General Chat

Don't want to upset the applecart here but I have the same probs with my bread maker.... but mine was a cheepie out of tescos... Daughter has an expensive panasonic one and the bread comes out lovely..does make you wonder. Lynda x

Try sifting the flour directly into the bowl of the machine. It made a difference to my bread. Some machines tell you to put in the dry ingredients frist but I find its better to add the flour last.

Right Jennifer will do and Lynda don't know how much mine was probably quite cheap but then I bought a cheap one for DIL year ago and the bread is lovely its probably the make ?? Norah

I got a bread maker for Christmas, and used it about 6 times so far, and bread has come out great. Water does go in first. followed by the butter. then I weigh out the dry ingredients, (flour, salt, sugar, dried milk) these then go into machine then the yeast. Cant remeber exact quantities at mo as am at work, but will look and email you if your interested. The machine I've got is Breville Liz

Norah - why don't you email Morphy Richards - especially if your relative is having the same problems with the same machine. Maybe they would send you new machines or suggest something to help. Good luck, made me hungry -I love newly made bread.

I have a Panasonic which makes wonderful bread every time. I use it according tot he book that came with it and that says 'yeast in first'. dont despair and give up, it is well worth the trying, and the birds can have a good feed if it is inedible for a couple of times brenda

It could be the yeast (this has caught me out). If you're using dried yeast DO NOT get the ordinary dried yeast (comes in little orange containers) - somewhere on the packet in miniscule writing it says that it isn't any good in bread machines. If you do use it you get heavy bread. You need fast action yeast. Mine is in a green box which has 8 or 10 sachets in. I put yeast in first followed by flour etc and liquid last. Never had a failure doing it that way.

I found that different makes of 'strong' flour do vary - some seem better than others at absorbing water. So stick to one brand & experiment with the amount of liquid - you may get better results using less than the recipe suggests.

Thanks everyone for all your help breadmaking on hold for now as dil in labour but will get started again soon and think I might give the manf. a ring and see what they say Norah

the Italian loaf is nice, not just when it's cooked but toasted with ham or cheese on, thinking about it, i'm off to make one