On 30 Sep 2006 09:14:40 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
<wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:

>
>Following up to my own post... There have been so many great responses to my
>question, that I want to thank each of you. It's been very helpful to read
>all your comments. I think I've decided to buy a machine *after* we move. I
>doubt I'd really use it before then.
>

One piece of advice- if you buy a machine and like it a lot, buy an
extra pan from the manufacturer ASAP. I love my machine but I make a
lot of whole wheat bread and the rough flour wore down the non-stick
lining (constant use for over 12 yr). Plus, if something happens to
the rotor mechanism for the paddle, it is helpful to have another. Of
course you're gambline that the machine itself will outlast the pans,
as mine has.

I bought a second pan when I first got my machine and had to use it
after 5-6 yr, when the paddle rotor started to turn with difficulty.
(It's sealed so it's not like it can be oiled or repaired). By that
time, the company no longer made that model or replacement pans
(actually, the company's line has been taken over by another company).
Now, 5-6 yr after putting the second pan into service, the non-stick
is wearing off. I can get around it to a degree by letting the bread
cool for 10 min in the pan. That softens the crust enough to get it
out but it deteriorates the quality of the crust.

In any case, I doubled (at least) the lifespan of the ABM by buying
the second pan while the model was still available. The pan was
expensive ($40) but kept a working machine out of the landfill for a
while longer.

I am not excited about taking a chance on buying a new machine because
mine makes 1.5 lb loaves and I hate to dispose of an appliance which
essentially works fine. The new ones which make 2 lb do so by making
fatter loaves rather than longer/taller loaves. The larger slices are
(a) too big for a sandwich and (b) the slices don't fit in my sandwich
keepers. I can't have a horizontal loaf machine, one of the reasons
being that they take up too much counter space.

On the upside, the newer machines seem to have more durable, heavier
pans; on the downside, that will probably affect the character of the
crust. The crust on bread from my machine was exactly how I liked it
(thin and crispy).

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Oh pshaw, on Sun 01 Oct 2006 05:52:19a, Curly Sue meant to say...

> On 30 Sep 2006 09:14:40 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
> <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>Following up to my own post... There have been so many great responses
>>to my question, that I want to thank each of you. It's been very
>>helpful to read all your comments. I think I've decided to buy a
>>machine *after* we move. I doubt I'd really use it before then.
>>
>
> One piece of advice- if you buy a machine and like it a lot, buy an
> extra pan from the manufacturer ASAP. I love my machine but I make a
> lot of whole wheat bread and the rough flour wore down the non-stick
> lining (constant use for over 12 yr). Plus, if something happens to
> the rotor mechanism for the paddle, it is helpful to have another. Of
> course you're gambline that the machine itself will outlast the pans,
> as mine has.
>
> I bought a second pan when I first got my machine and had to use it
> after 5-6 yr, when the paddle rotor started to turn with difficulty.
> (It's sealed so it's not like it can be oiled or repaired). By that
> time, the company no longer made that model or replacement pans
> (actually, the company's line has been taken over by another company).
> Now, 5-6 yr after putting the second pan into service, the non-stick
> is wearing off. I can get around it to a degree by letting the bread
> cool for 10 min in the pan. That softens the crust enough to get it
> out but it deteriorates the quality of the crust.
>
> In any case, I doubled (at least) the lifespan of the ABM by buying
> the second pan while the model was still available. The pan was
> expensive ($40) but kept a working machine out of the landfill for a
> while longer.
>
> I am not excited about taking a chance on buying a new machine because
> mine makes 1.5 lb loaves and I hate to dispose of an appliance which
> essentially works fine. The new ones which make 2 lb do so by making
> fatter loaves rather than longer/taller loaves. The larger slices are
> (a) too big for a sandwich and (b) the slices don't fit in my sandwich
> keepers. I can't have a horizontal loaf machine, one of the reasons
> being that they take up too much counter space.
>
> On the upside, the newer machines seem to have more durable, heavier
> pans; on the downside, that will probably affect the character of the
> crust. The crust on bread from my machine was exactly how I liked it
> (thin and crispy).
>
> Sue(tm)
> Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!
>

Thanks, Sue. Good advice and a great discourse.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Cats don't correct your stories.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> I've been making bread for years, not on a regular basis, but anytime the
> spirit moved me. I enjoy the process.
>
> While out shopping today, David asked me if I'd like to have a bread machine.
> I've never thought so, and said that I didn't. Now I'm beginning to wonder
> if I might like having one.
>
> Of those of you who do have one, do you like it? Do you also make bread the
> traditional way? Any particular recommendations?
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright


I've had a Sunbeam for about four years and have been happy with it.
Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to go.

Christopher Helms wrote:
.....
> Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
> too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to go.

Krusteaz makes a sourdough bread mix for the machine that is nearly
foolproof. It won't satisfy all the various cravings that sourdough
aficionados love, but it makes a consistently good loaf of bread.
-aem

aem wrote:
> Christopher Helms wrote:
> .....
> > Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
> > too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to go.
>
> Krusteaz makes a sourdough bread mix for the machine that is nearly
> foolproof. It won't satisfy all the various cravings that sourdough
> aficionados love, but it makes a consistently good loaf of bread.
> -aem

One of them has a Hawaiian bread that is really good, too. I can't
remember the brand name at the moment, but it's wonderful, too.

Oh pshaw, on Sun 01 Oct 2006 03:41:15p, Christopher Helms meant to say...

>
> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>> I've been making bread for years, not on a regular basis, but anytime
>> the spirit moved me. I enjoy the process.
>>
>> While out shopping today, David asked me if I'd like to have a bread
>> machine. I've never thought so, and said that I didn't. Now I'm
>> beginning to wonder if I might like having one.
>>
>> Of those of you who do have one, do you like it? Do you also make
>> bread the traditional way? Any particular recommendations?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>> Wayne Boatwright
>
>
> I've had a Sunbeam for about four years and have been happy with it.
> Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
> too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to go.
>

Christopher, I think you're the first one to mention the boxed kits for the
bread machine. I didn't think about those. Since I do usually make my
bread by hand or in the stand mixer, the idea of using a bread machine and
one of the boxed kits is appealing as a convenience and a great time saver
for when I don't have much time.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Cats don't correct your stories.

Oh pshaw, on Sun 01 Oct 2006 04:38:44p, Christopher Helms meant to say...

>
> aem wrote:
>> Christopher Helms wrote: .....
>> > Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
>> > too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to
>> > go.
>>
>> Krusteaz makes a sourdough bread mix for the machine that is nearly
>> foolproof. It won't satisfy all the various cravings that sourdough
>> aficionados love, but it makes a consistently good loaf of bread.
>> -aem
>
> One of them has a Hawaiian bread that is really good, too. I can't
> remember the brand name at the moment, but it's wonderful, too.
>

I'll have to take a look at these mixes.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Cats don't correct your stories.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> Oh pshaw, on Sun 01 Oct 2006 03:41:15p, Christopher Helms meant to say...
>
> >
> > Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> >> I've been making bread for years, not on a regular basis, but anytime
> >> the spirit moved me. I enjoy the process.
> >>
> >> While out shopping today, David asked me if I'd like to have a bread
> >> machine. I've never thought so, and said that I didn't. Now I'm
> >> beginning to wonder if I might like having one.
> >>
> >> Of those of you who do have one, do you like it? Do you also make
> >> bread the traditional way? Any particular recommendations?
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
> >> --
> >> Wayne Boatwright
> >
> >
> > I've had a Sunbeam for about four years and have been happy with it.
> > Usually I make my own, but there are boxed kits that are easy to do,
> > too. All you need is usually a cup of warm water and you're ready to go.
> >
>
> Christopher, I think you're the first one to mention the boxed kits for the
> bread machine. I didn't think about those. Since I do usually make my
> bread by hand or in the stand mixer, the idea of using a bread machine and
> one of the boxed kits is appealing as a convenience and a great time saver
> for when I don't have much time.


They can be quite good. I tended to use them early on, when I first got
the machine. The simplicity factor was very appealing before I was
adept at making my own from scratch.