Bread machines
There's no doubt about it, the easiest way to make bread is using a bread machine. No kneading, no messing about, you just pop in the
ingredients, press a few buttons and wait (or go to bed and sleep if you have a model with a timer). As little as two hours after setting
it up, out will come delicious home-made bread.
There are many bread machines on the market at a range of prices to suite any budget. However, it is essential to choose wisely. I
have known people with bread machines who simply have no success at all, even though they follow all the instructions to the letter. This
is because some machines are just not very good at making bread, so don't waste your money on one of those. Choose a recommended model
and you will have years of trouble-free use and delicious home-made bread to look forward to.
| Panasonic SD255 |
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The Panasonic SD255 is highly recommended. Panasonic have supplied top quality bread making machines for many years and
receive excellent reviews from users.
This model includes a raisin and nut dispenser which automatically adds ingredients to your dough at the correct
moment.
There is also an easy-to-use 13-hour timer which lets you set the bread to be ready for you when you wake or when you get home
from work.
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| Panasonic SD254 |
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Very similar to the SD255 above, but instead of automatically dispensing raisins and nuts, the machine will beep to remind you
to add them. Raisins, for example, shouldn't be added right at the start, as the kneading action would mash them up.
In my opinion, unless you have no intention of ever baking seeded or fruit breads, it is definitely worth paying the extra for
the SD255. If you like your bread plain, though, this is a good buy.
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| Morphy Richards 48268 Fastbake |
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The Morphy Richards 48268 Fastbake also gets good reviews from users. It is a very attractive
machine, finished in stainless steel. more importantly, it reliably and consistently makes great quality bread. You can
also use it to make jam and cakes. One great feature is the see-through windown on top of the machine, which lets you watch
your bread as it bakes. The paddle folds down before baking starts, resulting in a smaller hole in the bottom of the loaf than
you get with some other machines. No raisin dispenser on this one, though. |
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| Kenwood Breadmaker BM250 |
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This Kenwood bread machine is a good mid-priced model. It has 12 different programmes so that
you can make a good range of loaves. It makes cakes and jams and even pasta dough! There is a rapid bake setting which
will bake a loaf of white bread in just under an hour. The lid contains a viewing window, which gives you a chance to see the
dough being mixed, but this often steams up during baking. The machine has a 15-hour timer. |
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| Morphy Richards 48245 Compact Coolwall |
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This little bread maker is ideal if you are on a tight budget or are cramped for space, as it is quite a bit smaller than the
other models. However, it does produce great bread. Best for singles and couples as the maximum loaf size is 1½
pounds. Although a fairly basic model, it does have a timer so you can set it to bake your bread ready for when you wake up in
the morning. It can also make jam and cakes. For the price, this is an excellent machine. |
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