Newbie Here...should I Buy A Bread Machine?

[gfmomof3]

Hello all - I am brand new to this site and to the gluten free way of life . I am a mom of 3 little girls and since July myself, my 6 and my 4 year old have all been diagnosed with celiac disease. So far the biggest hurdle has been the whole bread issue. We have tried 3 different brands (gluten-free Bakehouse, Glutino, Kinnikinnick) available from Whole Foods and do not care for any of them. My girls are having a hard time with this. I am wondering if homemade bread from a machine tastes like the commercially available ones and if it seems worthwhile to invest in one. Thanks!

[Ridgewalker]

I love my bread machine, BUT- I've noticed that almost all gluten-free bread recipes floating around have instructions for both oven-baking and a bread machine. So it might be a good idea to try some recipes in the oven first, and then see if you think you might want a bread machine.

As for taste, I'd say that just about any homemade gluten-free bread is going to taste better than premade gluten-free bread. Better texture as well. After the first day, you may still want to toast it though- depends on the recipe. (You are toasting your gluten-free bread, right? I've never heard of a premade gluten-free bread that is decent untoasted. Also needs to be in a toaster that is dedicated to gluten-free bread- can't use your old toaster, or you'll contaminate your bread.)

Also, I've found that gluten-free breads don't last very long at room temp, and homemade ones get moldy even faster, so I keep mine in the fridge.

-Sarah

[Darn210]

I jumped right in and bought a bread machine right away. I wished I would have waited. Gluten free baking (especially yeast breads) is so much different than wheat yeast bread baking. My first attempts in my bread machine were disasters but I couldn't tell if it was the recipe or the bread machine. So now I have it put away until I am happy with the recipe (flavor/texture) out of the oven. Once that is nailed down and I KNOW how it's suppose to turn out, then I'll try it in the machine. I think I would have made a different selection on the brand of bread machine, too, but there's no going back now, I'll make do with what I've got.

Just for a frame of reference, I only bought one store bought loaf before I started baking. But since I've started baking, I've tried approximately 7 different recipes. I'm zeroing in on the family favorite. Everybody loves it fresh out of the oven - however, I'm the only one who will use it in a sandwich without it being toasted.

And like Sarah said, you need to keep it in the fridge - which doesn't help the texture any. However, one of the tricks that I read on here (somewhere) is to nuke it ever so slightly and let it cool and that helps. I believe I have heard that called "refreshing the bread".

I've got some opinions on flavors/recipes when you're ready for that!!

[Juliebove]

If I had it to do over, I wouldn't. Mine is in the garage now and never gets used. I tried using it almost every other day and rarely got anything edible from it. Then I gave up and decided just to buy bread. It's cheaper in the long run and far less frustrating. So far the only gluten-free bread I can get to come out well on a regular basis is zuchinni and you don't need a bread machine for that.

[Franceen]

I started with a mix (Bread by Anna) in a bread machine and it was OK but I had to stop it and mix the bread about 3 times during the cycle - a lot of work. Much better than pre-made - which made me gag, toasted or not. Then I tried Bette Hagman's recipes in my machine and they were a disaster. Went back to the Anna's mix and tried it in the oven and it improved greatly. I never use the machine any more - too much work and not predictable.

To make bread either in machine or in oven takes some trial and error and a few (quite a few in my case) failed attempts! But it improves with time and the bread I now make in the over (Bette Hagman's included) is actually edible untoasted!

I slice the bread on my slicer as soon as it's cool and individual slices in sandwich bags and keep them in the freezer. They DO go moldy fast at room temp (2 days) and in fridge they only last about 5 days and I'm the only gluten-free person in the house.

Frozen they last longer than it takes for me to eat. I pop in toaster frozen!

[Mom23boys]

I have a plain old cheapie bread machine that I have been using. We prefer the home made bread to the store bought. We use a gluten-free mix.

[momandgirls]

We have the Zojirushi bread machine (it's least expensive through Amazon) and we absolutely love it. We could never find a bought bread that was palatable so we always make our bread. Breads by Anna or Pamela's wheat free amazing bread mix are our favorites. In the machine, I just dump in the ingredients and set the machine for 3 1/2 hours and it's perfect every time. At the end of the evening, when the bread's cool, I slice the rest of the loaf and put in the freezer. Whenver we want bread after that, I just put it in the toaster and it's still delicious.

[PeggyV]

I love my bread machine. I like making bread (gluten kind) but did not enjoy making gluten free bread by hand. Very different. I just but in my premixed flours (i do my own) wet ingrediants and it does it all. I made bread by hand for a few months, but it didnt turn out all that well. I would get one.

[bbuster]

I am still experimenting with various types of bread. Most of them tast good, but the hard part is getting the rise right. The time varies, maybe because of the add-ins I use. Thus, I find it far easier to make without a bread machine.

The other thing I find is that small loaves are easier to bake through, so I use things like mini-loaf pans and small round pyrex dishes that make individual buns. Usually when I make a loaf of bread I put some of the dough in one or two "bun" size containers, cover and freeze it. Then I can take it out anytime and make a single bun without making a whole loaf. (Note: Our family of 4 all eats gluten-free bread when I make it, but only my son has Celiac).

So for me, no bread machine but it is crucial to invest in a good stand mixer. I thought I needed one with a dough hook, but gluten-free dough does better with a paddle because it is more runny.

[Guest j_mommy]

My parents had a bread machine when I was younger. I was not gluten-free then and didn't like the bread machine bread!

I would invest the money in a good mixer...you can do more with that, not just bread. I bougt a kitchen aide(in my pic) for 300, with all teh attachments and love it!!! My bread has turned out great( the sorghum reciepe is the best thus far!!!!Love it). Store bought for me has not went well so I started making my own. I was not a cook before gluten-free and now I love it cook and bake!

[Guest Chrisbee]

We have the Zojirushi bread machine (it's least expensive through Amazon) and we absolutely love it. We could never find a bought bread that was palatable so we always make our bread. Breads by Anna or Pamela's wheat free amazing bread mix are our favorites. In the machine, I just dump in the ingredients and set the machine for 3 1/2 hours and it's perfect every time. At the end of the evening, when the bread's cool, I slice the rest of the loaf and put in the freezer. Whenver we want bread after that, I just put it in the toaster and it's still delicious.

Hi,

I've got a zoji too, and I still haven't figured out how to use it properly. How exactly do you set it for 3 1/2 hours? I use the homemade cycle setting for Pamela's and for Namaste Bread mix and I get a big doughy loaf that falls flat as soon as I take it out of the pan. I have the cycle set to bake for 70 minutes. Should I reduce the amount of liquid? I have the best luck with Gluten Free Pantry's Favorite Sandwich Bread, and the boys love that, but I like the flavor of Pamela's and Namaste's if I could just get them to turn out right! BTW, the same thing happens if I try to bake them in the oven. I even tried using both those mixes for hamburger buns, thinking that I could surely get them done inside, but no luck at all. :-(

Thanks for any help,

Chrisbee

[Mtndog]

I got a Cuisinart with a gluten free setting after 2 years of being gluten-free and I LOVE it- it's helpful even just for mixing things. So far my favorites are gluten-free Pantry French Bread Mix with Italian herbs thrown in and gluten-free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bread. It is the closest thing I've tried to bread with wheat in it! I was so surprised!

I think in the long run, it's more cost efficient.

[Daryl]

Looks likes there's a lot of varied opinions on this topic. We have a bread maker, and if it broke tomorrow, we'd be buying a new one. The first batch we made was horrible. I didn't like it at all. So I stuck with Whole Foods frozen sandwhich bread. It was the best of all teh frozen brands I tried. I did that for about 6 months. Then this past spring we tried the bread machine again. Since then, i haven't had a slice of frozen bread except when we went back to NY for vaca, and I had to buy some. The bread maker we have has a glutten free bread mix setting. The bread is great. The one I prefer is the sandwhich bread by the gluten free pantry. It comes in a box that resembles a milk carton. My wife mixes it in a bowl first, tehn dumps it in the machine to let it do it's work. Occasionaly it cooks up over the top of the pan, falling down on the heating coil. So after about 2 hours you have to check it to see how highit is. Sometimes we'll take about a tablespoon out of the mix when we dump it in the maker, and other times we jsut let it go. Our other trick is to end it about 15-20 minutes early. The consistency is perfect at that point. I let it cool, and I slice it all up. I get a weeks worth of sandwhiches out of it.

So if you're unhappy with the frozen breads, give the bread maker a try. I was never a fan of homemade bread (the regular type!). Right after i was diagnosed a lady with Celiac told me that I would develope a taste for things I disliked at the early stages. She was right. It's been exactly a year since I was diagnosed.

[DgAvon]

I just want to eat real bread again! all I have tried are the frozen ones and yuck! I guess I will bake some.

[DgAvon]

I just want to eat real bread again! all I have tried are the frozen ones and yuck! I guess I will bake some.

[bbuster]

I just want to eat real bread again! all I have tried are the frozen ones and yuck! I guess I will bake some.

It's sort of like the saying that a bad day of vacation beats a good day at work.

Home-baked bread, even it it doesn't come out just so, is still better - especially fresh out of the oven. And if you are not much into baking (or you are new to it) there are some pretty good mixes to make it easier.

Bake away!

[cruelshoes]

I tossed my bread machine after my diagnosis, and haven't seen any need to replace it. I allocated my $ and counter space to a kitchenaid mixer and bake bread in the oven. It really doesn't take any extra time since there is only one rise with gluten-free bread and you don't have to worry about punching it down like gluten bread. I mix up the ingredients for my favorite bread mixes and store them in plastic containers. That way I just have to dump them in the bowl of the kitchenaid, add the wet ingredients and go.

[jenngolightly]

gfmomof3

If you decide that you want to try a bread machine, look for one at a Good Will. I have a bread machine that I paid full price for years ago and like it a lot, but I've been hunting for a Zojirushi that's too expensive to buy at a retail store. I've been going to local Good Will's because they have tons of un-used bread machines for $10-15 each.

If you buy a new (un-used) bread machine for $10, you can decide for yourself if you like it or not. No sense investing hundreds in a machine that you aren't sure you'll use. If you like it and want a more expensive brand, keep hunting or buy one from a retail store.

[HiDee]

gfmomof3

If you decide that you want to try a bread machine, look for one at a Good Will. I have a bread machine that I paid full price for years ago and like it a lot, but I've been hunting for a Zojirushi that's too expensive to buy at a retail store. I've been going to local Good Will's because they have tons of un-used bread machines for $10-15 each.

If you buy a new (un-used) bread machine for $10, you can decide for yourself if you like it or not. No sense investing hundreds in a machine that you aren't sure you'll use. If you like it and want a more expensive brand, keep hunting or buy one from a retail store.

The chances of cross contamination seem pretty high with an unknown bread machine from Goodwill. If it really is unused that would be an awesome bargain but just to be sure I would wash it VERY thoroughly.

[Darn210]

The chances of cross contamination seem pretty high with an unknown bread machine from Goodwill. If it really is unused that would be an awesome bargain but just to be sure I would wash it VERY thoroughly.

Or . . . if it's a good deal and it's a model that is still in production, you could get a replacemet pan/bucket or whatever they are called.