Bread machines

if anyone can believe it, I use a bread machine from time to time.  I like to use it to mix dog biscuits and will even bake a loaf of bread if I want to have bread with a really rough texture for things like "filling" (stuffing or dressing to those of you who aren't PA Dutch.)  I would never use the thing for baking any bread that would be eaten just as bread - but I'm picky about the whole "good bread or nothing" thing.

Now here comes me sounding like a commercial, but when I was in Okinawa my sole peice of cooking equipment was often a Zojirushi hot pot.  You would not think it, but the thing was just a joy to use.  Something so simple and utilitarian, but so perfectly designed that I probably got somewhat excessive joy from using it.

Sort of the Japanese way - one perfect thing instead of a lot of junkie things.

Anyway, having returned to the USA, I've indulged my nesting urge by buying - you guessed it - a Zojirushi hot pot.  I love it.  It comes with an eye popping price, to be sure, but I still get the same kick out of how perfectly designed it is.

Winding along to my point - if I saw a use for a bread machine as a means to bake bread (not just to mix dough) - I would take a serious look at the Zojirushi bread machines.  Be prepared for eye popping prices, but even the King  Arthur test bakers use these machines.  They will be the best you can buy...

Really, I don't work for Zojirushi - I am the kind of person who spends a lot of time working and I enjoy coming home to beautiful tools (so I can work some more - that ain't right...)

Hope this helps.

Hi There Justine

Knowing what I now know I would not buy a bread machine again.........There is nothing wrong with them, its just that as I have learnt more about bread making i now use my bread machine as a kneading machine only. I then take the dough out to proof and prepare it accordingly for the style  I am making. Other than that we had some very good loaves of bread over the years and our machine is 10 years old.

There is something that I like about the final preparation before baking that I really enjoy.....in future I will invest in a mix master that will knead. There are a lot of others on this site that still use their hand and elbow grease for the kneading and it still is the best way for the purist at heart. I guess it all gets back to where your heart and time is in your bread hobbies.

But if time is short for you a good bread machine is a great asset to have. Please share you ciabatta recipe. We are always interested. I can never get my ciabatta to give me good hollow pockets that ciabatta is known for. I have tried a number of variations including Jason's quick ciabatta. All I ever get is great flavoured bread with a light sandwich style crumb. An occassional pocket does show up in the each loaf but not enough to say it is a true looking ciabatta. Maybe it's my bread machine mixing the starter.............I just don't know. So please post your recipe...I'd love to give it a go.

Good bread machining to you...............Pete

i use my bread machine to mix the dough on the dough cycle. i had a major distal radius fracture of my right wrist last year that resulted in 3 surgeries. it is still difficult to knead bread manually.

after the bread is kneaded on the dough cycle. i follow the rest of the instructions for proofing & baking manually and bake my bread in the oven.  i've had great results doing this.

claudia

Hi Justin,

Go into search mode on this TFL site and just type in Jason's quick Ciabatta. It seems to raise it's head every few weeks.

Cheers for now..............Pete