This article is an overview of making bread in a bread machine that discusses safety, features, cycles, ingredients, tips and troubleshooting.
Safety First
Before you begin, be aware of the following safety information regarding bread makers in order to reduce shocking results:
- Be careful not to burn your fingers on hot surfaces.
- Keep the bread maker unplugged from the wall outlet when not in use or when cleaning it.
- Do not use the bread machine if the power cord is damaged or if the bread maker does not work correctly.
Bread Machine Features
Now, let’s look at the basic features of a bread maker:
- Delayed start baking timer, usually up to 13 hours.
- Non-stick bread pan with a single or double kneading blade.
- Crust color options such as light, medium or dark bread crust.
- It has a viewing window in the lid for looking inside to see the progress of the bread.
- LCD digital display for displaying the numbers of the setting choices as well as the timer.
- Control panel with various buttons you can press to choose the options and start/stop the bread machine.
Most bread makers seem to have a keep warm feature that automatically keeps the bread warm for up to one hour after it has finished baking, but it is best to remove the bread right after it is done, or the crust might become too dark.
Bread Maker Cycles
On a basic bread making setting, you can expect the following things to occur:
- First kneading of the dough.
- First dough rise cycle.
- Second dough kneading cycle.
- Second dough rise cycle.
- Single dough punch down cycle.
- Third and final dough rise cycle.
- Bread-baking cycle for about an hour.
- One-hour keep warm cycle.
How To Make Bread Machine Bread
Open the lid of the bread maker, remove the baking pan and attach the kneading blade. Use a bread machine recipe and gather the ingredients together. Basic ingredients you might need are: water, salt, butter, margarine, bread flour, milk powder, sugar and bread machine yeast. Use various measuring utensils such as cups and spoons.
It is vital that you use exact measurements when making bread in a bread machine. Measure the liquid ingredients in a measuring jug that is marked in cups and ounces. Double check that the liquid level is right on the mark.
Dry ingredients should be spooned into a measuring cup and then gently leveled off with the back of a knife. Do not to scoop the dry stuff, but rather spoon it in first and then cut it level with a knife to prevent it from being compacted too much.
Putting the ingredients into the baking pan in the right order is just as important. Most bread machines follow this order:
- First, you pour in the liquids.
- Next, you add the dry ingredients.
- Last, you add the yeast on top of the dry ingredients (use your finger to make a shallow hole for the yeast).
Carefully insert the baking pan, now loaded with the bread recipe ingredients, into the baking chamber of the bread maker. Plug the power cord into the wall outlet and turn on the switch. Now you can press the menu button to select the correct bread making setting. Choose the desired crust color and loaf size. Press the start button and the bread maker will start making and baking the bread.
What if you want to use the delay timer function to bake bread overnight or during the day when you are away? Well, most bread machines have a timer function for this purpose. I don’t care much for delayed baking, so I’m not going to go into any specifics. Each bread maker comes with a manual that will explain the process in detail.
When the baking cycle is done, press the stop button and use oven mitts to remove the bread pan. At this point, the pan as well as the bread machine will be hot to the touch, so be careful not to burn your fingers.
Let the bread pan cool down and then use a nonstick spatula to loosen the sides of the bread loaf. Turn the pan upside down and shake out the loaf onto a wire rack for cooling. Let it stand for about half an hour before attempting to slice it. The bread loaf will slice easier if it has cooled down.
Hints And Tips
Now, a few tips and hints that are important to remember while baking bread machine bread loaves:
- Use the correct measurements.
- Add the ingredients in the correct order.
- Check the dough to see if it is the right consistency.
- Use fresh ingredients, especially yeast, to ensure the best possible results.
If the dough ball is too wet and sticky, then add a tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough ball is kneading smoothly in the bread pan. If the dough ball is too flaky or the bread maker struggles with the kneading, then add a teaspoon of water at a time until the dough looks smooth and becomes easier to knead.
Bread Making Mishaps
What happens if you bake a loaf that is thick as a brick? Well, here are a few baking mishaps and its possible solutions.
Problem: The bread loaf is thick and heavy.
Solution: Use less flour or add more yeast to give it a lighter texture.
Problem: The bread crust is too light.
Solution: Use the highest crust color setting. Did you lift the lid a few times while the bread was baking? Please keep it closed next time to prevent heat from escaping. Rather, use the viewing window to check on the bread.
Problem: The bread crust is too brown.
Solution: Reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe or use the light crust color setting.
Problem: The bread loaf is still raw in the center.
Solution: Either use more flour or use less water.
Problem: The bread loaf has a coarse texture.
Solution: Did you forget to add salt as an ingredient? Remember to add the salt next time and see if it improves the texture.
Problem: The dough did not rise enough.
Solution: Try using less water, less flour or adding more yeast. Stale flour or yeast might also be the cause, so use fresh ingredients.
Problem: The dough rose too high.
Solution: Either you used too much yeast or you forgot to add salt.
Conclusion
Well done, you’ve reached the end of this overview of making bread in a bread machine. Please follow your bread machine’s instruction manual carefully to decrease frustration and to make bread making fun!
Image by Matthias Böckel from Pixabay