Which Bread Machine Do You Use Or Recommend

[ElsieD]

  On 1/5/2024 at 10:43 PM, TdeV said:

 

No, but I haven't tried. I just make bread with paddles in it. 😝

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Have you contacted the manufacturer?  

[TdeV]

@ElsieD. I did call Zojirushi, but it was some time ago. It wasn't a satisfactory exchange. I could ship the whole machine to them for repair/replacement of parts. Seems expensive AND I would be without a bread machine for a while. Haven't felt sufficiently motivated.

[ElsieD]

  On 1/5/2024 at 11:11 PM, TdeV said:

@ElsieD. I did call Zojirushi, but it was some time ago. It wasn't a satisfactory exchange. I could ship the whole machine to them for repair/replacement of parts. Seems expensive AND I would be without a bread machine for a while. Haven't felt sufficiently motivated.

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That's sad.  I thought they were better than that.

[lemniscate]

For what it's worth, I had a Zo breadmaker from the 20th century that had the same problem, cemented in paddle.   I just gave up and lived with it.   Eventually the motor started squealing (10+ years old) and I retired the thing.

 

I remember @andiesenji said she would remove the paddle after the kneading process and before the rise/bake process to eliminate the paddle getting cooked in on her unit.

 

Gravity  may work.

Mary Poppins magic method.

Edited January 6, 2024 by lemniscate
-d (log)

[Maison Rustique]

  On 1/6/2024 at 3:12 PM, lemniscate said:

For what it's worth, I had a Zo breadmaker from the 20th century that had the same problem, cemented in paddle.   I just gave up and lived with it.   Eventually the motor started squealing (10+ years old) and I retired the thing.

 

I remember @andiesenji said she would remove the paddle after the kneading process and before the rise/bake process to eliminate the paddle getting cooked in on her unit.

 

Gravity  may work.

Mary Poppins magic method.

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I always take it out of my Breadman before baking, too. I never thought about the paddle getting stuck on, I just don't like a big hole in the bottom of the loaf.

[palo]

Anyone have any comments or experience with the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker

 

p

[lindag]

I know that every test site (including ATK) recommends the Zo.

I have my own and it is the best.  

The Breville had a couple of flaws, the collapsible paddle didn't always work and the bred pan was difficult to remove.

Get the Zo!

[JeanneCake]

My son is asking for a bread machine for Christmas and based on this thread, I'm planning  to buy a Zo, and will probably get the larger model (because I'm of the opinion: go big or go home).  This paddle thing that has plagued @TdeV makes me wonder - is that an isolated issue or something the rest of you with Zo bread machines also experience?  I'm hoping the machines will be part of the Black Friday sales frenzy somewhere!

[lindag]

The Zo is definitely your best choice.  I have one and they'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

[TdeV]

  On 11/28/2024 at 4:52 PM, lindag said:

The Zo is definitely your best choice.  I have one and they'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

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I agree with Linda!

 

I have a Zo model BB-PAC 20 which makes a 2 lb loaf of bread. Homemade bread is incredibly tasty, so don't worry about making a large loaf. I have a contractor who promises to come and work for me again because he still remembers that fresh bread I fed him a couple years ago! My DH doesn't really like bread, and generally eats only one sandwich out of the loaf. I eat the bread fresh for 2-3 days, then toast it. Since it has no preservatives, it will go blue in about 6-7 days.

 

Note that one can make a small loaf of bread in a 2 lb machine. I would only buy a 1 lb machine if in a very small apartment, ha ha.

 

Mine was purchased 10 or 12 years ago, so there are upgrades to the type of flour choices on the menu.  Check Zojirushi's site here.

 

I still have stuck on paddles. If my machine broke, I would buy another Zojirushi.

 

Having bad hands, I use my bread machine to make every bread loaf (regardless of what the recipe says), as well as pizza dough and pasta.

 

An added bonus might be to include a book on what to do with the bread, like Every Last Crumb: From fresh loaf to final crust, recipes to make the most of your bread by James Ramsden (eG-friendly Amazon.com link).

 

I would be happy to send you my very favourite bread recipe which is Bread Machine Pain de Mie (modified from Linda West Eckhardt & Diana Collingwood Butts). Also I have a superb pizza dough recipe (from Eckhardt & Butts, also modified by Pete-zza from https://www.pizzamaking.com ) which makes 2 balls which age in the fridge from 3 days to 10.

 

 

[lindag]

  On 11/28/2024 at 6:02 PM, TdeV said:

 

I agree with Linda!

 

I have a Zo model BB-PAC 20 which makes a 2 lb loaf of bread. Homemade bread is incredibly tasty, so don't worry about making a large loaf. I have a contractor who promises to come and work for me again because he still remembers that fresh bread I fed him a couple years ago! My DH doesn't really like bread, and generally eats only one sandwich out of the loaf. I eat the bread fresh for 2-3 days, then toast it. Since it has no preservatives, it will go blue in about 6-7 days.

 

Note that one can make a small loaf of bread in a 2 lb machine. I would only buy a 1 lb machine if in a very small apartment, ha ha.

 

Mine was purchased 10 or 12 years ago, so there are upgrades to the type of flour choices on the menu.  Check Zojirushi's site here.

 

I still have stuck on paddles. If my machine broke, I would buy another Zojirushi.

 

Having bad hands, I use my bread machine to make every bread loaf (regardless of what the recipe says), as well as pizza dough and pasta.

 

An added bonus might be to include a book on what to do with the bread, like Every Last Crumb: From fresh loaf to final crust, recipes to make the most of your bread by James Ramsden (eG-friendly Amazon.com link).

 

I would be happy to send you my very favourite bread recipe which is Bread Machine Pain de Mie (modified from Linda West Eckhardt & Diana Collingwood Butts). Also I have a superb pizza dough recipe (from Eckhardt & Butts, also modified by Pete-zza from https://www.pizzamaking.com ) which makes 2 balls which age in the fridge from 3 days to 10.

 

 

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Please!!!  I'd love to see your recipe.

[rotuts]

I had the cheapest BM available , for years and years .  about 60 USD.

 

worked fine .

 

the issues w them are   1 ) the paddles sticking , either in the loaf , or eventually in the pan.

 

 a drop of oil in the paddle helped a lot.   thus Id recumbent a single paddle unit .  but Ive never tried

 

the two paddle versions.  a tall loaf tastes the same as a traditional loaf Id guess .

 

2 )  if you are not careful w that pan , i.e. the non-stick coating  , you eventually need a new pan.

 

but the bread that comes out , using flours of your choice , and a combo of flours 

 

makes vary tasty bread.

 

Zo has a single paddle unit , that is tall , thus taking up less counter space.   

[TdeV]

  On 11/28/2024 at 6:21 PM, lindag said:

I'd love to see your recipe.

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Sent. Originally written as notes to myself. Let me know if it's not clear and I'll modify it a little. 😜

[JeanneCake]

Sold!  I just told my husband about my (our) gift to the kid, and he's all excited LOL.  The book is a great idea, thank you!  And yes,  I'd love to have your recipe.  I'm certain I'm going to get the BDC20.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

  On 11/28/2024 at 4:42 PM, JeanneCake said:

My son is asking for a bread machine for Christmas and based on this thread, I'm planning  to buy a Zo, and will probably get the larger model (because I'm of the opinion: go big or go home).  This paddle thing that has plagued @TdeV makes me wonder - is that an isolated issue or something the rest of you with Zo bread machines also experience?  I'm hoping the machines will be part of the Black Friday sales frenzy somewhere!

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I have an old Zojirushi bread machine.  I never baked in it, but I used the machine for mixing dough.  I had a real problem maintaining dough temperature.  For years, literally, I believed this was due to heat of friction.  It turns out the wretched machine was powering the heating coil while the dough was mixing -- with no way to turn off the heat!  For this reason, as much as I like Zojirushi rice makers, I would never recommend their bread machines.

 

[TdeV]

An aside perhaps @JeanneCake .  At the grocery store, instant yeast is couple dollars for a little foil packet. You can buy a little jar of 3 or 4 ounces for $12. Or you can buy a pound from King Arthur for $10. One pound lasts me a year and I keep it in the freezer in one of these.

[TdeV]

Curious, @JoNorvelleWalker. Perhaps their engineers fixed it?

 

I find the bread machine makes a perfect loaf, nearly every time. Operator error is no doubt responsible for those few anomalies (of mine).

[rotuts]

I also keep the 1 lbs units of yeast in the freezer.

 

I use a repurposed mayonnaise jar.  I fold over clean produce plastic bags 

 

over the jar , to create an air tight lid.

 

works fine.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

  On 11/28/2024 at 10:00 PM, TdeV said:

Curious, @JoNorvelleWalker. Perhaps their engineers fixed it?

 

I find the bread machine makes a perfect loaf, nearly every time. Operator error is no doubt responsible for those few anomalies (of mine).

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Quite possibly the new machines are more versatile.

 

 

[ElsieD]

  On 11/28/2024 at 9:56 PM, TdeV said:

An aside perhaps @JeanneCake .  At the grocery store, instant yeast is couple dollars for a little foil packet. You can buy a little jar of 3 or 4 ounces for $12. Or you can buy a pound from King Arthur for $10. One pound lasts me a year and I keep it in the freezer in one of these.

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You have room in your freezer?

[TdeV]

Just barely, @ElsieD.

[lindag]

I keep mine the same way.