What Can You Tell Me About Bread Makers?

[River Faerie]

Hi all,

I am a complete newbie to the world of gluten intolerance, and was diagnosed by blood work, tummy probe/biopsy, and am now in the three month "100% no gluten" period to determine if it really is Celiac. My instinct is yes, because a few weeks into this adventure, my skin is more clear, my stomache isn't in continual knots, and I feel fairly calm... Anyway, it's tough! As this is not the coping page, I will move on! The hardest thing is eating like a goat! Everything is crunchy and hard. I am seriously missing sinking my teeth into a soft, breadlike product! My first question is this: What is a good breadmaker to purchase? I have NO experience with making bread, although I do consider myself pretty skilled in the kitchen. When I did some research this morning on-line, I saw that breadmakers range from $50-$200+ I don't mind investing money, but want to make sure the product is worth it. What do you guys use? What recipes work the best? Also, are products like baking soda, powder, etc. gluten free? Are they ok to use? Thanks for all of your help!

[Darn210]

Hi all,

I am a complete newbie to the world of gluten intolerance, and was diagnosed by blood work, tummy probe/biopsy, and am now in the three month "100% no gluten" period to determine if it really is Celiac. My instinct is yes, because a few weeks into this adventure, my skin is more clear, my stomache isn't in continual knots, and I feel fairly calm... Anyway, it's tough! As this is not the coping page, I will move on! The hardest thing is eating like a goat! Everything is crunchy and hard. I am seriously missing sinking my teeth into a soft, breadlike product! My first question is this: What is a good breadmaker to purchase? I have NO experience with making bread, although I do consider myself pretty skilled in the kitchen. When I did some research this morning on-line, I saw that breadmakers range from $50-$200+ I don't mind investing money, but want to make sure the product is worth it. What do you guys use? What recipes work the best? Also, are products like baking soda, powder, etc. gluten free? Are they ok to use? Thanks for all of your help!

First . . . welcome to the board . . . you have found a wonderful resource.

OK . . . Baking soda and Baking Powder are OK. I don't buy anything special. I'm using Arm&Hammer and Clabber Girl. You may need to buy fresh packages if you ever dipped a contaminated measuring spoon into your "current" box thus contaminating the rest of the product.

When my daughter was diagnosed, I went right out and bought an expensive bread machine that had a gluten-free bread setting. Then proceded to make a couple of loaves of bread that were then immediately thrown out. I couldn't tell if I didn't like it because of the recipe or cooking it in a bread machine (major sinking/collapsing). At that point, I put the bread machine away and tried baking them in the oven (where it was much more easier to let it cook for another 5 minutes). I tried several recipes and several mixes. After I picked the bread I liked the best, I then went back to the bread machine. As it turns out, I like the Pamela's wheatfree/glutenfree bread mix the best and THAT mix does NOT require a gluten free bread setting on the bread machine so I could have gotten away with a cheaper bread maker. I have a Cuisinart . . . bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond. I think it was about $130 but I used one of those 20% off coupons that they are always sending me.

[mamaw]

I love my Zojurushi.. It has two paddles & makes the normal loaf of bread. Heavy duty motor.

Many cheaper versions will burn out over use because gluten-free bread needs a strong motor. I've had my Zo for five years & its still kicking strong....I know otheres like the Breadman which isn't as pricey