How to Use a Bread Maker
Put the bread pan and paddles into the machine., Determine the size of your bread maker., Find the power button if there is one., Find the Select button., Learn how to select loaf size., Understand the different flour settings., Find the crust...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Put the bread pan and paddles into the machine.
These are the components that will be responsible for mixing, kneading, and baking your bread.
Open the lid on the top of the machine.
You’ll see a heat element in the bottom and a place where the bread pan sits inside the machine.
Insert the pan into place, and then place the paddles (sometimes called the blades) on top of the peg inside the pan.
To remove the pan from the machine again, use the handle and give it a gentle pull.
The paddle will knead the bread, and the metal pan is what the bread will bake in. -
Step 2: Determine the size of your bread maker.
Bread machines have different capacities, and some can make small, medium, or large loaves of bread.
It’s important to determine the capacity of yours, because you can’t overfill your bread maker.
Add one cup of water at a time to the bread pan, keeping track of how many cups you added.
Add water until the pan is full.
For a machine that holds fewer than 10 cups, you can make one-pound loaves.
For a machine that holds 10 cups, you can make
1.5-pound loaves.
For 12 cups, your bread can be two pounds.
More than 12 cups indicates a
2.5-pound loaf.A small to medium loaf of bread (one to
1.5 pounds) will have around two cups of flour, while a medium to large loaf (two to
2.5 pounds) will be around three cups., Dump or reuse the water from the bread pan.
Replace the pan and paddles inside the bread machine.
Close the lid, and plug in the machine.
Most machines will come on automatically, but there may be an on/off switch. , The Select button allows you to begin programing your bread maker according to your ingredients and preferences.
The different settings you’ll be able to choose include:
Loaf size Crust darkness Flour type Rapid cycle Dough-only , Some larger bread machines have a button that allows you to select the size of the loaf you’re making, and this will adjust the baking time of the machine accordingly.
Most bread machines will have a single Loaf button, and you can push this multiple times to change the setting.
As you change the setting, pay attention to how it alters the time on the display. , Bread machines have different settings for different flours, and this is because your loaf will take a longer or shorter time to bake depending on the type of flour, such as white versus whole wheat.Some flours have a longer kneading and rising time, while others can be put on a rapid cycle.
There are some bread maker models that don’t have flour types written right on the machine.
Instead, you may have to select a menu number that corresponds with different flour types. , Many bread makers allow you to control the crustiness or darkness of your crust, because it will add a longer or shorter baking time to your setting.
Like the Loaf control, your machine will likely have a single Crust button that you can push multiple times to change the setting. , This setting is for when you just want the bread machine for mixing, kneading, and rising, but not baking.
This comes in handy when you’re making non-loaf breads, such as:
Pizza dough Rolls Round loaves Bagels or pretzels Ciabatta French bread , The rapid cycle is a quicker version of the bread machine process for when you’re in a hurry, but keep in mind that even this will usually take at least one hour.
You also likely won’t be able to choose custom settings like crust darkness when you select this option.
When you have the time, it’s recommended that you allow your machine to go through the full cycle, because this gives the yeast and ingredients the proper time to activate., The time or delay setting allows you to program your machine to start its cycle at a later time.
For instance, you can put all your ingredients into the machine in the morning, set the delay for five hours, and then your bread will be ready when you get home after work.
To use the time delay, use the up and down arrows to add or subtract time from your programmed setting.
Once you select your flour type, bread size, and crust setting, your bread machine will give you a cycle time, such as three hours, for example.
You can add five hours (so the time display will read eight hours), which means your bread maker won’t start the process until five hours have elapsed.
Never use the delay cycle for recipes that contain dairy or other ingredients that should always be refrigerated., You can play with the settings on your machine all you want, and the machine won’t start mixing, kneading, or baking until you actually hit Start.
When you do hit Start, the machine will begin its cycle, or will begin counting down through the time delay. , The bread machine manual should have all the information you need regarding the functions, how to solve different problems, and possibly even some tasty recipes.
But if you have lost your manual, take a look online to see if you can find a digital version.
Websites like manuals online are a great resource for replacing lost appliance manuals. , Insert the paddle, and gather all the ingredients you need for your bread. , It is especially important to add ingredients in the proper order if you are using the time delay function.
Your bread maker may be different, but most machines say to add the wet ingredients first, and this includes the water and oil.
In order to activate the yeast, make sure that any liquids you add to your bread are at least 80 F (27 C)., Add the sugar and salt first, followed by the flour.
You want to make sure the salt and sugar are separated from the yeast, so you want to create a barrier with the flour.
To make an herb bread, you can also add seasonings in with the dry ingredients, such as thyme, oregano, sage, dill, or rosemary. , Make a small well in the flour with a spoon or your finger, and pour the yeast into the well.
The yeast always comes last because it needs to stay away the from salt, sugar, liquids, and the heat element until a certain time.Separating the yeast from the other ingredients is especially important when you are using the timer. , Once all your ingredients are in, replace the bread pan into its position in the bread machine.
Close the lid. , Press Select.
If you only want the machine to make dough, select the dough cycle.
Or, you can select the rapid cycle.
Otherwise, select your flour type, loaf size, and crust preferences.
Press Timer, if necessary,and use the arrows to adjust the time if you want to use the delay function.
When you are finished, press Start.
The machine will begin spinning the paddles to mix the ingredients and knead the bread.
It will likely go through several periods of kneading and rest, and eventually it will stop to allow the bread to rise. , Depending on the bread you’re making and the settings you’ve chosen, your machine may beep to indicate it will start the baking process soon, and this is your chance to lift the lid and add extra ingredients like nuts, seeds, fruit, or cheese. , When the machine beeps to indicate that the dough is ready, unplug the machine, lift the lid, and remove the bread pan.
To bake your simple white bread in the oven, preheat your oven to 375 F (191 C).
Grease a nine-inch by five-inch loaf pan and place the dough into it.
Set it aside and give it some time to plump up again as the oven heats up.
Bake the loaf for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown., If you’ve opted to bake your bread in the bread machine, the last 30 to 45 minutes or so will be for the baking process.
The bread machine will likely beep several times to indicate that it has completely finished its cycle. , Use an oven mitt to grab the handle, and gently pull the bread pan out.
Tip the pan upside down, and use a plastic or rubber spatula to remove the bread from the pan.
If the paddles are stuck inside the bread, use the handle of a wooden spoon to help get them out., Transfer your freshly baked loaf to a wire cooling rack and let it cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. -
Step 3: Find the power button if there is one.
-
Step 4: Find the Select button.
-
Step 5: Learn how to select loaf size.
-
Step 6: Understand the different flour settings.
-
Step 7: Find the crust control.
-
Step 8: Try the dough-only setting.
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Step 9: Find the rapid cycle.
-
Step 10: Master the time delay.
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Step 11: Locate the start button.
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Step 12: Troubleshoot problems.
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Step 13: Remove the pan from the bread maker.
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Step 14: Add the wet ingredients.
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Step 15: Add the dry ingredients except for the yeast.
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Step 16: Add the yeast.
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Step 17: Insert the bread pan into the bread machine.
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Step 18: Program the machine.
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Step 19: Listen for the beeps.
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Step 20: Remove the dough if you selected knead-only.
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Step 21: Bake the bread in the bread maker as an alternative.
-
Step 22: Remove the bread pan from the machine.
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Step 23: Give your bread time to cool.
Detailed Guide
These are the components that will be responsible for mixing, kneading, and baking your bread.
Open the lid on the top of the machine.
You’ll see a heat element in the bottom and a place where the bread pan sits inside the machine.
Insert the pan into place, and then place the paddles (sometimes called the blades) on top of the peg inside the pan.
To remove the pan from the machine again, use the handle and give it a gentle pull.
The paddle will knead the bread, and the metal pan is what the bread will bake in.
Bread machines have different capacities, and some can make small, medium, or large loaves of bread.
It’s important to determine the capacity of yours, because you can’t overfill your bread maker.
Add one cup of water at a time to the bread pan, keeping track of how many cups you added.
Add water until the pan is full.
For a machine that holds fewer than 10 cups, you can make one-pound loaves.
For a machine that holds 10 cups, you can make
1.5-pound loaves.
For 12 cups, your bread can be two pounds.
More than 12 cups indicates a
2.5-pound loaf.A small to medium loaf of bread (one to
1.5 pounds) will have around two cups of flour, while a medium to large loaf (two to
2.5 pounds) will be around three cups., Dump or reuse the water from the bread pan.
Replace the pan and paddles inside the bread machine.
Close the lid, and plug in the machine.
Most machines will come on automatically, but there may be an on/off switch. , The Select button allows you to begin programing your bread maker according to your ingredients and preferences.
The different settings you’ll be able to choose include:
Loaf size Crust darkness Flour type Rapid cycle Dough-only , Some larger bread machines have a button that allows you to select the size of the loaf you’re making, and this will adjust the baking time of the machine accordingly.
Most bread machines will have a single Loaf button, and you can push this multiple times to change the setting.
As you change the setting, pay attention to how it alters the time on the display. , Bread machines have different settings for different flours, and this is because your loaf will take a longer or shorter time to bake depending on the type of flour, such as white versus whole wheat.Some flours have a longer kneading and rising time, while others can be put on a rapid cycle.
There are some bread maker models that don’t have flour types written right on the machine.
Instead, you may have to select a menu number that corresponds with different flour types. , Many bread makers allow you to control the crustiness or darkness of your crust, because it will add a longer or shorter baking time to your setting.
Like the Loaf control, your machine will likely have a single Crust button that you can push multiple times to change the setting. , This setting is for when you just want the bread machine for mixing, kneading, and rising, but not baking.
This comes in handy when you’re making non-loaf breads, such as:
Pizza dough Rolls Round loaves Bagels or pretzels Ciabatta French bread , The rapid cycle is a quicker version of the bread machine process for when you’re in a hurry, but keep in mind that even this will usually take at least one hour.
You also likely won’t be able to choose custom settings like crust darkness when you select this option.
When you have the time, it’s recommended that you allow your machine to go through the full cycle, because this gives the yeast and ingredients the proper time to activate., The time or delay setting allows you to program your machine to start its cycle at a later time.
For instance, you can put all your ingredients into the machine in the morning, set the delay for five hours, and then your bread will be ready when you get home after work.
To use the time delay, use the up and down arrows to add or subtract time from your programmed setting.
Once you select your flour type, bread size, and crust setting, your bread machine will give you a cycle time, such as three hours, for example.
You can add five hours (so the time display will read eight hours), which means your bread maker won’t start the process until five hours have elapsed.
Never use the delay cycle for recipes that contain dairy or other ingredients that should always be refrigerated., You can play with the settings on your machine all you want, and the machine won’t start mixing, kneading, or baking until you actually hit Start.
When you do hit Start, the machine will begin its cycle, or will begin counting down through the time delay. , The bread machine manual should have all the information you need regarding the functions, how to solve different problems, and possibly even some tasty recipes.
But if you have lost your manual, take a look online to see if you can find a digital version.
Websites like manuals online are a great resource for replacing lost appliance manuals. , Insert the paddle, and gather all the ingredients you need for your bread. , It is especially important to add ingredients in the proper order if you are using the time delay function.
Your bread maker may be different, but most machines say to add the wet ingredients first, and this includes the water and oil.
In order to activate the yeast, make sure that any liquids you add to your bread are at least 80 F (27 C)., Add the sugar and salt first, followed by the flour.
You want to make sure the salt and sugar are separated from the yeast, so you want to create a barrier with the flour.
To make an herb bread, you can also add seasonings in with the dry ingredients, such as thyme, oregano, sage, dill, or rosemary. , Make a small well in the flour with a spoon or your finger, and pour the yeast into the well.
The yeast always comes last because it needs to stay away the from salt, sugar, liquids, and the heat element until a certain time.Separating the yeast from the other ingredients is especially important when you are using the timer. , Once all your ingredients are in, replace the bread pan into its position in the bread machine.
Close the lid. , Press Select.
If you only want the machine to make dough, select the dough cycle.
Or, you can select the rapid cycle.
Otherwise, select your flour type, loaf size, and crust preferences.
Press Timer, if necessary,and use the arrows to adjust the time if you want to use the delay function.
When you are finished, press Start.
The machine will begin spinning the paddles to mix the ingredients and knead the bread.
It will likely go through several periods of kneading and rest, and eventually it will stop to allow the bread to rise. , Depending on the bread you’re making and the settings you’ve chosen, your machine may beep to indicate it will start the baking process soon, and this is your chance to lift the lid and add extra ingredients like nuts, seeds, fruit, or cheese. , When the machine beeps to indicate that the dough is ready, unplug the machine, lift the lid, and remove the bread pan.
To bake your simple white bread in the oven, preheat your oven to 375 F (191 C).
Grease a nine-inch by five-inch loaf pan and place the dough into it.
Set it aside and give it some time to plump up again as the oven heats up.
Bake the loaf for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown., If you’ve opted to bake your bread in the bread machine, the last 30 to 45 minutes or so will be for the baking process.
The bread machine will likely beep several times to indicate that it has completely finished its cycle. , Use an oven mitt to grab the handle, and gently pull the bread pan out.
Tip the pan upside down, and use a plastic or rubber spatula to remove the bread from the pan.
If the paddles are stuck inside the bread, use the handle of a wooden spoon to help get them out., Transfer your freshly baked loaf to a wire cooling rack and let it cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
About the Author
Judith Anderson
A passionate writer with expertise in hobbies topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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