New to Bread Machine Baking

[ee99ee]

I received a nice bread machine for Christmas. I made the first loaf last night, and it tastes great, but there are some problems:

1) The bread is very thick. What can I adjust to make it more light and fluffy?
2) Today, the day after, the bread is very tough on the bottom 10%, but otherwise still in good shape on the top part of the loaf. It's very hard to cut when you're slicing near the bottom.
3) I noticed the bread is a little dry. I put a slice in the microwave to warm it up, and it was pretty rough once it cooled down a little. Not sure why.

I'm looking for the kind of consistancy that you get when you buy a loaf at the store, but fresher (since I made it! ). Can anyone point me in the right direction?

This was just a normal white bread loaf, I want to get this basic recipe down before I do anything fancy.

Also, I DID use the recipe that came with the bread maker, and I put the ingredients in just as the instructions said.

It's not a bad loaf, but I was hoping it would be better than that which I buy at the store! I know it can be... I'm just doing something wrong. I used all good ingredients and everything, I just need to adjust something...

-Chris

 

[Katie H]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to DC. This is a place where you will get many answers to all your questions...and quickly.

As for your bread, I've been baking bread for nearly 40 years. Mostly the old-fashioned way...by hand. Until a few years ago when I bought a bread machine because my hands couldn't do the kneading as well as they used to.

Having said that, I only use my bread machine on the DOUGH cycle, which kneads the bread dough and puts it through the first rise. Once it's done, I remove the dough, shape it into loaves and put the loaves in my bread pans, let rise the second time and bake as I've always done. I have probably used my machine to make bread all the way through a half dozen times in the 7 years I've owned it. I just never liked the "belly button" that formed in the machine loaf from the dough paddle.

You might give my method a try for a loaf and see what happens. I've adjusted my favorite bread recipe to make two regular loaves the way I described above. Your machine recipe will produce a single loaf.

Check the instruction booklet that came with the machine and see if there's a "troubleshooting" section about the end result of baking breads. That would give you some idea perhaps.

Best of luck and happy bread baking. I find it very rewarding and relaxing. To say nothing of how wonderful the house smells as the bread bakes.

 

[babyhuggies]

i have been using my bread machine for a few years now(not every day mind you) and i have found that the loaves are denser than those you would buy in the store. I've tried white and whole wheat--ww is more so. maybe if you try finding another recipe there are so many out there now.
wish i could be more help to you....

 

[mraa]

I am ISO a good bread recipe that calls for bread flour (Central Market sells it in bulk for 49c/lb) but not non-fat milk for my bread machine. I've only made 2 loaves and I am getting ready for a 3rd. Any help is greatly appreciated. My bread machine is new-to-me (I got it for $4 at a thrift store) and didn't come with any great recipes.

 

[Dove]

Busy Cooks - Quick and Easy Recipes Crockpot Cooking Lessons Quick Recipes

I googled for bread macnine recipes and this is one i looked at. Some good ideas here.

Type bread in the search area

 

[Katie H]

I am ISO a good bread recipe that calls for bread flour (Central Market sells it in bulk for 49c/lb) but not non-fat milk for my bread machine. I've only made 2 loaves and I am getting ready for a 3rd. Any help is greatly appreciated. My bread machine is new-to-me (I got it for $4 at a thrift store) and didn't come with any great recipes.

I don't know if the grocery company, Kroger, goes as south as your area, but our Kroger stores sell King Arthur bread flour. I love it and wouldn't have anything else. It DOES make a difference.

 

[mraa]

I don't know if the grocery company, Kroger, goes as south as your area, but our Kroger stores sell King Arthur bread flour. I love it and wouldn't have anything else. It DOES make a difference.

No, kroger is in D/FW area. We have HEB/Central Market, Randalls, Walmart, and very few Albertson's (they got bought out by Burger King). I think I've seen that brand before. I will check it out.

 

[mraa]

thank you, Dove. I'll let you know what I use when i start 'er up tomorrow.

 

[Katie H]

No, kroger is in D/FW area. We have HEB/Central Market, Randalls, Walmart, and very few Albertson's (they got bought out by Burger King). I think I've seen that brand before. I will check it out.

Until I was able to buy the King Arthur flour at my grocery store, I bought it from the Baker's Catalougue. Here's a link: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/list.jsp?select=C79&byCategory=C275.

As you can see, there are all kinds of flours out there. The Baker's Catalogue site is a wonderful place for all kinds of baking ideas and "toys." Be careful. It can be a dangerous place, especially if you live in an area where resources are limited.