Bread makng machines
Bread makers may take the fun out of bread making, but if you enjoy home-made bread on a daily basis, they make it an incredibly easy process. All you need to do is add the correct ingredients, press the right buttons and a few hours later you’ll have a loaf of bread.
Many bread makers have a timer switch, so that you can programme your bread to be ready for when you get up in the morning. Most machines will turn themselves off automatically once the bread is done so you don’t need to worry about the safety of leaving the machine on all night. Almost all bread makers will make a variety of different types and sizes of loaves. It is important to understand the function of each control on your machine before starting to make a loaf of bread. Each feature may vary slightly between different machines, but they all work in a similar manner. It is always best to follow the manufacturers’ instructions but here are some of our top tips.
· We recommend using fast acting or dry yeast in a bread maker rather than fresh yeast.
· Although you do not need to add any fat to your bread making recipe, adding room temperature butter can help to improve the texture of the bread, making it softer.
· Do not use hot water in your machine as it will cause the yeast to activate too quickly. Likewise don’t use cold water as the yeast will not activate. The water needs to be tepid.
· Either put your yeast in first and water in last or do it the other way round. The yeast is activated in liquid so you don’t want the two to mix until you are ready to start the machine. It is also best to seperate the addition of salt from yeast.
· Many breadmaker recipes include milk powder and sugar. Whilst these can be included, they are not normally necessary.
· Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with your breadmaker. You can easily make a loaf shaped cake in most, or even jam in some of them!
