I'm making the switch...but know 0 about breadmakers. Any specifics I should be looking for while shopping for one? I found one that has an auto yeast dispenser...is this necessary or just about convenience? (though I am all about cnvenience ) Also, are there some basic, easy breads for me to start with? The whole thing sounds scary lol TIA
I used to have a bread machine, and honestly, after a while I got to the point where I used just the dough cycle and would bake in my own oven! LOL I had the general Sunbeam one and it worked excellently. I know there are tons with features out the wazoo...I recommend one that has settings for crust preferences, whole wheats, sweet breads, etc. One that's a little more versatile. You can get them for $25 all the way up to $500 (Zojirishi I think it is??? That one will even do a gluten-free loaf!). Also, a lot of brand new machines come with an instruction/recipe book that are always great to start with. I found with my machine that I could use ANY recipe as long as I layered in the machine the way the recommended. Most of the books will have at least a basic white, a basic wheat, ususally a french or italian recipe. I will say as appliance brands go, KitchenAid, Cuisinart & Bosch are usually pretty top of the line, where Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Oster and GE tend to be the more middle of the line. Then there's off brands that are a lot cheaper. Since I'd gotten to the point only using it on a dough cycle because I liked making more normal shaped loaves. I also liked baking mine in my oven with a pizza stone in there b/c it made the crust more crispy. My husband got me a KitchenAid mixer that has a dough hook, so that's what I use now. Works so nicely. Anyway, happy hunting!!!!
I've had one, but could never get a good, CONSISTENT loaf. Mine was a Welbilt, but I think I may have had another, too. I'm happier making them from scratch. I'd love to get a good KitchenAid, but the cost is not something I can justify.
I would LOVE a KitchenAid. I make my bread from scratch and it would make kneading so much easier. The price is what I can't justify either. Until I find one that is used or reasonably on sale, I will keep building up those kneading muscles. lol
Actually, I enjoy the kneading. It's kinda theraputic. And I love the fact that I can tell either one of my girls that I need them to bake bread, and they're off and running with it! Pies from scratch, too!!!
My KitchenAid was a gift, otherwise I would not own it. Also, I got a refurbished one, not a brand new one - so it was at least half price (I have a professional, not an artisan, so it's a 6 qt) I LOVE it. Of course, for so many other reasons that bread making. It's an extremely versatile tool. NOT a "uni-tasker" to quote Alton Brown! I could not get through the Christmas season without my mixer. I bake 8 or 9 different kinds of cookies, pies, breads, cakes, etc. It gets a MAJOR workout over the holidays. The rest of the year, I would say I use it AT LEAST once a week if not more.
I just bought a Toastmaster bread machine last week at a resale shop for $6. I LOVE it. I could never keep yeast alive and the machine has not failed me yet. It looks barely used and still had the book.
I have this sunbeam one and LOVE IT! It is the only one I have ever owned, so I can't compare it. It has crust options (light, med, dark), comes with some pretty good recipes, bread turns out perfect every time (unless you miscount how many cups of flour you put in-don't ask how I know this ), has a dough setting for if you want to make rolls, buns, pizza, etc instead of a loaf, you can make 1.5 or 2 lb loves and it's lasted me for almost 8 years now. I don't know why in the world you would need a yeast dispenser....I always put in liquid ingredients, then dry ones, then make a well in the flour for the yeast. Never had a problem.
