We’ve all heard that preparing bread may be a time-consuming and arduous procedure. To achieve a flawless outcome, you must have a dough hook to knead the bread for an indefinite length of time, wait for it to rise, then carefully watch it while it bakes. Not to mention the mess of flour and dough you’ll have to clean up!
Here’s when the bread maker comes in handy. This enables you to simply combine the ingredients for your bread and then uh, there’s no then!
The bread machine does the rest: it kneads, forms, and bakes the bread to perfection. Just throw the dough in and let it alone for the rest of the day!
Why use a bread maker is the actual question. Why not make advantage of one?
Did you know you can bake bread without yeast or baking powder?
Contents
Making bread by hand (using a dough hook, kneading it by hand, and baking it in a standard loaf pan)
This is the most popular way of baking bread. It takes time, particularly to knead the bread, but it is a fulfilling process in which you can really put your heart and soul into your product.
Ways to make bread by hand:
Using a bread pan
Prepare the dough according to package directions, kneading it and allowing it to rise before shaping it in a pan.
Using a muffin tin
Prepare the dough according to package directions, kneading it and allowing it to rise as required, then roll it out into a big rectangle. Fill with chosen filling, such as chocolate, Nutella, cocoa, cinnamon and sugar, and so on, and roll it up away from you.
Cut the dough into 2-inch thick rounds and set them in muffin tins. Let to rise for the appropriate period of time.
Using a deep-bottomed pan
Prepare the dough according to package directions, kneading it and allowing it to rise before shaping it into a ball and placing it in the pan. This results in a loaf of bread that is shaped like a circle.
Free-formed bread
Prepare the dough according to package directions, kneading it and allowing it to rise as indicated, then shape it as desired (this can be little balls, cinnamon rolls, or just a fat loaf).
Benefits to using this method:
- You put love into your product, and you can feel rewarded and proud of the work you put into the bread.
- It’s a way to learn more about bread- what makes it work, what doesn’t.
- There’s no extra cost- you’re using ingredients and tools you already have and that can be used for other things.
- You can shape the bread in whichever way you want.
Drawbacks to using this method:
- It’s a lot of work to make bread- you have to knead it for a long time which can be exhausting and time-consuming.
- You must monitor the bread carefully- kneading it too much and it can become tough and won’t rise in the oven, too little and it won’t rise properly in the oven. You also must check the oven frequently to make sure the bread isn’t burning, and schedule often multiple rising times for the bread.
Making Bread Using a Bread Machine
This procedure is quick, simple, and dependable. Just combine the ingredients, place them in the bread machine, and let it to knead and bake the bread. Bread machines may be purchased for as low as $50 and can cost as much as $350.
That is dependent on the characteristics you want (higher end machines can make jams, gluten free bread, and even cake). View some of our favorite machines, ranging from low-cost to high-end.
Discover how bread machines operate.
Benefits to using a bread maker:
- Easy and fast to use.
- You can leave it all day to knead and bake the bread; it even keeps it warm.
- No mess.
- The bread will come out with a perfect bake without you having to worry!
- Oftentimes you can make more than just bread in the bread maker.
Drawbacks to using a bread maker:
- They’re expensive- it’s an investment.
- You can only make the bread in one shape- whichever shape your bread maker makes.
- It’s not as fun as you’re not relying on yourself to actually bake the product.
Final thoughts
Making bread by hand may be enjoyable, but it is a time-consuming procedure. However, you poured your heart and soul into that bread, and you should be proud of the end outcome.
On the other side, the bread might be a disaster: burnt, formed strangely, too dry, too thick, and so on. With a bread machine, you can make fast bread with practically little effort and it will turn out flawlessly.
But, you must pay for the bread maker, and the procedure is not really enjoyable. In the end, it is entirely dependent on your circumstances.
Use the hand approach if you want to bake authentic handmade bread and learn how to produce a flawless loaf by hand. A bread machine is ideal if you need bread quickly and don’t have time to go through the procedure.
In any case, with or without experience with the bread machine, you’ll soon be able to generate the ideal loaf!