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Bread makers have been around for more than 30 years. With all of the technological advancements, bread makers are now very easy to use and are a great way to make your own fresh bread in the comfort of your home. This article share how bread maker works, the buying guide and how to use it!
What is a bread maker?
A bread maker is a kitchen appliance that mixes ingredients, kneads the dough and bakes it. Bread makers are an ideal way to make fresh bread with few or no preservatives added in their process.
How does it work?
The bread maker has three main parts: the mixing/kneading arm, the pan and the lid. The ingredients are mixed in a bowl or on an extra-large hook that is attached to the end of this arm. This arm then transfers it into a preheated pan at the base of the machine. As soon as these ingredients have been combined together, they will be passed through an opening to create a dough that goes round and round until it forms up like a ball before being placed onto a wire rack.
What can you make with one?
You can use a bread maker to make various types such as white wheat loaves, French baguettes, ciabatta loaves, brown rice flour breads (gluten-free) and rye breads.
How long does it take?
It takes about an hour to make a loaf of bread in this machine, though the time can vary depending on what type you are making. The longer the dough is allowed to rise before baking, then the lighter that final product will be. What’s more, if you want to speed up the rising process, use warm water or place your oven on its lowest setting for ten minutes prior to starting your recipe!
What do you need?
You will need all ingredients, including flour (white wheat or brown rice), salt, butter (softened), sugar, eggs and yeast. And with either dry milk powder added in for some types of bread such as sourdough, two tablespoons of olive oil or melted butter for coating the baking pan.
How do you use it?
The steps to making bread in a bread maker are as follows:
- Measure flour, salt and sugar into your mixing bowl (or you might need an extra-large hook attached to the end of the arm)
- Add eggs, yeast (if using), milk powder and water
- Attach dough hooks at either side of your machine’s base; then place them onto dough pins after they have been threaded through one another so that both ends come out together like two knitting needles
- Pour over softened butter/olive oil/melted butter mixture before turning on the machine and choosing desired settings such as how long you want it to knead and rise for and what type of bread you want to bake
- Once the machine has finished kneading, it will then let out a beep before depositing dough onto a wire rack
Bread makers come in all shapes and sizes, so how to choose the best one?
It is likely that you have seen advertisements for breadmakers on TV or read online articles about them. But which models should you buy? Here are some tips for choosing a good bread maker:
What size?
The best units are usually between two and three quarts. Larger models are more expensive, but they’re also capable of producing larger loaves if that’s what you want (think about how many slices you’ll need). If it has space for customized baking preferences like loaf size, crust colour, or even preprogramming options, the price will also go up. But this one doesn’t matter so much because we’re still under RM500! We suppose if you don’t care about any of those, then the cheapest bread maker will do.
What features?
A timer is a nice addition, as it can automatically switch off your machine when the dough is ready-saving you from needing to wait around for hours on end before removing your dough. If you’re looking for more of a variety in cooking options than just “bake,” try one with an automatic ingredient dispenser that lets you easily add extra ingredients like raisins or pumpkin puree by hand. Another feature worth considering is whether the unit has kneading blades because some models have these and others don’t, but they make sure all those yummy grains are properly mixed together!
Where should I buy my bread maker?
You might want to consider where it was made because the quality can vary depending on its production. So, for example, European brands will have higher-quality parts, and Japanese ones are known to last a lot longer than others.
What is my budget?
The best bread makers under RM500 offer enough features that you might not want or need anything more expensive! With these models, you’ll get all of your basic needs like kneading blades, different settings for crust colour, as well as loaf size – everything needed to make delicious bread at home without needing any fancy add-ons. If desired, you can buy one with an automatic ingredient dispenser, too, so finding something less than RM500 shouldn’t be hard now that we’ve given some tips about what to look out for!
Conclusion
It’s never been easier to make your own bread than with the help of a modern-day bread maker. Whether you’re looking for basic recipes or something more advanced, there are plenty out there to choose from. The best part about owning a bread maker is that it can be used as often as you want and doesn’t take up any space in your kitchen!
Related Read: Common mistaken using your bread maker