Bread Machine Or Mixer?

[Emme999]

Hello

I am trying to decide if I should put up the cash for either a mixer or a bread machine. I'm somewhat wary of machines because (even with gluten) the bread my mom has made in her machine has never been that great. Kind of rubbery, actually

I also don't want the bread to be funky looking. I'd like to have it as close to the real deal as possible

Could someone please give me some input here on using vs. not using a bread machine? Does the bread turn out better or worse without one?

I seem to remember something in Bette Hagmans book about her preference for oven baked bread. I'm sure I could get one fly mixer for the cost of a bread machine!

Please help me decide

Thanks!!

- Michelle

[Matilda]

..

[tarnalberry]

Depends on what you're going to do with it.

Mixers are much more multipurpose than breadmachines, but mixers won't do all the steps of making bread. Are you going to only be making bread with this, or are there other things you make that a mixer would be nice for (other baked goods, mashed potatoes, custards, oooo... anything you'd use a hand mixer on...)

[cdford]

If you want quick and easy bread, get the bread machine. If you don't mind allowing your bread to rise in the pan and then baking it, the mixer is a more versatile machine. Just be sure to get a good mixer. You will have to pay more, but it will be worth it, especially with the heavier doughs we use. A little research and you can save a lot of money.

If I am baking bread for company or for lots of sandwiches, I still bake mine in the oven. If it is for everyday use, I like just throwing the stuff in the machine and hitting a button.

[Guest BellyTimber]

Michelle,

It also depends on your aptitudes and your likes.

The bread machine literally is mess-free (invest in an extra paddle because the loaf will swallow the paddle). You just layer the ingredients as told - usually liquids at the bottom. Very often one needs to leave the loaf to stand for a period after baking both inside the machine and then outside. Start early enough in the evening otherwise you'll be up all night with curiosity! Buy a machine adapted to gluten-free baking (in the UK the cheapest model and the most expensive are among the best suited). Mine makes entertaining sounding noises and has a window in the top that I can't see in!

Don't worry what it is going to look like - if very seriously embarrassed, use it for crumble topping, cheesecake base, bread-and-butter-pudding ... My own home-made loaves when I've made them equal the very best of shop gluten-free loaves (perhaps like the ones celiac3270 has found on his travels?) and out of any resemblence to the ordinary ones which they should stop making!

(I stopped baking for a while but threads like this are going to give me confidence to resume)

Or do you like embedding your hands in goo - and throwing flour round the kitchen!!! (some people do )

Does bread not matter but do you like to make soups, purees, smoothies etc.

How do you make cakes? My mum used to smack the mix with the spoon and lots of arm power, holding the bowl with her other hand in mid-air above the middle of the kitchen floor! (her cakes were great)

So, happy dreaming & planning!