Bread makers can undeniably bring convenience to people’s kitchens. They work as a mixer and an oven in one, so you no longer have to do anything other than preparing your bread’s ingredients. But are bread makers worth it?
A bread maker will be ideal if you are a beginner or don’t have much time for baking. The fact that all you have to do is add the ingredients and press a button, makes it a great appliance in the kitchen if you eat a lot of bread.
Are Bread Makers Worth It? Things To Know Before Buying
As bread makers continue to rise in popularity, there are things you need to know before deciding to purchase one.
- Bread machines are ideal for beginner bakers
- Many bread makers, many features
- Bread makers produce different results
- Bread makers are convenient
- Bread makers are not foolproof
- Bread makers are space-consuming
This article will provide unbiased facts about bread makers. We will provide both the benefits and disadvantages of having this appliance to help you decide whether or not you should purchase one.
Fact #1. Bread Machines Are Ideal For Beginner Bakers
Baking requires precision. And when you are still starting to learn this craft, it is easy to mess up the dough-making process. Such is especially true when it comes to proofing the dough.
With a bread maker, you no longer have to worry about over-kneading, under-, or over-proofing your dough. All you need to do is measure the bread’s ingredients. The bread maker will handle the remaining process, from kneading and rising to proofing and baking.
If you are a beginner in baking, getting a bread maker is ideal as it allows you to test bread recipes without making messes.
How A Bread Maker Works
A bread maker has a removable kneading paddle that mixes the ingredients you put inside the machine’s pan. Once the dough forms, the paddle will knead it depending on what type of bread you programmed the machine to make.
The rising process comes next after kneading. The machine will stop working, allowing your dough to rest and rise. The second kneading and proofing stages will begin once the dough has risen.
Baking is the final step in a bread machine’s bread-making process. The machine’s oven will automatically turn on, turning your bread into a golden loaf of deliciousness.
Fact #2. Many bread makers, many features
When the first bread maker came out around the mid-80ties it had limited features. Today it’s different story.
Modern bread makers are packed with features like alarms, delayed start, rapid mode, yeast dispenser, crust color, etc.
So, let’s have a look at some of the features today’s bread makers might have or is nice to have.
Non-Stick
Non-stick bread makers are what they sound like – bread makers that come with non-stick pans. It is difficult to remove a loaf of bread from its pan in one piece, as the crust always sticks on the sides of the pan. If your bread maker comes with a non-stick pan, the bread will slip out with no hassle right when you are ready to slice it.
Delayed Start
If you like preparing your dough ahead of time, you will benefit from having the feature “delayed start”. This allows you to combine all the ingredients hours before baking. After combining the ingredients, you can set the time you want the machine to start mixing and kneading your dough.
For instance, you can combine the bread’s ingredients at night and set the machine to finish baking during breakfast.
Alarm or Shut-Off Equipped
One benefit of using a bread maker is that you can put all the ingredients in and forget about it. The machine will do all the work for you.
But what happens when the bread is finished? Well, here you want to have one of two features.
The alarm feature will alert you when the bread is done. You can then turn the machine off and remove your bread to make sure you don’t overbake it.
But the shut-off function is even better. This will automatically turn off the machine when the bread is finished, which mean you can leave the house while the bread is baking and you will come home to a golden brown freshly baked bread.
Programmable
With modern bread makers, you can set the temperature and time to bake your bread. You can also program the machine if there are ingredients that you want to add to your bread after it has risen. This way, you can make different types of bread rather than just a simple loaf.
Fact #3. Bread Makers Produce Different Results
Not all loaves of bread are created equal when it comes to bread makers. Even if you use the same measurements of ingredients and machine settings, there will always be a slight difference in the bread loaves you make. However, the difference between each bread made is negligible. So you can still enjoy your fresh bread every morning if you are not very particular about the slightly varying taste.
It is also important to note that bread made by these machines will never taste like handmade bread. For instance, bread maker loaves are denser than handmade and oven-baked bread because they have less room to rise. The latter also has a more developed crust and chewier crumb.
We highly recommend getting a bread maker if you can ignore the differences between the bread it makes from handmade bread.
Fact #4. Bread Makers Are Convenient
It is undeniable that bread makers are convenient. It handles almost all the baking process except the ingredient measurement. It also saves you time and effort as you no longer need to knead the dough by hand, rest, and proof it. Your countertop will remain clean because you no longer have to sprinkle flour on top of it.
For these reasons, having a bread maker means easy baking and cleaning. Even the pans that come with bread makers are easy to clean as long as they are non-stick.
Additionally, bread makers save you a lot of time. Using this machine, you no longer have to fuss with keeping an eye on your dough. Instead, you can toss all the ingredients in the bread maker, adjust its settings, and do your other tasks while your bread bakes on its own.
Get a bread maker if you are a person who wants to wake up with the smell of freshly baked bread.
Who Should Get A Bread Maker?
- For people who cannot bake – using a bread maker is all about measuring and mixing ingredients. So, even when you cannot bake, you can easily make a good loaf of bread.
- Bakers with no time – so you love baking but do not have the time to make bread in the morning. In this case, a bread maker will allow you to enjoy fresh bread every morning without sacrificing your precious time. With a bread maker, you can pre-mix the ingredients and set your bread to bake any time you want.
Fact #5. Bread Makers Are Not Foolproof (Plus They Are Noisy)
Similar to baking bread by hand, bread makers are not foolproof. It does not matter if you programmed your machine the way you always do. You can still face a hiccup when using a bread maker, although there is less room for error. Still, making bread using a machine is significantly easier than making bread by hand.
One problem you may face when using a bread maker is the bread sticking in the pan, even if it is non-stick. Your bread may also cave in, not rise enough, or become underbaked even if you added the ingredients correctly.
In addition, bread makers are noisy. While the noise level varies from model to model, the motor inside them will inevitably cause noises and vibrations. Such is especially true during the kneading process.
However, it is essential not to let these hiccups stop you. Getting a bread maker is ideal if machine noises do not bother you.
Is A Bread Maker For Everyone?
A bread maker may not suit everyone, regardless of how convenient it is. This machine may not be for you if
- You want your bread to be perfect – as mentioned, loaves made using a bread maker are different from handmade and store-bought bread. If you want your bread to have the perfect crust, lightness, and crumb, a bread maker may not work out well for you.
- You are into artisan bread – bread makers can only make regular bread and cakes. So, a bread maker is not ideal if you love making artisan bread like sourdough and ciabatta.
Fact #6. Bread Makers Are Space-Consuming
One of the most important things to know when buying a kitchen appliance is how much space it will take. For this reason, it is worth noting that bread makers are bulky. Of course, some machines are smaller than others, so you can still find a model that will take up the least space. But if you have to make a large loaf of bread every morning, you need a bulky bread maker that takes up a decent amount of room.
Bread makers vary in size, so get a model that will fit perfectly on your kitchen counter.
The Final Thoughts
Did this list help you determine whether a bread maker is ideal for you? Bread makers are convenient, but they are not foolproof. For this reason, weighing the benefits and disadvantages is crucial before finally purchasing one.
And as always, before you buy any appliances, do some research. Read the reviews and see what other people are saying about the model you are looking at.
Do you have questions, suggestions, or comments? If you do, feel free to leave them in the comment section. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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