The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Food processing => Topic started by: waddy on July 25, 2013, 06:56:00 pm
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My breadmaker has gone kaput. It doesn't owe me anything - I had it for years and it was second hand even then. Anyone got any recommendations for a new one?
Helen
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The Panasonic SD range. We've got the older version of this one:
http://amzn.to/12mMMli (http://amzn.to/12mMMli)
and it's great, used almost daily and we've had excellent results from all the recipes.
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Panasonic +1
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Cheers guys! looks like Panasonic.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Helen
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Yep, definitely the Panasonic
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Ooh - I'm fashionable today - mine's a Panasonic too :thumbsup: and when it eventually follows yours to breadmaker heaven I will get another one.
Years ago I had a Hinari (called Henry) which only lasted a year or so before it got a hole in its bucket ::) ;D
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We have an old Panasonic we got from freecycle, use it every day. Its great!
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I was bought a Panasonic for xmas, the one with the raisin and nut dispenser and it has been brill! I have used it for so many different things, it's amazing!
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Yes, I love my Panasonic too. I do rather wish I had sprung for the slightly more expensive one with a dispenser that adds in extra ingredients automatically though!
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I use my hands :innocent:
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Another vote for Panasonic from here - we're on our second and have had one for at least 13 years.
Wouldn't be without it - getting up in the morning to the glorious smell of fresh baked bread is heaven. Great fresh bread for breakfast - nothing like it.
We make all sorts of dough recipes - from rolls, french sticks, pitta, naan, focaccia (I think that's how it's spelt) - all come out great, and the loaves are brilliant.
Sue
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I use my hands :innocent:
:thumbsup: I did too for many many years until my offspring finally left home. Now if I were to make a batch of bread by hand it would last so long for the two of us that the loaves could be used as bricks. I know I could freeze some loaves, but I so love the smell of the fresh bread in the mornings that I now actually prefer bread from the bread maker. Also I don't have anywhere warm enough to set the dough to rise in this house. I still make pizza dough by hand.
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:thumbsup: I did too for many many years until my offspring finally left home. Now if I were to make a batch of bread by hand it would last so long for the two of us that the loaves could be used as bricks. I know I could freeze some loaves, but I so love the smell of the fresh bread in the mornings that I now actually prefer bread from the bread maker. Also I don't have anywhere warm enough to set the dough to rise in this house. I still make pizza dough by hand.
Fleecewife, I have been making a ring loaf i.e. a loaf with a hole in the middle. I put the mix into the bread machine in the evening so that it gets its first rising and then make the shape I want on a baking tray . I put a small greased bowl in the middle to keep the ring shape, cover the lot with cling film and then put in the fridge overnight. It obviously rises more slowly in the fridge but by the morning is ready for the oven. So what I am trying to say is, if you are patient you can do it in a colder place
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We have a Panasonic SD 255. Brilliant!
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Panasonic here too!! I have 2 machines.......and 2 growing young men...it doesn't last long around here lol so I bake in duplicate... :thumbsup:
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I don't make enough bread!!!.... and the yeast doesn't have a very long shelf life - certainly doesn't seem to last as long as the sell by date so when loaves start failing to rise I usually but a new box.
I noticed that our local Co-op was selling sachets individually which might help.
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I replaced a broken Morphy richards with a Panasonic after rave reviews from friends and...it lives up to all expectations! cost a little more (ok a lot more) but is fantastic :thumbsup:
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Really good strong flour is one of the most important things to get bread maker bread to rise well.
We've found Waitrose's Strong Canadian flour the best and have to stock up when near a Waitrose. Any other flour recommendations for bread makers?
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Another vote for panasonic :thumbsup:
Don't make bread very often but don't use old flour that you've had in the cupboard for ages it loses its oomph!
Mandy :pig:
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I have ordered a Panasonic SD-2501 with the dispenser. With all the recommendations it was an easy decision. Cheers guys! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Helen
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We've found Waitrose's Strong Canadian flour the best and have to stock up when near a Waitrose. Any other flour recommendations for bread makers?
We've been using Aberfeldy Oatmeal's Granary Flour, it's lovely 50/50 with wholemeal or as a 100% granary loaf:
http://www.aberfeldyoatmeal.co.uk/biscuits.html (http://www.aberfeldyoatmeal.co.uk/biscuits.html)
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I have ordered a Panasonic SD-2501 with the dispenser. With all the recommendations it was an easy decision. Cheers guys! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Helen
Great stuff! Have fun. ;D
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I don't make enough bread!!!.... and the yeast doesn't have a very long shelf life - certainly doesn't seem to last as long as the sell by date so when loaves start failing to rise I usually but a new box.
Really? What make is it? I've had an open packet of Dove's Farm for at least two years beyond its bbd, and it's still working perfectly fine. Or at least it was last time I used it, a few months ago. You can keep it in the fridge to prolong shelf life, too.
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Don't use Hovis flour!!!
We find flour quality very variable (except Waitrose Canadian).
See the blog below for a very detailed report on Hovis issues and panasonic breadmakers
http://thechiefexecutive.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/panasonic-bread-machine-bread-not.html (http://thechiefexecutive.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/panasonic-bread-machine-bread-not.html)
Adding Lemon juice is supposed to help!
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Ooh that happened to me too! Can't remember if it was Hovis but it was definitely granary flour. The rest of it is still sitting there so I will try the lemon juice trick with it soon. :thumbsup:
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Henchard, thats an interesting link, thanks
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I use Vitamin C powder which will have the same effect as lemon juice but doesn't mess up the liquid amounts.
I have modified the Panasonic recipes a bit to make them 'healthier'. I have reduced the salt to just half a level teaspoon in the largest size of loaf (21oz flour), and sugar to one level teaspoon. This makes no difference whatsoever to the rising of the dough, and we don't like salty things so we don't notice any problem with the taste.
I play around with the flour I use. At the moment for a 21oz loaf, I use 14oz Marriages wholemeal flour plus 7oz of Wessex Mill 6 grain flour, which looks brown but acts like white. If I don't want the seedy bits then the 7oz would be a strong white - usually Allinson's or Doves Farm, but I find with white flour the make is less important. I also add extra seeds sometimes - sesame seeds which give a nice nutty, crispy top, plus blue poppy seeds, linseed, sunflowers, pumpkin seeds or anything else that takes my fancy.
I mix up all the dry ingredients together before I put them in the bucket, as this seems to make for a more even loaf.
I never use fat direct from the fridge as it tends to make the top go flat. I use Bertolli olive oil spread at room temp.
I never make all white loaves and I no longer make 100% wholemeal loaves as my OH has problems with them.
I use mainly Allinson's yeast in a tin, or Doves Farm in a small box (which I decant into an empty tin), but some times before I get to the bottom of the tin I have noticed the yeast isn't working so well, so I ditch that batch and buy fresh. I make bread every second day, so the yeast certainly isn't ancient before it starts to become less effective.
I don't use the packets as I adjust the amount of yeast I use according to the flour and whether I'm using a quick bake setting or a long one. Some packet yeast already contains Vit C powder.
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I LOVE my new Panasonic breadmaker! I made a lovely fluffy loaf yesterday (the flour was probably about a year or more old - Allinsons seeded mixed with white) and I am going to try the brioche recipe today. Thanks once again for the recommendations. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Helen
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Glad we were able to help. We really need a taste test though ;D