Baking an amazing loaf of bread is hard. It’s a craft that a baker perfects after experimentation and experience. Baking in the oven is traditional and some of the professionals stick to it.
For the rest of us, there’s bread dough makers and bread machines that make baking a loaf of bread as easy as using your smart phone.
If you’re a newcomer to bread baking, a bread dough maker will be your best friend. If you’re a baker, but need to save yourself some time and hassle, a bread dough maker will also be a life saver.
So, we’re going to learn all about how one of these nifty machines work as well as what to look for when you’re shopping around for one.
How Does a Bread Dough Maker Work?
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The intricacies of bread making is a long and difficult process, from kneading to fermentation and baking. Luckily, the intricacies of a bread dough maker are super easy.
So, how does a bread dough maker work?
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What Should You Look for in a Bread Dough Maker
Now that you’ve decided to buy a bread dough maker, you need to know the ins and outs of these machines.
If you want to buy the right bread machine for your needs, there are a few features you might want to check for.
The Programmable Settings
The programmable settings is the first feature to look into. What you need all depends on your specific needs for the type of bread you’re making. For example, if you’re doing gluten-free baking, you’ll want to look for a bread maker that can handle gluten-free products.
If you’re a new bread baker, you’re only going to need the basic bread baking settings. You’re not going to want a fancy machine with 20 settings. If you’re advanced, you might want to look at the higher priced models that have numerous bread baking options.
The Kneading Paddle
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The kneading paddle is what does the hardest work in a bread machine. Most bread machines have a single kneading paddle.
The higher priced machines have dual paddles which makes perfect dough almost every time.
You want to make sure the kneading paddle is removable. When a kneading paddle is left in a bread machine after it’s done with its’ job, there’s a few annoying things that can happen.
First, it will create ugly holes in your loaf of bread. It’ll still be edible but it won’t be eye pleasing. Second, it can get baked into the bread or stuck. This is a major pain and you have to ruin your bread to get the paddle out.
A Timer
A bread machine with a timer is very handy. Most machines will have a timer that counts down to when your bread is done baking and beeps when that time is up.
Even better, some of these timers can be set to notify you when it’s time to add extra ingredients or that it’s time to remove the kneading paddle.
A lot of brands are including a delayed timer in their machines. This delayed timer can be set before you head out to work and the bread will be done when you’re putting dinner on the table.
The Price
For most of us, the price is one of the first things we need to figure out. You need to know your budget and your baking needs.
The more settings and features a bread machine has, the more expensive it is.
If you’re a newbie, a cheaper machine with the basic settings might be the right fit for you. It keeps you from breaking the bank when you’re first starting out.
The Brand
The brand you choose doesn’t necessarily have to be a big name brand. But you do want a brand with integrity and a good reputation.
Do research on the brands. Read reviews from customers to decide if it’s worth spending your money on one of their machines.
And don’t forget to check to see if the machine has a warranty!
Final Thoughts
The first time you use a bread dough maker, you’ll be amazed at the simplicity. It takes only a few steps from you to get started. We hope this guide helps you purchase a bread machine that’s everything you ever needed.
