The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

always dense and dry

Doughead's picture
Doughead

always dense and dry

hi brand new prob been asked before but have a couple of quests at once so all the help I can get

ok so if tried dif types flour, dif water temps, oil /no oil, butter room temp and cold, 1/2 butter/oil, half butter/marge,dif yeast types both room/cold temp and dry milk/no dry milk

water,sugar,salt,flour,dry milk,duvet on top for yeast and tried water yeast (desolve /not desolve) salt sugar butter dry milk

so any ideas suggs so far?

then if I want to take out for room rise and oven bake not sure after what cycle is best tried all and even after add INS and/or take out paddle also just used dough cycle?

any all ideas? just give me your best simple recipe for a single loaf and I'll try them all I'm not going to give up on this!

also fruit/cinnamon recipes and when to add them and to make rolls from the dough

I was just going to give up and buy a new one a flat one with 2 pallet mixers, is it worth it? 300+$ but I don't have the dough...get it? sorry!! I knead help, sorry THANKS PRETHANKS

pmccool's picture
pmccool

What bread machine are you using (make and model)?

What recipe (specific ingredients and quantities)?

Dense and dry can have multiple causes, so help us with some basic info that will make it easier to diagnose the problem.

Paul

Doughead's picture
Doughead

hey thanks I had no idea ok it's a Cuisinart model # I'll get back to you on that stainless steel about 10 years old

like I said I tried all dif kinds and ways flours and order of ingredients with dry yeast last on top to added to warm water and letting it ferment about 10 minutes so not sure what to tell next how about this you send me your recipe for a white 1lb loaf bake in the machine and I'll let you know what happens would that be ok? do you have a better idea or more questions thanks

pmccool's picture
pmccool

be sure to include the recipe information that was requested.  Knowing that you've tried a lot of different things doesn't get us any closer to understanding what might be going on.  If you provide a specific recipe that you've worked with and that you would like to have turn out well, then we can begin to figure out what might need to be adjusted.

Be sure to include all of the ingredients for the recipe and their quantities.  Also describe each step of the process, in the order that the steps are supposed to occur.  Tip: a recipe that is specifically designed for your machine is the best starting point.

A bread machine certainly simplifies bread-making.  However, it still requires the user to do specific things in a specific order, using specific materials.  Improvisation in bread-making, as in music, requires a deep understanding of the instrument and the material.

So, I'll refrain from providing another recipe because that would only add another layer of randomness.  In the meantime, you can provide us with the information that, right now, only you possess.  Then we can start helping with a diagnosis and suggestions.

Paul

mariana's picture
mariana

Hi! 

I don't have a Cuisinart bread machine and we do not even know which model you have anyways, but when I got my bread machine, it was Zojirushi Virtuoso with two paddles, my very first loaf was so bad, I thought it would be my last. It was dense and dry indeed. That poor thing even looked ugly! It was not my fault, I followed the recipe that came with that bread machine to a t. I understand you!

I was using recipes that came with the bread machine and every one of them was a struggle. Each recipe required 2-4 test bakes until I got a perfect loaf out of it. Moist, tender, fragrant and delicious and with a great crust and a picture perfect looks. Other experienced bakers that I know needed up to 8 test bakes to fine tune a recipe.

For me, the problem was that my flour is so dry, it needs more water than in the recipe. Once I add enough water, it's good, but then I need to adjust the amount of salt or else the bread tastes too watery, and more yeast to lift that increased mass of properly salted dough on schedule. But then the loaf becomes too big and pushes the bread machine cover and i need to scale everything down. Then it's a perfect loaf. 

So, without knowing whether your flour is appropriate for bread machine baking and your model and the size of its bucket we cannot recommend you a recipe. But we will help you, one recipe at a time, to do a few test bakes and discuss adjustments as you give us your feedback, until you achieve a perfect loaf.

Bread machines bake great bread, you will be happy, I am sure.