Do you want to bake freshly good homemade bread every morning? Just unpacked a new bread machine? Using a bread machine is intimidating once you know how to use it.
The features are straightforward and allow you to bake various pieces of bread.
The machine is handy, and the design is simple. It helps to make bread quickly when you are in a hurry.
Most Efficient Bread Machine Tips for Beginners
Check out the beginner’s guide for using the bread machine and avoiding all the mistakes:
1. Start Easy
Beginners should always start with an easy process to get used to the machine. Suppose you have no idea where to start; begin with bread machine mix or ready-made bread mix from the grocery store. Mix it with warm water, then follow the instruction.
Observe the texture in various stages and make it not more than three steps. If the bread maker machine is versatile, start with liquid ingredients. It is the easiest way to bake light, fluffy pizza dough or other simple bread.
2. Machine Basics
Learn about the machine basics before starting the process. Watch online videos, and read the instruction manual. Remove the bread pan so nothing will spill.
Check the kneading blade and keep it in the right place. Remove the loaf of bread from the pan soon, or the bread will become soggy and collapse. A heated pan builds excess moisture, which is not good for bread.
3. Maintain the Substitutions
The dry ingredients should be properly scaled to get the desired result. Follow the recipe or instructions and use the exact quantity, or the bread may collapse in the middle.
Start with a simple recipe, and remember a different type of flour requires other measurements. Also, active yeast and instant bread machine yeast are not the same.
After gaining some experience, start experimenting with recipes. Use instant dry yeast as it saves time and can add directly. Add some salt to strengthen the gluten.
4. Use Room Temperature for Most Recipe
Beginners do not need to take the hassle of freezing the ingredients. Too hot or too cold kills the yeast, so keep all the ingredients at room temperature.
Room temperature does not affect much on the bread much. And try to keep maintain the proper temperature.
5. Remove the Mixing Paddle
A mixing paddle is only required in the kneading process, so carefully remove the dough, remove the paddle, and then wait to complete the baking.
The mixing paddle helps the kneading cycle. While the manufacturer does not mention removing it, it will be easy to take out all the loaf after baking without this paddle.
6. Open the Lid
Do not completely trust the machine. Open the lid every 5 to 20 minutes and check if the process is going right. The oven makes a loud sound when the dough is dry. So add water if needed. Add additional flour when the dough is soupy.
7. Freeze the Dough
The ready-mix baking process is easy. Make several batches of dough and freeze them overnight. You can keep this dough for over six months.
Still, you can make the process faster by investing some time before using the machine for the final approach.
8. Use Right Flour
The loaf can be made with any wheat flour. Oatmeal, all-purpose flour, rye flour, etc., absorb differently, and no need to rush on learning the process.
But until you are experienced, stick with high-protein bread flour and the exact portion required in the recipe.
9. Use the Bread Maker for Other Recipe
The bread machine is not only for baking bread. You can use it for baking cakes, rice pudding, brownies, jams, gluten-free bread and more. This way, you will know the settings and features for further use.
10. Invest in Some Accessories and Bakeware
If you want to use the bread machine regularly, invest in high-quality accessories for a good result. Pan, dough scraper, instant-read thermometer, and other accessories will make the process more convenient.
Should You Remove Bread From Bread Machine Immediately?
When the bread is baked, do not remove it from the machine immediately. The room temperature makes a wrinkly top crust.
So after removing the bread, put the loaf back in the machine, then close the lid leaving 1 inch cracked.
Why Your Bread is Dense and Heavy
Several things can happen in the baking process. If the dough is liquid, the bread can rise and collapse. Try to keep the exact ratio and make a saggy ball.
Sometimes the yeast could be bad, or you have added too much salt, so the bread is dense and heavy. Other possible reasons are hot or cold water, too much chlorine in the water, etc.