Bread maker tips

[Lenny]

Have you tried a premix?

Have you tried that bread/pizza flour that comes in a box?

I can't help. Currently I am using a premix (Defiance) that comes in a bag and i just throw it in the machine with yeast and water. I think it's fine density wise.

[Miss.September]

We've tried premixes in the past, but we're trying to work from scratch. We're using a baking flour suitable for pizza and bread.

[*star*]

I haven't had this problem, but my bread machine book has a troubleshooting section and suggests for dense bread to increase the liquid by 1 tablespoon or more?

[CrazyLady]

are you using the original book that came with the machine?

Are you weighing dry ingredients or going by an actual measuring cup? I found weighing is a bit more accurate because flours can fluff up or pack down. Same with liquids using ml instead of a cup because if i was a smidge out it was a horrible loaf of bread.

Is the lid on 100%? one loaf mine was sitting crooked and the bread was heavy

Do you store your yeast in the freezer? mde a difference here for some reason

I'll add more if i think of it.

[Miss.September]

*Star* - thanks, I'll give that a go.

CrazyLady - It's the original book. We measure out the ingredients on a kitchen scale, I never use cups. The lid is part of the machine - it's on hinges so can't actually come off, swings back down into position, ITMS. I keep the yeast in the fridge, will try the freezer and see what happens. Thanks.


The other thing I do is I go off the directions of the yeast packet, rather than the direction in the recipe. We were doing it the other way and the loaves were tiny.

[CrazyLady]

not sure if you mean tiny as in lacking quantity of ingredients or didn't rise enough. If you mean tiny as in ingredients that could possibly be your answer. My bread maker specified not to stray too far off the recipes because too many ingredients won't allow it to rise properly or the lid could knock the dough down. Maybe contact the manufacturer of your machine if you don't find out anything and troubleshoot through them.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

[Miss.September]

Nah, tiny as in didn't rise enough. Thanks anyway!