Bread machine
 

I'm looking for recommendations for a bread machine. I'm leaning toward a
Panasonic SD-YD250. Has anyone used this machine? I'd appreciate any
comments and recommendations. I've made bread by hand, and I realize that
it's generally a superior product, but it's a question of convenience.
Thanks

emjtds wrote:
> I'm looking for recommendations for a bread machine. I'm leaning toward a
> Panasonic SD-YD250. Has anyone used this machine? I'd appreciate any
> comments and recommendations. I've made bread by hand, and I realize that
> it's generally a superior product, but it's a question of convenience.
> Thanks
>
>

Actually "made by hand" bread is not necessarily superior. I've made a
lot of bread, but can't do as well as my bread machine on the loaves it
does best -- plain white bread for sandwiches and such. My bread machine
controls the temperatures and rise much better than I can. Of course,
French bread and other good stuff can't be done well with a bread machine.

I have no info about the Panisonic. It's literature looks good. I
haven't seen a picture of the finished loaf. I prefer a traditional loaf
myself, and find the odd shaped things produced by some machines
rebarbarate. I've been happy with a Zojirashi for the white bread.

--
Bob Wheeler --- http://www.bobwheeler.com/
ECHIP, Inc. ---
Randomness comes in bunches.

I've been very happy with my Zojirushi Bread Maker. I also bought one
for my sister and they are
both still working after ten years or so.

My Hitachi is going on 16 and still goin' strong.

Bob Wheeler wrote:

[snip]
> Actually "made by hand" bread is not necessarily superior. I've made a
> lot of bread, but can't do as well as my bread machine on the loaves it
> does best -- plain white bread for sandwiches and such. My bread machine
> controls the temperatures and rise much better than I can. Of course,
> French bread and other good stuff can't be done well with a bread machine.

What recipe do you use for sandwich bread? I also have a Zoji, and my
attempts at sandwich bread didn't come up with a light/soft enough loaf
to meet the needs (my younger one likes peanut butter sandwiches folded
over, and all the sandwich bread I made in the thing had too much body -
the slices always broke when I tried to fold them). I probably didn't
try hard enough - the breads I like are kneaded and baked without
benefit of the bread machine, so it has been relegated to the garage,
but I'm willing to give it another try...

ted

Ted Goldblatt > writes:

>What recipe do you use for sandwich bread?

I recommend the 'Austrian Malt Bread' recipe in Donna German's book.

2 tbsp margarine, softened
1 cup water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
3 cups bread flour
2 tsp quick yeast
3 tbsp Carnation malt powder (the stuff you put on ice cream)

This is also a good recipe to experiment with. For example, substitute in
1/4 cup of rye flour and you have a nice light rye which you can spice up
with caraway or dill seed. You can make a darker rye if you throw in a
drop or two of molasses or a teaspoon of cocoa or instant coffee. You can
use Splenda instead of sugar (I can't tell the difference in taste), you
can use 1/4 cup of honey, brown sugar instead of white, a little cinnamon,
and so forth. For Christmas or Easter you can throw in a half teaspoon
of cardamom.

I don't recommend doubling the salt, which I did once by mistake. Even
the birds wouldn't eat that one!

I also like it with 1/4 cup of wheat germ added, but that seems to make for a
much denser loaf.
--
Mike Nolan

"Ted Goldblatt" > wrote in message
...
> Bob Wheeler wrote:
>
> [snip]
>> Actually "made by hand" bread is not necessarily superior. I've made a
>> lot of bread, but can't do as well as my bread machine on the loaves it
>> does best -- plain white bread for sandwiches and such. My bread machine
>> controls the temperatures and rise much better than I can. Of course,
>> French bread and other good stuff can't be done well with a bread
>> machine.
>
> What recipe do you use for sandwich bread? I also have a Zoji, and my
> attempts at sandwich bread didn't come up with a light/soft enough loaf to
> meet the needs (my younger one likes peanut butter sandwiches folded over,
> and all the sandwich bread I made in the thing had too much body - the
> slices always broke when I tried to fold them). I probably didn't try
> hard enough - the breads I like are kneaded and baked without benefit of
> the bread machine, so it has been relegated to the garage, but I'm willing
> to give it another try...
>
> ted

I like bread kneaded with my Kitchenaid mixer and baked in the oven, better.
Yum. I haven't made bread in a long time!

I got a bread machine, for Christmas one year, but it always overcooked my
bread, unless I was there to stop the cycle about 15 minutes early. To me,
that was defeating the purpose of a bread machine (set it and forget it).
It's a regal, so not a real top brand. Have always wanted to just try a
different brand to see if I would like it better, but have never gotten
around to it.

Dawn