Not everyone likes to eat store bread. And there are reasons for that. Often manufacturers save on ingredients. In addition, the bread in the store is not always hot. To get fresh and soft bread at home is quite real. This is possible with a bread machine. This device has recently gained more and more popularity. But for the device to really please, you need to know how to choose a bread machine. Expert advice and selection recommendations are later in our article.
Good to know
It should be noted that this unit carries out all the work on:
- Kneading.
- Standing up.
- Baking dough.
The user can only place the necessary ingredients and click on a pair of appropriate buttons.
How cost effective is it? Experts say that the cost of such bread will be almost half that of a store. In this case, the home product will be much better and fresher. Another plus of having a bread machine is the ability to cook not only bread, but also a host of other products. It can be buns, pastries, pizza base, jams and yoghurts. Thus, the bread machine is a universal unit, which, like a slow cooker, makes a lot of types of products.
We calculate the volume
How to choose a bread machine? Expert advice says that before buying you need to find out how much bread will be consumed per day. Indeed, some models can cook a half-kilo loaf at a time, and others - one and a half kilograms. Approximately one person consumes 250 grams of bread per day. Thus, for two you need an aggregate that can cook up to 500-700 grams of baking. For a family of three to four people it is worth buying a device that bakes at a time about one kilogram of product. By the way, now there are models with the function of choosing the mass of finished baking. This is very useful - say the reviews.
How to choose a bread machine? Program set
This is an important characteristic when choosing such devices. Each program has its own time and temperature settings, as well as the procedure for kneading and baking the dough. Before choosing a bread machine, reviews and expert advice recommend looking at the number of programs. Typically, budget models have no more than ten such programs. Models of the average price range - from 12 to 20. But it does not always make sense to chase this figure. If your goal is to purchase a machine that will only prepare bread, a basic set of functions is sufficient. Such an oven makes products no worse than counterparts from a more expensive segment.
The basic set of programs is used for baking different types of bread:
- Whole Grain.
- Wheat
- Rye
- Sweet.
- with additives.
- Gluten free.
- As well as a French baguette.
Additionally, budget models have a function for kneading yeast dough, a program for baking muffins and cakes, as well as making jam.
Among the list of additional (which are already in more expensive models) it is worth noting:
- Yeast-free kneading function.
- Quenching.
- Cooking porridge and dairy products.
- Kneading the dough for pizza and pasta.
- Cooking pilaf and soup.
There is also a set of settings. On all bread machines the base is the degree of crustiness of the crust. We also note that the device may have the following functions:
- Keeping warm. It works like a slow cooker. So, after preparing the product, automatic heating is turned on. Thanks to this function, the product will remain warm for another two to three hours after preparation.
- Child lock This is a protection against unauthorized opening of the lid or changing modes during cooking.
- Favorite program. A bread maker can remember the settings for your favorite recipe.
- Delay start. In this case, the device can be programmed for the desired start time. For example, in the evening you loaded all the ingredients, and in the morning the device will prepare a fresh loaf of bread for breakfast. Often the delay time is 3 to 15 hours, depending on the model.
- Fast baking mode. This is present on many models. What does it give? When you turn on such a program, it takes no more than two hours to prepare the bread. But at the same time, the quality of the product is not at a high level. Reviews say that the loaf is not so tasty and magnificent, as with ordinary baking.
- Possibility of making rye bread. Sooner or later, everyone will get tired of cooking ordinary, white bread. Therefore, this function should always be in the oven. The device will make rye bread as airy and delicious as white.
Among other useful functions, it is worth noting the preparation of French bread. Manually making it very difficult. And the device allows you to save a significant amount of time and effort.
How to choose a bread machine? Buyers' advice says that you need to pay attention to the dough kneading. This feature has differences among many manufacturers. So, some models are able to work only with yeast dough, others prepare rye bread, and others work with a variety of types of dough. But you need to remember that multifunction devices are always more expensive than ordinary ones.
Very often, housewives buy and use the oven not only for bread, but also for muffins. When choosing a device you need to know that not all models are able to prepare cupcakes "from and to." Often budget versions only bake them. This must be considered before choosing a bread maker. By the way, this device is also used for cooking jam. Manufacturers say that the device is able to store all the vitamins. However, such jam cannot be used as winter preparations - it is perishable. But to make delicious jams that can be added to various foods, you will definitely succeed.
Power
Before choosing a bread machine for the home, experts advise you to determine the power of the device. Today there are 450-1600 watts models. You need to understand that the higher the power, the higher the price of the device. But at the same time, such aggregates have a larger set of functions and bake bread faster. Do I need to chase power in the question "How to choose a bread machine for home" ?. Expert advice says that if you are ready to bake bread for three to four hours, it is enough to limit yourself to a low-power and cheap device at 450-700 watts.
But if you make bread often and you need to get it quickly, the oven should have a capacity of 900 watts. In this case, the cooking time will be two and a half hours or even less. But you do not need to use the function of accelerated baking in plans to get bread even faster. According to customer reviews, even on expensive models in this mode, it’s not possible to get really tasty and airy bread.
Working bowl
There are many models of stoves where the weak point is precisely the working bowl. Due to its wear, problems arise with the operation of the device. How to choose a bread machine? It is necessary to pay attention to the material from which this bowl is made. Usually it is made of stainless steel or aluminum, and a non-stick coating is applied on top.
The second material will be cheaper. But as reviews say, aluminum bowls quickly become worthless. Also, before choosing a homemade bread machine, it is important to examine the integrity of the non-stick coating itself. Sometimes it can be damaged from the outside or from the inside. These are scratches and tubercles. It is better to refuse to buy such a product and ask the seller to pack another device. A quality bowl has an even, smooth coating and a thick non-stick layer. It is necessary to pay attention to dough mixers. These are blades for kneading dough. Depending on the dimensions, one or two dough mixers are placed in the bowl. They are also coated with a non-stick layer, which must be intact. These blades are removable. Some manufacturers complete ovens with dough mixers of different sizes - for jam or baking. But as practice shows, with a yogurt and jam the dough shovel perfectly copes.
The shape of the bowl is also different. It can be rectangular or round (for a loaf). For ordinary bread, you should buy the first type. Although round products are baked a little better and more evenly. Some models come with baguette. These are individual forms in an amount of up to four for sintering French bread.
According to reviews, the weak point of each working bowl in the bread machine is a rubber gasket that covers the shaft of the mixer. Due to long and frequent contact with oils and fluids, it begins to harden, deteriorate and lose tightness. As a result, the bucket begins to leak. How to choose a bread machine correctly? Experts advise choosing models where they put dry products first.
Housing
The body material is not as important as the bowl, but this issue should not be ignored. What to choose a bread machine for home? Reviews say that the most durable and practical stainless steel case.
Also, such stoves have a beautiful appearance. But the cost of these devices is an order of magnitude higher compared to the same plastic. The case from it is somewhat lighter, and also heats up less during the operation of the device. But at the same time, plastic is subject to various mechanical stresses and less wear-resistant.
Cap type
To choose the best bread machine, you need to pay attention to the type of cover. It is desirable that it be removable. This will facilitate the process of washing it after contamination. Also, it does not hurt the presence of a viewing window for monitoring the condition of the product.
Additionally, the lids can be equipped with a dispenser for additives. According to reviews, a dispenser is a very useful thing. Fill it with the necessary ingredients (for example, seeds or berries), and the device itself will add them during cooking. This feature is especially useful when delaying start. After all, you no longer need to wait a certain time to add various components to the dough.
Shape, dimensions
It is necessary to determine where this furnace will work and be stored. It is desirable that her body fit into the design of the kitchen and not be a thorn. The cord should have a length of one to two meters. Square devices are compact and convenient for storage.
Noisiness of the unit
During operation, each unit makes a certain noise. It is especially enhanced during kneading and kneading dough. So that the device does not distract you from sleep, work or rest, it is worth choosing models with a noise level of no more than 60 decibels.
Control system
Often the furnace has a mechanical control system. According to reviews, it is extremely simple and reliable. There are devices with touch panels. They are easier to wipe, but if you have small children, you should pay attention to the possibility of blocking. Otherwise, the operation of the furnace may suddenly break or stop. Reviews are advised to choose backlit panels. Monochrome solutions will be worse.
Memory reserve
It is worth considering the fact that the house may have problems with the supply of electricity. If crashes happen often, experts advise you to purchase devices with a memory reserve function. What it is? This function allows the furnace to continue its operation after a sudden stop during a power outage. The memory reserve can function for one hour.
Model Comparison
What to choose a bread machine for home? Among the budget stoves, the Kenwood BM256 unit is worth noting. The power of the device is 450 watts. The weight of the finished bread is different. Weight varies from 500 to 1000 grams. The baking dish is rectangular. The number of programs - 12, among the additional features worth noting:
- Stock in case of power outages.
- Timer (another name - delayed start function).
- The choice of color of the crust of bread.
- Maintaining temperature after shutdown.
The stove is quite compact. Its dimensions are as follows: 345 x 345 x 250 millimeters. Reviews about this model are generally positive. Among the shortcomings are the long cooking time and a limited set of programs.
Also positive feedback is received by the Panasonic device model SD-2511 WTS. The power of the unit is 550 watts. The mass of finished bread is from 500 to 1100 grams. The baking dish is rectangular. Number of functions - 15. There is a timer, protection against overheating and setting the color of the crust. Reviews say that this model has a dispenser that allows you to automatically add the right ingredients to the bread without grinding. This is a very convenient feature in the device. The dimensions of the unit are also compact: 382 x 256 x 389 millimeters.
Among the more expensive models, it is necessary to note the "Mulinex" model RZ710130. This stove has a high power of 1050 watts and a wide range of functions (their number is 17 pieces). However, the stove has a smaller volume of the working bowl. The mass of bread is not more than 900 grams. At the same time, the dimensions of this model are larger than that of previous units: 390 x 310 x 350 millimeters. Among the useful functions, it is worth noting the following:
- The choice of color crusts.
- Overheat protection.
- Timer.
- Memory for power outages.
What comes with the stove? Typically, manufacturers complete it with additional blades for kneading and operating instructions. Also in the box is a book with recipes, a measuring spoon and a glass that allow you to accurately measure the necessary ingredients to the user. If we talk about Mulinex stoves, in the kit you can find coasters for baking baguettes and rolls (so that they acquire the desired shape).
Finally
So, we figured out how to choose a bread machine for home. As you can see, when buying, you need to consider many nuances. Observing all the rules of choice, you will get a really good and high-quality device that will meet all the requirements and preferences.