This how-to guide is about how to use a bread maker. Hope, this how-to guide will help you know about the actual process of using a bread maker.
Based on the shape, texture and overall quality, one may actually think that making bread is perhaps one of the most complicated processes.
However, the opposite is true, making bread is simple. With a few ingredients on the table, a tasty loaf of bread is a button push away.
More incredible is the fact that these modern-day kitchen appliances can also make pasta dough, bake a cake or even make jam.
Bread makers were invented as early as 1986 but they became popular in the late 1990s.
You could have been gifted, discovered a bread maker in your dark store or bought a brand new one but you have no clue on how to use it.
Well, worry not because you just found the help you need. Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use the best bread maker.
Table of Contents
What Do You Need?
The ingredients needed include:
- Salt
- Bread flour
- Yeast
- Liquid (Water or Milk)
Major Tips
It is very important to note that bread machines vary in design and the manner in which they bake bread, especially the order of loading the machine with ingredients.
Therefore, before using one first go through the machine instruction and familiarize yourself with the settings. Additionally, don’t make a mistake of exceeding the capacity of your machine, follow the provided instructions.
Getting to Know Your Machine
Bread makers are designed differently in terms of capacity, controls, cycles involved and much more. Some machines can make 1-3 pounds. Know the capacity of your machine.
Also, understand the cycles that are integrated into your machine. Is it a basic, whole wheat or dough? Additionally, does your machine have crust control which allows you to choose between light, medium or dark crust?
Even though most machines share common ingredients when making bread, some features useful functions such as the ability to allow the user to add ingredients from the pantry.
More importantly, do not try guesswork when measuring the ingredients. The slightest error could seriously impact the final texture, appearance, and taste.
Ingredients
Read the provided instruction in order to add ingredients in the right order. In most machines, you will add water or milk, dry ingredients and finally add yeast.
The reason as to why yeast comes last is to avoid triggering fermentation even before baking begins. Adding it directly to water would result in that.
Settings
Just like the case with ingredients, settings vary from machine to machine. You must go through the recipe books and the user’s manual before maneuvering the settings.
Some bread makers come with pre-programmed settings while others do not. You can choose the “dough”, “cake”, “gluten-free”, “basic”, or the “jam” cycles.
The crust settings include light, medium, and dark. Another bonus feature is the delayed timer that lets you delay the baking time so as to fit your schedule.
Actual Baking
Once you have fed the machine with all the required ingredients and chosen your preferred settings, you push the “start” button.
The most awkward thing about a bread maker is that it takes long before you can realize that something is actually happening. Use the viewing window to monitor the progress.
Remove the Baked Bread
When the bread is ready, the inside of the machine is terribly hot. Be careful not to burn your hands. Firstly, remove the pan using oven mitts and then remove the bread.
Some machines feature a “keep warm” function. If you are not ready to use your bread right then, utilize this great feature.