Electric bread maker: simple rules

People have baked bread since time immemorial. Those who need a historical excursion - google, do not be lazy. As for household bread machines, they appeared in Russia not so long ago. Around the middle of the 90s of the last century. Before them there were only bakeries (and a few cooperative bakeries). But they did not fit into the kitchenettes of the Khrushchevs. Even earlier, the Russian oven reigned. Actually, she is still the queen - the most delicious bread is obtained just in her. Just you won't find her now in the afternoon with fire, even in the villages. And I want homemade bread. Therefore, let's turn our attention to the bread maker. Is she a continuer of a just cause, a keeper of traditions?

The bread maker as it is

The bread maker is not a spaceship. Its construction is quite simple. As a rule, the device has a plastic case (there are also models from "stainless steel"). Inside we see a baking dish with a non-stick coating. Depending on the model of the bread maker, the volume of the form differs - in some it is larger, in some it is less. At the bottom there is a special paddle for kneading dough (or two, if the mold is roomy). Of course, an electric heating element is hidden in the insides (as a rule, it is a circular heating element). They are located behind the walls of the baking pan.

The bread maker in all its glory

It is easy for the user with the bread maker. All you need to do is pour into the mold the ingredients needed to make your favorite bread. By the way, the delivery set, if the manufacturer is not greedy, usually includes a variety of measuring cups, spoons and other pleasant little things. It is not required to stir the filled in.

It is not required to stir the poured

Then just select the desired baking mode: "white bread", "rye bread", "baked goods with bran flour", "French baguette" ... The variety of modes depends on the specific model. This is done (selection) using the device control system, which is located mainly in the upper part of the bread maker, next to the hinged lid (or even partially on it). Modern models are often designed with a small display. It displays all the basic information about the operation of the device - conveniently.

It's nice that many modern bread makers do not just bake bread, but bake it exactly the way a particular baker needs it. You can even choose the color of the crust (most often "light", "dark" and something in between). There are models with a special dispenser on the lid (for example, Panasonic SD-255 WTS, Kenwood BM450). The dispenser is useful if you have a desire to bake bread with raisins, nuts or seeds. And, again, you just put additional ingredients where they should be, and the device itself "knows" when they need to be added to the dough.

Kenwood BM450: dispensir there!

The time for making bread depends, of course, on the recipe, on the type of bakery product that you want to end up with. On average, it takes three to three and a half hours to bake a loaf weighing about a kilogram of time. This is with kneading the dough, raising it, baking itself and even cooling it down. But there are also "quick" types of bread that are baked for one and a half to two hours. Also, the baking time is affected by the power of the bread machine (from 400 to 950 W, depending on the model). Of course, the more powerful the bread maker, the faster it bakes (although dependence on the recipe in many cases is still primary). However, it also spends more electricity.

You can make jam with a bread maker. Not from frozen berries or fruits

With the help of a bread maker, you can not only bake bread, but also prepare a variety of jams.True, even those people who advocate for the acquisition of a bread machine to perform its direct duties - baking, disagree about the rest of its abilities. Some users argue that the jams in the bread maker, in general, are so-so. For example, apples may not boil soft, pieces will float in the finished product. Is this good or bad? Everything is subjective, of course. Someone will say: "This is not really jam." Others will like it. You should not make jam from frozen foods (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries) - the end result is deplorable. It turns out more like berry syrup, but certainly not jam in consistency. You can't put it on a bun.

Pros and cons

So, since we promised to figure it out, find out "what's what" - let's start identifying the positive and negative aspects arising from the appearance of a bread machine at home.

Let's start with the good news. The main plus of the bread maker, of course, is delicious homemade bread baked in front of your eyes, without any additives harmful to health. You can't argue with that. Bread from a bread machine is really much tastier than store bread. Even a fairly expensive store. And in general - only a bread maker makes it possible to eat a warm roll. After all, not everyone has a bakery near their home.

With a bread maker, you will forget about store bread

Further, a plus following from everything described in the previous paragraph is the assortment. I mean, you can bake what you want. In the store, whatever you say, you cannot always buy exactly the bread you want. Of course, many types of bread "grow" in supermarkets, no one disputes. But, in the end, suddenly, by the New Year, you want to feed your neighbor bread with Christmas tree needles and tangerine peels? Show me the store where this one is on sale! There is no such store! And only your bread maker ... In general, I understand.

In a bread maker, you are free to bake, for yourself and your family, any bakery product you like. For example, potato and onion bread (pictured)

Possibility to bake gluten-free bread. Also a very important and pleasant thing. Gluten - gluten formed by the interaction of wheat and rye with the liquid components of the dough. Having such a program is important for people who are allergic or intolerant to gluten. For baking gluten-free bread, you can use ready-made dry mixes. They are sold in stores.

The bread maker can bake gluten-free bread. Specialty mixes are sold in stores

The next pleasantness. The bread maker can simply make dough (yeast or non-yeast) and not bake anything from it: in any model there is a special operating mode for this. After all, man does not live by bread alone, as you know. From the test what they just do not do. All sorts of figurines, but you never know why you needed it.

In many models, you can set the size of the loaf. This means that if your bread maker is capable of baking a loaf weighing one and a half kilograms (like, for example, Moulinex OW 5004 XXL Baguette), then it is not at all necessary to bake it all the time. What if you like small bread? This is where this feature comes in handy.

A little more honey. All modern bread makers, as a rule, include a timer. This is a very handy thing. For example, you can arrange everything so that a fresh warm bun will be waiting for you for breakfast. You just need to be lazy, in the evening put all the ingredients you need for cooking in the form. Then, using the timer, set the time after which the bread maker will start working. So that for morning coffee, the sweet bun is already ready and still warm.

By the way, the ability to bake sweets (rolls with sugar, with chocolate) is another positive point. True, not all bread makers are capable of this. If you need this, when buying a device, pay attention to the presence of the corresponding operating modes.

Many bread makers are able to "treat" sweets ...

These are, perhaps, the main advantages of having a bread machine at home. Oh yes, of course we forgot about the jams. Well, since the device has such an opportunity - to cook them, then let's also attribute this to the pluses.

Now about the cons. Some are confused by the dimensions of the device. The bread maker, of course, is not a refrigerator, but in a small kitchen it will become a prominent figure. What can you say here? Probably, if you live in a "Khrushchev", you should take a closer look at small models, not buy roomy ones. Although this option will not work if there is a large family huddling in the "Khrushchev". And this is common in our country. Well, let the dimensions go negative. Although, of course, everything is relative. For owners of "normal" kitchens, this is hardly a problem.

Other individuals dislike the fact that the kneading paddle is often baked into bread. Indeed, there is a problem. But the manufacturers of bread makers, without exception, do not consider it as such, which they write about in the instructions for their devices. Many even supply the bread maker with a special hook that can be used to pull the blade out of the bread. Okay - minus, but small. Wow, how gentle we are!

Sometimes the kneading paddle is baked into bread

Following. Meticulous comrades counted and shed tears, for they discovered that homemade bread, as a rule, costs more than purchased one. Objectively, this seems to be a minus, especially in our time of crisis. But on the other hand - is it really that much more expensive? In the end, in stores, bread is also sold different: cheaper and more expensive, depending on the quality, type ... In general, if you count every penny, and literally, then the bread maker is certainly not for you - it is to some extent a spender. Eat store loaves and enjoy.

Store-bought bread cannot be compared with homemade bread. Therefore, it is, of course, cheaper. Even this ...

Finally, perhaps the main argument of opponents of home baking is overweight. Like, as soon as a bread maker appears in the house, the whole family grows fat, "by leaps and bounds." Of course, bread is not fat-free yogurt. Firstly, if you bake the buns non-stop and eat them as well (another word would come up here, but let's stay decent) - then yes. You will probably get some weight. Secondly, if you, among other things, have a sedentary job, you do not move much - you will definitely get fat (after all, you don't even need to go to a bakery). But let me, maybe it is worth doing sports, overcoming laziness, and not blaming everything on a bread machine? With a reasonable balance of physical activity with the amount and types of food, you are unlikely to turn into a multi-ton colossus. So weight gain due to a bread machine is an argument for the lazy.

To get fat or not to get fat is more often a person's choice, and not the merit of a bread machine ...

Here they are

In the end, we will give several examples of currently popular models of bread makers and compare their technical characteristics. For convenience, we will enter all the data in the table.

Replenishment in the family of bread makers of this or that manufacturer does not happen so often. A bread maker is not a cell phone to release a new one every six months. It is bought for years. With proper operation, the device will last a long time - no less than 5 years. When buying, among other things, be sure to pay attention to the branching network of service centers of the manufacturer and, of course, to the correct filling of the warranty documents.

With the bread maker, fresh and tasty bread is provided for you for years to come

In general, a bread maker is a rather necessary device. In any case, there may be more benefits from it than harm. However, before delighting yourself and your family with it, you should decide whether you really want fresh bread or sweet rolls every day. Or at least once a week. If you are sure that this is so - buy. Otherwise, the bread maker will turn into a monument to the philistine desire to be no worse than others. Do you need it?