indoors to use it year around and that means harder problems to solve.
Search for Pompeii_eBook.pdf
 
A

Archive7

Guest
What is really great about making my own bread is that I know exactly the ingredients that I use and I believe the bread is a lot healthier and cleaner than what I have been buying all these years from local shops, including the transportation handling stage and the handling of the bread inside the shops. I know they don't use gloves to put the bread in shelves for example.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Absolutely agree.

I saw a Bakery Assistant in one of our Morrisons Supermarkets using bare hands to transfer Rolls from a carry-tray onto the shelves.

Upon politely enquiring about the lack of use of gloves, she informed me her hands were clean ...... nuff said.

I went elsewhere.
 
A

Archive4

Guest
Absolutely agree.

I saw a Bakery Assistant in one of our Morrisons Supermarkets using bare hands to transfer Rolls from a carry-tray onto the shelves.

Upon politely enquiring about the lack of use of gloves, she informed me her hands were clean ...... nuff said.

I went elsewhere.
Don´t think that would bother me too much, but snacks and peanuts on bars in a pub............:eek:
 

pgh13

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
1,688
Reaction score
414
Points
83
Age
72
My Satellite Setup
XTrend ET8000, Dr HD 15, PC/twinhan combination. 80cm dish. GBPVR with 2 DTTV cards +hauppauge Media MVP +Raspberry Pi running XBMC
My Location
Midlands UK
Don´t think that would bother me too much, but snacks and peanuts on bars in a pub............:eek:
.....or the mint imperials on the way out of the Indian/Chinese!!! :-rofl2
 
A

Archive7

Guest
I went looking for bread flour yesterday. I must have gone inside ten shops and two supermarkets. They all shook their heads and told me that there is no demand for it so they don't stock it!!!
Then I went to my local grocery shop and asked them if they can order one pack special for me. This morning it was waiting for me. The price was too high 70% more than the AP flour, but I am not complaining as I must try it and then buy from a cheaper place if it proves to have any advantage over the AP flour.
BTW has anyone tried to knead with the bread machine and then bake in an oven?
I think this way I can get a nicer shape than what comes out of the machine, as I really don't like the size and shape.
 

pgh13

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
1,688
Reaction score
414
Points
83
Age
72
My Satellite Setup
XTrend ET8000, Dr HD 15, PC/twinhan combination. 80cm dish. GBPVR with 2 DTTV cards +hauppauge Media MVP +Raspberry Pi running XBMC
My Location
Midlands UK
BTW has anyone tried to knead with the bread machine and then bake in an oven?
I think this way I can get a nicer shape than what comes out of the machine, as I really don't like the size and shape.

My sister does that if she wants to make bread rolls. She takes it out after the first rise. Another friend does it because he can't knead by hand any more but doesn't like the hole in the base of the machine loaf.
 
A

Archive7

Guest
My sister does that if she wants to make bread rolls. She takes it out after the first rise. Another friend does it because he can't knead by hand any more but doesn't like the hole in the base of the machine loaf.
Thanks.
I don't like the hole too.
There is an interesting manufacturer called Breville I believe they are Australian.
They have a clever way to hide the hole. They use collapsible blades that changes from upright to flat during the baking stage and this way the hole is minimized. Model BBM800 The Custom Loaf Pro and the bread pan looks better than what I have but only one paddle. They sell this model locally but the price is outrageous ~400 Pounds!!!
the Custom Loaf Pro™
There might be other bread makers who have collapsible blades. Please report here if you see any.
 

pgh13

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
1,688
Reaction score
414
Points
83
Age
72
My Satellite Setup
XTrend ET8000, Dr HD 15, PC/twinhan combination. 80cm dish. GBPVR with 2 DTTV cards +hauppauge Media MVP +Raspberry Pi running XBMC
My Location
Midlands UK
looks good but it is pricey, even in Oz
 
Top