ARTICLES
Bread Machine Conversions
HOME
Go direct to
RECIPE INDEX
Bread
Bread Machine
Quick Bread
Biscuits
Muffins
Specialty Bread
Pancakes
Mixes
Cheat & Treat
Baking for Diabetics?
Are you looking for a way to cut down on carbs and still bake?
We have 2 diabetics in the family and I've been looking for anything
to help! I just recently found this:
Carbquik
We'll be able to have pancakes again!
I can't wait! And... they also have a low-carb flour!
|
BREAD MACHINES
Struggling thru the Bread Machine Jungle - How to choose which
one is right for YOU!
Bread Machines are great gadgets and make a wonderful addition to
the stable of appliances in any kitchen, but how do you ever figure
out which one is right for YOU? Since they can represent a fairly
large investment in money AND space, you will want to carefully
consider your options!
Some points to consider...
What a Bread Machine will do:
A Bread Machine will take the ingredients put into it and mix them,
allow the dough to rise and then bake it in under 3 hours or less!
(The West Bend 41077 *Just for Dinner Bread Machine * produces a small
loaf - 3-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches and 4-1/2 inches tall - in just
45 minutes. Yowser!)
Depending
on the recipe, all you have to do is add the ingredients and push
the *GO* button.
Some Bread Machines have a *Delay Start* feature which allows you to
load the ingredients when convenient, then delay the start of the
bread-making process. However, keep in mind that certain ingredients
such as milk, eggs, or other perishables should NEVER be used with
the delay start feature. The reality is that *Delay Start* will be
an appropriate option for some recipes but not for others!
What a Bread Machine will not do:
A Bread Machine will not remove the bread after baking. Some Bread
Machines do have a "keep warm" or "cool down" cycle to keep the hot
loaf from getting soggy, but not all of them do.
How does a Bread Machine work?
A Bread Machine is a large metal box that contains a pan or pans in
the mixing/rising/baking compartment. The pans may be removable, or
may remain in the machine at all times.
The different settings, times, and temperatures are implemented with
the control panel on the outside of the machine.
The control panel should be easy to use and understand. Often, just
a few buttons are needed to set the cycle, crust color, delay start,
and turn the machine on. Look for a control panel that is easy to
read, easy to clean, and conveniently located.
There is a stirring blade that comes up thru the bottom of the pan
which must be removed from the loaf after the bread has baked. The
stirring blade leaves a distinctive hole in the bottom of the loaf.
The machine sets the proper temperatures to raise the dough and bake
the bread. It is your job to measure the ingredients into the bread
pan, select the appropriate cycle, and remove the bread when baking
is complete.
Loaf Shapes:
Bread Machine loaves vary in size and shape depending on the style
and brand.
Some machines produce a tall cylindrical loaf with a rounded top, others
make a more traditional shaped loaf. Loaves can also be round,
square, or rectangular.
Machines are classified by the size of the loaf:1, 1.5, or 2 pounds.
The weight refers to the weight of thebaked loaf/loaves although
this will vary depending on type of bread and the ingredients used.
Larger loaves may use as many as four cups of flour, while the smallest
loaves require only about two cups.. It is possible to make a
smaller loaf in a large machine but the results will not be optimal.
Convenience Factors:
Clean up is easier in a machine with a removable bread pan. This reduces the
amount of
crumbs and flour that can fall into the machine. Some machines have a slide-out tray in the bottom of the unit
which aids
cleaning. To quote Martha, *This is a GOOD thing!*
For all machines, you DO need to remember to put the stirring blade
in BEFORE loading the ingredients or you will have to dump them and
start over. (Ask me how I know this!)
One of the important keys to successful Bread Machine baking is to
load the ingredients in the proper order, as listed in the Bread
Machine Manual.
Bread Machine Baking Cycles:
The available Baking Cycle options are important issues when
choosing a machine. The rising time, temperature, and baking time
vary depending on the type of bread being made.
You need to be sure that the machine you choose has baking cycles
for the types of bread you will want to make. This is a
non-negotiable deal. If your machine doesn't have the right cycle,
you won't be able to bake that type of bread successfully.
Here are some of the Baking Cycle options which may be available:
* Basic - appropriate for most white or rye breads
* Rapid rise - appropriate for rapid rise yeasts
* 100 percent whole wheat - necessary
for whole grain flours which require a longer knead cycle
* Crisp or Italian or French - results in a crisp crust and light texture
[This is my personal favorite!]
* Variety or sweet bread - a beep or signal will indicate the
appropriate time to add fruits, nuts, cheese, etc.
* Dough - prepares the dough for hand shaping and baking in an
oven
* Quick bread - for non-yeast recipes
* Cake and jam - for making cakes and jam
Some machines will offer a self-programming feature which allows
you to adjust the machine to adapt to your own recipes. This way you
can experiment with recipes not developed for bread machines. This
feature is generally found on higher-priced machines.
Additional Materials:
The machine manual and the recipe book for any machine are extremely helpful, and
should be referred to as needed. If possible, read the use
and care manual before you make your purchase. Look at the
cookbook for a good overview of the types of breads that model can
make. It is a
good idea to begin with the recipes provided for your
machine before moving on to other recipes and cookbooks.
|
|
