Monday, 9 February 2015

How to Choose the Best Bread Maker & What Features to Look For

Bread Maker Machine, how to choose the best bread maker and what features to look for, including rapid bake setting, delay timer, keep warm, automatic additional ingredients dispenser, pizza dough setting, jam & cakes settings
Bread Maker Machine
Bread makers come in a variety of sizes, colours and with many different features.  The machine you choose will depend on your budget and what you want out of your bread maker.  Not all bread makers are the same and here are some great features to look out for that will help you decide which machine is best for you:


Viewing window

Choose a bread maker that has a viewing window, that way you will be able to see the bread as it’s baking without opening the lid.  Opening the lid would have the same effect as opening the oven door when baking – you let the air in which reduces the temperature and has the negative impact on how well your bread rises.


Rapid bake setting

Choose a bread making machine that comes with a rapid bake feature.  Most breads take between three and four hours to bake, but if you can’t wait that long, then a rapid bake mode will bake a white loaf of bread in just under an hour.  Bear in mind that the end result may not be quite as good as a loaf baked on a standard cooking mode, but nevertheless it still produces a fresh loaf of bread which is better tasting than most commercially-bought bread.



Delay timer

Most bread makers come with a delay timer which enables you to programme the machine in advance.  This is great for example if you want fresh bread for breakfast – you simply put all the ingredients in the bread making machine the night before, set the timer to start in the night so that the bread is ready in time for your morning’s breakfast.


Keep warm setting

Choosing a bread maker with a keep warm setting will allow you to keep the bread warm once it has been cooked until you are ready to eat it.


Automatic additional ingredients dispenser

If you like baking fruit breads, then some bread makers now come with an automatic dispenser for adding ingredients such as fruit and nuts.  This allows you to load the dispenser at the same time as you input the rest of the ingredients for making the bread.  If you don’t have this feature, then you have to remember to add in the extra ingredients later in the bread making cycle.  Alternatively some machines come with a “bleeping” feature which indicates when you need to add in the extra ingredients.


Crust settings

Many bread makers have a crust settings feature that allows you to dictate how you like the crusts on your bread, from light to medium to dark.


Dough only setting

If you like making pizzas or pasta, then choose a bread maker with a dough only setting which allows you to make the dough easily in the bread maker but without cooking it so that you can then go on to cook it in the usual way.


Speciality breads, cakes and jam

If you like experimenting and enjoy cooking, then why not choose a bread maker that allows you to make recipes other than just bread. Some machines are good for making speciality breads, cakes, cookies, croissants and even jam.


*Prices/discounts/shipping indicated correct at time of writing/publishing and may be subject to change anytime.  E&OE.






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