Should you buy a bread machine?

Bread machines have been in use for many years now. They have been subjected to extensive public testing and scrutiny. Over the years, the companies that make these machines have also learned and listened to the public. Our advice on whether or not to get a bread machine is as follows: If you need to make many loaves or are in a hurry, then a bread machine would be a good investment.

Perhaps you are tired of making bread by hand, have a busy schedule, or suffer from a physical disability. It could be a budget issue, or you may be new to bread baking. Any of these factors will qualify you as an ideal candidate for a bread machine.

Consider it this way. If you have a bread machine, that doesn’t mean you can’t make artisan bread. It simply means you have an additional tool in your arsenal. Bread machines are incredibly convenient, helpful, and well worth the money.

If you’re unsure whether to buy a bread machine, we have compiled a list of advantages and downsides you should look into before making a purchasing decision. With this information, you should be able to make your decision:

Advantages

Convenience

Making bread is a lengthy process, so it must be done slowly. Baking bread on the weekend is great fun, but when you have to do the housework as well, you’re not likely to have an adrenaline rush and make fresh bread.

If you want fresh bread every day, you should use a bread machine. Of course, if you’re the type of person who likes to wake up to the scent of freshly baked bread filling the house, this is especially enjoyable. Bread machines have timers that allow you to program the device to wake you up in the middle of the night, and with a single click, you can wake up to the aroma of fresh bread. Excellent!

A timer’s range is approximately 12 hours. All the work needed before your bread is ready can be done 12 hours before you want it. Now that’s convenient!

Some machines also include automatic fruit and nut dispensers. These additional ingredients are automatically fed into your dough at precisely the right time, so if you want to enjoy bread with nuts and dried fruits, for example, look for a machine with this feature for added convenience.

No-Knead Bread – For Real

Kneading the dough is probably the most demanding physical effort of bread baking. Yes, many people enjoy the feel of the dough in their hands. Still, others lack the patience or no ability to knead the dough themselves for various reasons, including medical issues, aging, and any other reason you can think of.

A bread machine is an excellent solution for anyone who wants to “get around” this step. It automatically kneads the bread and does an excellent job of it. Even if you’re going to do everything else by hand, the kneading can be left to the bread machine’s capable hands.

Clean, Tidy, and straightforward to use

Baking bread is a thousand-year-old craft that requires us and our kitchen to devote ourselves to it. Even after working on the dough, we will find ourselves tidying up the kitchen, flour and bits of dough scattered across the counter, dishes in the sink, and everything else.

It cuts down on time and effort significantly because of the bread machine. You don’t have to knead or shape the dough; just put the ingredients in the bread maker, set the timer, and that’s it. There’s no mess in the kitchen because we just have to wait for the bread to be ready.

This factor becomes very significant if you make the bread daily and consider the intensive schedule that most of us keep and know very well.

Timing – unlike a mixer, there are times for a bread machine to stop mixing, allow a rise, punch down the bread, etc. The bread maker can also bake bread, but mixers obviously cannot.

A Healthy Alternative

There are healthier alternatives to buying bread from supermarkets or bakeries. For example, you can make your bread. Choosing what bread ingredients to use can be easier depending on your dietary restrictions or preferences.

Some excellent bread baking cookbooks and recipes are available specifically designed for bread machines to help you get that perfect loaf of bread. Go ahead and click here to learn more about it. If you are a beginner to make bread

Freshly baked bread can be challenging to obtain without having the time or experience to learn how to bake, but if you lack both, this is your solution! With a bread machine, you’ll be a baker in no time. It’s as simple as that: You have the power to save money and save time by being in control of your diet (knowing what you put into your body).

Choosing the economical option

Depending on the model, bread machines range from 65 USD to 320 USD. When it comes to the amount of bread you will be making, this will impact how long it will be before you begin saving money on the bread machine.

Making bread at home is cheaper, especially if you’re a large family that consumes a lot of bread daily. Considering the price of the ingredients, the cost of time and labor, and other relevant factors, if you bake even one loaf of bread a week, you will save money in the long run.

A bread machine will last a long time even if it’s cheap. We have read multiple reviews while doing my research, and everyone seems to be using the same bread machine for a decade or more. Our bread machine has been running for about two years now, and so far, there have been no problems.

Here is a quick break down of costs for a 1 1/2 lbs loaf

As you know, the price of bread varies. 3 USD is the approximate price of a loaf of cheap white bread (which I would not even consider purchasing).

A high-quality artisan-style bread from a good bakery will cost anywhere from 15 USD to over 20 USD. To get an approximate figure, we will take the average price of bread as 6 USD. 4.50 USD represents approximately the amount you will save on each loaf. Each week, you can save about $234 by baking 52 loaves.

As you can see, the cheapest bread maker is about 150 USD, while the most expensive will cost you over 320 USD, demonstrating how much money you will save if you have a big family and bake multiple loaves per week. Hundreds of thousands of dollars each year could be saved by doing that.

Further uses for machines for bread

Additional uses beyond just making bread can be made possible with a bread machine. It can be used in a wide variety of ways, including the mixing of dough, the creation of rolls or buns, as well as other applications that will catch you off guard, such as making jam, making rice dishes, making yogurt, and making cakes. We wouldn’t advise anyone to try this route, but if your stove is broken and you have no other option, you may be able to use it.

Downsides

Here’s our viewpoint and our reasons why we’re willing to forego bread machine pleasure:

Baking and Crust

However, you could use the bread machine to mix, proof, shape, and rise the dough. Then you could place it in your oven and bake it, resulting in a thicker crust. Conversely, a bread machine can help you part with your cooking.

It necessitates your constant supervision.

This all depends on which machine you select. Not all devices are programmable and require full supervision; some are fully automatic and require little or no supervision.

Due to the timers included with these machines, you must check on your dough frequently to maintain consistency. Even so, in that case, you will have to spend more on hands-free, hassle-free bread machines. Bread machines that are fully automatic and hands-free are strongly recommended.

Another helpful device for your counter

We’re entirely aware that we’re gadget enthusiasts, but it all comes down to having room for all these unique gadgets in the end.

A bread machine is not a small appliance, so if you do not have a large kitchen where it can sit undisturbed on your countertop, consider finding a storage space for it, as well as the hassle of taking it out of storage and putting it back in.

Measure your counter space before purchasing a bread machine. It will almost certainly be on your counter, so be prepared. It won’t be a burden for you to carry this machine into and out of the kitchen as it is pretty heavy as well.

Is it possible to use sourdough in the bread machine?

Making sourdough bread in a bread machine is not impossible, but keep in mind that most breadmakers do not have a preset program for sourdough bread.

Because of the wide range of rising and proofing times for sourdough bread, bread machines frequently have problems making bread with these recipes.

To avoid this issue, bread machines come with manual modes that allow you to adjust the timing yourself, but this requires more time and testing.

However, some brands also have built-in sourdough bread is one of their unique features to help you complete all things quickly. Please read some of our reviews to find out about these fantastic functions here.

Easy to use but still has a learning curve

Despite appearing easy to use on paper, bread machines can be complicated for bakers to use and cause frustration.

The following are some of the most common issues that arise when using bread:

• The bread machine “crumbled.”
• Bread does not rise completely or partially.
• Bread is heavy and dense when it comes out of the oven.
• Bread has an unbrowned top.
• Bread has a large hole.
• Bread is out of balance.

These problems usually arise when you try to be more creative with your bread baking and look for new recipes on the internet. When you get a recipe from a third party online, there are many variables that you may not be aware of. Troubleshooting these issues will require some time and effort on your part.

For example, the type of flour that someone used may not be available in your area, so you substitute a different brand. The water you use is unique. Your bread machines are special, and so forth.

NOTE: Some bread machine manufacturers use a consultant baker while designing and engineering this equipment. These recipes were created by a professional baker that has experimented with these machines; they’ve been adjusted precisely for your bread machine.

Bread machines may be quite vibratory and buzzy

Based on our findings, we found that several bread machines can be pretty noisy, if not all of them. Perhaps your mixer is too.Another frequently encountered problem is that the machine vibrates and dances around on the counter.

Conclusion

It is very beneficial to have a bread machine. I can’t recommend it enough. “This list of Pros and Cons could lead you to believe that there are more problems than solutions.” In reality, the weight of the pros outweighs the cons because the time and money it takes to implement a solution are just too prohibitive.