Bread Machines

[Maglily]

Do you like them and would you recommend a brand ?

Dad may get one for Mom, he doesn't know what to get her for Christamas and somehow that came up. I heard him say he wasn't going to get one, but I asked her if she'd use it and she said yes. I'm in the middle trying to run interference. Thanks.

[Sylie]

Everybody I know who got one used it a lot for a month or so and then never again. I have had bread made in the machine and didn't think it was good at all.

[LJSquishy]

I researched bread machines for a while because I thought I wanted one but ultimately decided against it. I found that most people reviewed that they were awesome for making the dough (just toss in the ingredients and walk away), but that the loaves would cook slightly uneven by being too brown or crispy on the bottom. A lot of people also hated the indentations in the loaf from where the blades (or something) are...you can't avoid that. I was very surprised to find quite a few reviewers say that they just use it to make the dough and then bake it in the oven themselves...such a huge appliance for making dough!

[wkomorow]

I use mine to make pizza dough, usually once a week. I do not use it to make bread. I have a Zojirushi.

[Leila'sMommy]

I got one for Christmas 20-something years ago when they first came out and only used it a few times. Boy, were those some expensive loaves (cost of machine)! My bread came out evenly cooked, but the main thing I didn't like about it was the hole it left in the bottom where the blade was. If I tried to make bread with nuts or something in it, it was ground up so much, you couldn't tell it was in there. And the worst thing was that it smelled soooo good and you had to wait forever and suffer by smelling it while waiting.

[MalteseJane]

I was thinking about buying one some time ago but decided against it because I was not sure if I would like the bread (I like only french bread). After reading your posts, I have no incentive to buy one at all. I make my dough in the Kitchen Aid Artisan.

[Furbabies mom]

I bought mine at my neighbors yard sale! We use it in the winter, there are a ton of different bread receipes that come with the machine. It makes great bread, but the loaves are huge!!!I'm going to get mine down and use it, now I'm hungry for homemade bread!!!

[Snowbody]

Okay, Brenda - I confess. I have TWO bread machines. One for NYC; one for Vermont. The main reason I got them was because of my son's food allergies and there was a time when I really couldn't buy commercial loaves -- he was allergic to eggs and dairy as well as nuts and sesame. I used mine all the time and it made delicious breads - french and white. I would either make the whole thing in the machine or sometimes take the dough out to shape and bake (french bread). It it made great pizza dough (I would make him cheeseless pizza). It's as easy as can be...liquids in first and yeast on the top of the flour. I think most breads take about 2 hours to make and you just walk away and leave it bake. Funny but last week I was out of bread and I suddenly got out the machine and made one and my DS and DH really enjoyed it. Mine is a Welbilt and very easy to use.

[lydiatug]

I've had a zojirushi for several years and love it...the 2 paddles help the kneading process. My husband is the breakfast guy and the bread we used was discontinued, so I went on the search for a great recipe. It isn't great for sandwiches, but is fantastic for toast. I make bread weekly, and its all natural, so even better. I also use it for pizza dough and mixing certain cookie doughs.

[socalyte]

I have a bread machine, the Zojirushi, also. I use it a lot in the winter. I also use it to make pizza dough, the dough for cinnamon rolls, french bread, etc. I also make a Portuguese sweet bread similar to the Hawaiian bread you can buy. I recently got a San Francisco sourdough starter that I am now using-- super yummy! I have to admit I use it more for the dough making, even though I do have an Kitchen Aid Pro. I do cook the bread in the machine, too, as mine makes a 2 lb loaf and the "hole" from the beaters doesn't bother us.