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I used to use bread machines. I had four of the same type (other than branding) collected from garage sales and thrift stores, all working, with interchangeabl

I used to use bread machines. I had four of the same type (other than branding) collected from garage sales and thrift stores, all working, with interchangeable buckets - and without idiotic UI features like the unskippable 20 minute delay before starting, of the GE machines of that vintage. Actually making bread is really four phases: 1. Assemble and mix the ingredients 2. Knead 3. Rise 4. Bake Hand baking has an extra step 3a (punch down) and 3b (let rise back up) typically, that the bread machine omits, at least mine did. But the point was step 1 is required anyway, steps 3 and 4 don't involve any work, so what did the machine do for me, really? Knead. In fact I got into the habit, if the bread had to look good e.g. for guests, of taking the kneaded, not yet risen ball of dough out and letting it rise and bake the normal way, resulting in a normal looking loaf (not in a loaf pan). Then one of the machines ruined a batch when its shaft seal deteriorated into sticky black gunk that got into the dough. Uh oh. That means my other three machines (two in use, two spares) probably aren't far behind. Seems they don't last forever. So I dumped them and went back to doing things by hand. Where you can't beat them though, is starting in timer mode, so you have freshly baked bread just ready for breakfast. Aside from that one thing, if you think you need a bread machine to make bread, just try it by hand sometime.

tolbish 5y ago
As someone that made okay bread/buns/rolls/dough by hand, switching to a bread maker makes me never want to go back. I can appreciate the by-hand techniques and customization you can do, but "that one thing" you speak of is a huge sell. I can spend over an hour combining the ingredients, kneading, washing up several times between stages because making bread is , cleaning the bowls, materials, and pans I used....or I can spend 2 minutes and use a bread maker and make even better bread than I was making beforehand. There is a non-negligible peace of mind that comes with progressing from by-hand to bread maker. I would certainly suggest making it by hand for a bit if you aren't used to it, however.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  The lack of cleanup needed for the bread machine is a big point for me, too. I tried a couple juicers, like JuiceMan. The ads say it is easy cleanup, just rinse it off. The reality is you'll spend 30 minutes cleaning that screen. If you don't get it all, what's left will quickly rot. Not fun. The JM also had all kinds of nooks and crannies that were not reachable with a sponge and really hard to clean. I finally gave up. The Vitamix is the solution here. No tedious juicing, just stuff everything in the machine and turn it on. The cleanup is pouring water and soap in it and turning it on for a minute.
- tolbish 5y ago
  making bread is messy*. Looks like I missed the edit window.
kbenson 5y ago
> Where you can't beat them though, is starting in timer mode, so you have freshly baked bread just ready for breakfast. Don't many ovens have timers for this and/or for getting dinner started early? Or does the dough not do as well when left in a larger area such as an oven for an extended period while not cooking?
- MarkusWandel 5y ago
  With a bread machine, you typically put the liquid on the bottom, flour/other dry stuff on top, and then the very finely granulated yeast on top of that. So the yeast stays dry and nothing starts rising until the machine starts its cycle and mixes everything. Leaving it, say, 8-10h before starting a timed operation works just fine.

tolbish 5y ago

As someone that made okay bread/buns/rolls/dough by hand, switching to a bread maker makes me never want to go back. I can appreciate the by-hand techniques and customization you can do, but "that one thing" you speak of is a huge sell. I can spend over an hour combining the ingredients, kneading, washing up several times between stages because making bread is , cleaning the bowls, materials, and pans I used....or I can spend 2 minutes and use a bread maker and make even better bread than I was making beforehand. There is a non-negligible peace of mind that comes with progressing from by-hand to bread maker. I would certainly suggest making it by hand for a bit if you aren't used to it, however.

WalterBright 5y ago
The lack of cleanup needed for the bread machine is a big point for me, too. I tried a couple juicers, like JuiceMan. The ads say it is easy cleanup, just rinse it off. The reality is you'll spend 30 minutes cleaning that screen. If you don't get it all, what's left will quickly rot. Not fun. The JM also had all kinds of nooks and crannies that were not reachable with a sponge and really hard to clean. I finally gave up. The Vitamix is the solution here. No tedious juicing, just stuff everything in the machine and turn it on. The cleanup is pouring water and soap in it and turning it on for a minute.
tolbish 5y ago
making bread is messy*. Looks like I missed the edit window.

kbenson 5y ago

> Where you can't beat them though, is starting in timer mode, so you have freshly baked bread just ready for breakfast. Don't many ovens have timers for this and/or for getting dinner started early? Or does the dough not do as well when left in a larger area such as an oven for an extended period while not cooking?

MarkusWandel 5y ago
With a bread machine, you typically put the liquid on the bottom, flour/other dry stuff on top, and then the very finely granulated yeast on top of that. So the yeast stays dry and nothing starts rising until the machine starts its cycle and mixes everything. Leaving it, say, 8-10h before starting a timed operation works just fine.