Bread maker - how much?

**Ngala** · June 14th, 2011, 03:45 PM

I'm keen to buy a bread maker. I havent really looked too much in to the types or the costs of them (I'll do that when I have the $$$) but thought I'd ask what sort of bread maker I should be looking for, like something with lots of bottoms or the most simpliest? And how much would I be looking at spending on one??

Cheers!

**Lenny** · June 14th, 2011, 03:47 PM

I bought a decent one from Aldi for $70. The following year they were $60.
I only do basic breads and doughs (pizza, or fruit buns) with it. I'm happy with it.

**Ngala** · June 14th, 2011, 03:48 PM

Yes, I only want it to be doing basic stuff in it.. the most 'fancy'bread I will probably make is raisin bread!

**Little Chicken** · June 14th, 2011, 04:08 PM

Have a look on eBay you can get reconditioned seconds of good brands for a decent price. Also think about what loaf size you want, mine does narrow but tall, bu you can get some that are more regular shaped.

**jaspen** · June 14th, 2011, 05:02 PM

i have a panasonic that I bought new for $249. I think you could probably get one cheaper than that now. When I was looking I read great reviews about the previous model and how sad everyone was that they stopped importing them into australia. just as I was about to purchased they rereleased in australia. I have had it now for almost a year, it is used daily (sometimes two) and has never missed a beat. It does the tall and narrow loaf although I only tend to make the smallest (what they call medium loaf) and just make more regularly. and this is more a regular shape but shorter. Prior to finding the reputation of the panasonic I really wanted one that did a standard looking loaf but ended up not finding the greatest reports on their longevitity at the time. (note not in an aldi area so the option to buy one as cheap as that and just replace when busted wasn't an option for us)

If you are looking at new ones - the jump in price from one level to the other tended to just be for either the larger loaf capacity or those that would add the fruit/extras as required rather than beep and get you to add them themselves. Panasonic only had the one model and when we purchased it was actually slightly cheaper than the Breville that did the same.

**helle** · June 14th, 2011, 05:09 PM

I'd be more inclined buying a good quality mixer and then just baking in the oven. At least that way you can get more out of a machine that just breads iykwim.

**Astrid** · June 14th, 2011, 06:09 PM

I have a Breville that does 3 loaf sizes. We mostly use the 750g (small) and sometimes the 1 kg. We also use ours for pizza dough and other doughs.

I do have a KA mixer, but really do love the set and forget ability of a breadmaker. We are out of town, so just popping out for 5 minutes is not possible if we need bread. Many times just before bed I remember that we need a loaf, in less than 5 minutes it is in the maker, ready to kick off in the middle of the night ready for breakfast.

**Ngala** · June 14th, 2011, 06:58 PM

I do need a really good electric mixer (all I got is this crappy ol'hand held one!!) but I like the idea of being able to put the ingredients in at night and then waking up to have a nice fresh loaf in the morning

I think I will need to read some opinions on different brands. I've looked at a few brands' websites but they don't give pros and cons (obviously!)

**Pandora** · June 14th, 2011, 07:05 PM

How much does the cost of a loaf average out to? We don't have allergies or sensitivities to deal with and a loaf of bread from the bakery is 1.59 so is it worth doing our own?

**Ngala** · June 14th, 2011, 07:28 PM

The cheapest loaf that I have found from a bakery is $2.00. But I rarely go to this bakery. DD is eating fresh sandwiches at the moment and DH will only eat break on the day that its bought. And something just appeals to me about a freshly baked bread and the smell it makes in the house!

**Astrid** · June 14th, 2011, 07:44 PM

We get the Lauke mix, it is just under $12 for 5kg and comes with yeast sachets. Makes 10 x 750g loaves. The loaves are denser and shorter than standard bread. With a slicing guide and an electic knife, you can get thin slices, but normally we just have thick ones. So rather than 2 pieces of toast with eggs, we just have one thicker slice. The trick with slicing is to let the loaf cool otherwise it can become quite mangled (one downside of setting it to bake for morning).

**Lenny** · June 16th, 2011, 03:03 PM

I don't think that the price is the reason i make my own bread.
I do think the best accessory for your bread maker is an electric knife though. My slices were ridiculously big until i bought an electric knife.

Raisin bread is divine and the 'set and forget' idea of a breadmaker is a winner. I'm an electricity frrreak, so i dislike turning the oven on.

I did mean to ask

like something with lots of bottoms or the most simpliest

did you mean buttons? Or is there something about breadmakers i don't know...? Eating lots of bread can have a negative effect on the amount of bottoms you have (

)