Breadmaker Suggestions?

starryeyedtiger

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Do any of you use a breadmaker? If so, any suggestions on a brand/model? I'm looking into buying one so I can make my own homemade breads easily! I'd like a good quality, programmable, mid-price range that will hold up well. :smile2:

I was thinking about buying one from Bed Bath & Beyond if they have a good price, since I can use a 20% off coupon towards it.
 
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Winchester

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I have one, but don't use it.

One of my concerns would be if you're planning on making a dense dough that might have a lot of grains, nuts, etc in it as far as the machine being able to mix it and knead it. Especially if you're thinking about going gluten-free or making some artisan-type breads that might be denser than other dough. Make sure that whatever machine you buy will be able to do what you want it to do.

If you like, I will check my Cooks Country/America's Test Kitchen ratings for breadmakers for you. Not sure if they have tested breadmakers, but will look for you tonight when I get home from work.
 
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starryeyedtiger

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I have one, but don't use it.

One of my concerns would be if you're planning on making a dense dough that might have a lot of grains, nuts, etc in it as far as the machine being able to mix it and knead it. Especially if you're thinking about going gluten-free or making some artisan-type breads that might be denser than other dough. Make sure that whatever machine you buy will be able to do what you want it to do.

If you like, I will check my Cooks Country/America's Test Kitchen ratings for breadmakers for you. Not sure if they have tested breadmakers, but will look for you tonight when I get home from work.
You are awesome! Thank you for offering to check the ratings; I appreciate it! :clap:

I'm wanting a breadmaker so I can make gluten-free breads, and more artisan-type breads. (I've had a severe flair of GI issues lately, so I really want one to be able to make my own breads with it easily so I have complete control over the ingredients. My mom bought a bread maker several years ago when I lived with her and was having GI issues then.. She used to make me gluten free bread, and it was awesome! She uses her breadmaker often, and I'm the type that would use it often as well, so I want one that is durable! (She has an older model of the Breadman, but not sure which one).

Thank you so much for pointing that detail about the dough! (I have no experience with bread makers or starters, so I'm really glad I posted here first!) I found a few online through a few review websites that have great ratings. Some are a little pricey though, BUT I would rather invest a little more now on the front end and have a machine that will hold up well and last for a long time since I will use it often. (I'm one of those kitchen gadget lovers! I use my crock pot at least 4-5 times a week if that gives you any insight lol:lol3:!) I've noticed some of the more expensive breadmakers seem to have separate settings based on the type of bread you want to make. That seems like a nice option to have since I'm wanting one to make gluten-free with.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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I was considering buying one to make gluten free breads. instead, I bought a Kitchen Aid stand mixer to mix the bread doughs and I bake my own in the oven. I talked myself out of having to turn on a bread machine for as long as it takes one of them to bake bread
 

MoochNNoodles

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I don't use mine often.  My mother's is over 15 years old; a sunbeam brand one i think.  She uses hers more than I do; but still not weekly.  Usually just when we make stews and things.  

My Aunt also goes the Kitchen Aid route to do her doughs.  But then she uses hers for just about everything. 
 

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I just checked my Cooks Country TV cookbook which has all of their recommendations for the past five years. Evidently, they didn't test any breadmakers because I can't find anything about them.

I also looked on Consumer Reports and they had an article about what to look for, but that was about it. No product reviews or anything like that. I will PM you with the article from CR.
 

natalie_ca

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I got a breadmaker using my Air Miles, so it was completely free.  Thank goodness! I got it about 10 years ago and I can honestly say that I have not used it a single time. I haven't read the manual and the paddle is still wrapped in it's original plastic.

I keep saying that one day I will try it, but never do.

My brother has a breadmaker too and he also never uses is.

I think you have a kitchen aid, don't you? If you so use the dough hook and make the dough with that.
 
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starryeyedtiger

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Thank you everyone for all of your feedback! It was really helpful! :clap::thanks: Well, I think you all have just made up my mind for me! :lol3: I've decided to go with a stand mixer instead of the breadmaker, since it would offer me more flexibility with my recipes and be a better long term investment hopefully! I also like that you can get pasta attachments for some of them, which would work out well for me so I can make Gluten Free pastas along with breads! (The pups will also enjoy the homemade dog cookies too!) Thank you everyone for all of the input and help! I'm going to look up reviews on stand mixers to see which ones have good ratings. I'd like a good one that can really knead the dough and mix well, so I save my wrists the strain. I've had my eye on a kitchenaid for years now, but held off because of the price. It seems like a good breadmaker that comes with a GF cycle will cost me around the same price for a Kitchenaid stand mixer, so if that's the case, I'd rather go with the mixer and enjoy all of the other recipes I could make with it! If I can find a good deal, I think it would be worth the long term investment. :dollars:

Any thoughts? Do any of you have a standmixer brand that you enjoy using? Any advice on finding a good price on one? I was thinking either online, or in a store like Bed Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon! :)

I just read this article http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/what-is-best-gluten-free-bread-machine/ and it seems like I'm honestly just better off with a sturdy mixer and my oven. So, I think I might go with the a mixer after all since I can add attachments to it for the most specialized cooking I enjoy anyways! :)

Nikki, have you seen this thread? Apparently you need a breadmaker with a gluten-free cycle.
I just read through the entire thread. Thank you for sharing it! I looked online at some of the breadmakers with GF cycles, and holy cow, the good ones are expensive ! :thud: I think if I'm going to make any kind of investment in the kitchen, it will go towards a good quality stand mixer and some baking pans now, after reading through a lot of material!

I was considering buying one to make gluten free breads. instead, I bought a Kitchen Aid stand mixer to mix the bread doughs and I bake my own in the oven. I talked myself out of having to turn on a bread machine for as long as it takes one of them to bake bread
I think I'm going to do exactly what you did! :clap: Thank you for your answer; it honestly helped me make my decision a little easier hearing from someone else that makes GF breads!

I don't use mine often.  My mother's is over 15 years old; a sunbeam brand one i think.  She uses hers more than I do; but still not weekly.  Usually just when we make stews and things.  

My Aunt also goes the Kitchen Aid route to do her doughs.  But then she uses hers for just about everything. 
Thanks girl! I think I'm definitely going to go with your aunt's choice and find a good stand mixer instead. The attachments will allow me to make homemade GF pastas and give me a lot more flexibility, so it seems like that would be the better investment in the long run! :clap:


I just checked my Cooks Country TV cookbook which has all of their recommendations for the past five years. Evidently, they didn't test any breadmakers because I can't find anything about them.

I also looked on Consumer Reports and they had an article about what to look for, but that was about it. No product reviews or anything like that. I will PM you with the article from CR.
I just read through the pm link you sent me; thank you so much! It was actually helpful because I didn't know the first thing about the settings or functions, so it was a good read, even if there weren't reviews. I think having read that and a few other reviews online, I'm going to try out a mixer since it seems that's maybe more of what I need. :)


I got a breadmaker using my Air Miles, so it was completely free.  Thank goodness! I got it about 10 years ago and I can honestly say that I have not used it a single time. I haven't read the manual and the paddle is still wrapped in it's original plastic.

I keep saying that one day I will try it, but never do.

My brother has a breadmaker too and he also never uses is.


I think you have a kitchen aid, don't you? If you so use the dough hook and make the dough with that.
I actually have my mom's old 1980's white hand mixer! (It's still works suprisingly well! :clap: ) I've been thinking about investing in a good stand mixer for several years now though. (One of my sister's got one and uses it often) I think all of these posts have helped confirm my decision on a good stand mixer vs. a breadmaker because it will give me more flexibility! I have nerve damage to both of my wrists, so the hand mixer is a little hard for me to use when I cook and bake, so I've strongly considered getting a good stand mixer for a long time now. I especially like the idea of being able to make my own GF doughs, pasts, and other goodies with different attachments! I love kitchen gadgets, so it would get a lot of use! With the holidays coming up, I'm thinking I can find a good price one one too hopefully!
 
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Winchester

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I think a KA mixer really is your best bet at this point. Although, I think I read somewhere that you have some wrist problems? Be careful when you're kneading dough....let the KA do most of the work; that way you won't aggravate your wrist. You can finish the kneading by hand, if you want, but let the KA do the hard part, simply to avoid any problems. (I love kneading yeast dough; it's therapeutic for me, especially when I'm under a lot of stress. It becomes almost rhythmic to bring the dough over, smooth it out, then turn. I love it.)

You cannot go wrong with a KA! You won't be sorry. 
 

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I think you're making the right call by investing in a good quality stand mixer like Kitchen Aid. Good luck with the bread making!
 

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blueyedgirl5946

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I bought my Kitchen Aid from Lowe's. It was the last one they had in stock in a box. They had reduced it to $199
 
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starryeyedtiger

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Well, I got my mixer today while I was out with my mom!! :woohoo:

So excited to use it this week and try out lots of Gluten Free recipes! :jive: I went with the Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer; I am in love! (I chose that one because the motor was a bit more powerful than the model below it, and I want a more powerful model for GF cooking.) I was able to use a 20% off coupon for everything, so that helped. Since Bed Bath and Beyond had a promotion going at the time, I also got a free food grinder attachment! Since I wanted the mixer primarily for GF breads and pastas, I went ahead and got the pasta roller attachments as well. I have a feeling I will be using those often! So glad Whole Foods will no longer be getting my money for pre-packaged, cardboard-tasting breads and pastas lol! :lol3:

Thanks you guys for convincing me to go with the stand mixer vs. the bread maker! Since I had already saved up for a bread maker, It wasn't much of a price difference to get the mixer, and I feel like this will give me a lot more options. I also think this will wind up being a great investment in my health! :)
 
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Winchester

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I know you're going to love your mixer.....it's truly a great investment. A breadmaker is good, but it's pretty much used for bread and that's it. You will get more use from your mixer than you ever thought you would. Enjoy! 

I'd love to see pictures of your breads! I really do enjoy seeing pictures of things that people make.
 

natalie_ca

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Congrats on your Kitchen Aid!!!  You'll love it!!!  Much more practical than a bread maker.

I think Kitchen Aid has a whole recipe section.   I love to make quick breads (IE: banana bread etc). I used to make a double batch and make 2 loaves at a time.  And for cake decorating it's been a blessing for when I make icing, because the icing is so stiff when you start, I think it would destroy a hand mixer.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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Well, I got my mixer today while I was out with my mom!! :woohoo:

So excited to use it this week and try out lots of Gluten Free recipes! :jive: I went with the Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer; I am in love! (I chose that one because the motor was a bit more powerful than the model below it, and I want a more powerful model for GF cooking.) I was able to use a 20% off coupon for everything, so that helped. Since Bed Bath and Beyond had a promotion going at the time, I also got a free food grinder attachment! Since I wanted the mixer primarily for GF breads and pastas, I went ahead and got the pasta roller attachments as well. I have a feeling I will be using those often! So glad Whole Foods will no longer be getting my money for pre-packaged, cardboard-tasting breads and pastas lol! :lol3:

Thanks you guys for convinced me to go with the stand mixer vs. the bread maker! Since I had already saved up for a bread maker, It wasn't much of a price difference to get the mixer, and I feel like this will give me a lot more options. I also think this will wind up being a great investment in my health! :)
Keep us posted how you enjoy it. This thread is for gluten free recipes Feel free to share. We want gluten free recipes.http://www.thecatsite.com/t/263996/gluten-free-recipes
 
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starryeyedtiger

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I know you're going to love your mixer.....it's truly a great investment. A breadmaker is good, but it's pretty much used for bread and that's it. You will get more use from your mixer than you ever thought you would. Enjoy! 

I'd love to see pictures of your breads! I really do enjoy seeing pictures of things that people make.
Thank you! I am so excited to use it and learn how to craft some great recipes! I will definitely share pictures of what I make! (I actually share a lot of recipes and pictures already on my Instagram. If you want to pm me, I'll send you the info!)

Congrats on your Kitchen Aid!!!  You'll love it!!!  Much more practical than a bread maker.

I think Kitchen Aid has a whole recipe section.   I love to make quick breads (IE: banana bread etc). I used to make a double batch and make 2 loaves at a time.  And for cake decorating it's been a blessing for when I make icing, because the icing is so stiff when you start, I think it would destroy a hand mixer.

I forgot to ask.  What colour did you get?
I got the "Empire Red" color, since that's the one that matches most of the decor in our house. (I love red tones!). I named it "Sir Mix A Lot" :D

I've been scouring lots of awesome websites lately looking for great gluten-free baking and pasta recipes! Thankfully, there are so many great blogs and websites to chose from! I think the tricky part is getting the ratio and cook times coverted properly.

Well, I got my mixer today while I was out with my mom!! :woohoo:

So excited to use it this week and try out lots of Gluten Free recipes! :jive: I went with the Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer; I am in love! (I chose that one because the motor was a bit more powerful than the model below it, and I want a more powerful model for GF cooking.) I was able to use a 20% off coupon for everything, so that helped. Since Bed Bath and Beyond had a promotion going at the time, I also got a free food grinder attachment! Since I wanted the mixer primarily for GF breads and pastas, I went ahead and got the pasta roller attachments as well. I have a feeling I will be using those often! So glad Whole Foods will no longer be getting my money for pre-packaged, cardboard-tasting breads and pastas lol! :lol3:

Thanks you guys for convinced me to go with the stand mixer vs. the bread maker! Since I had already saved up for a bread maker, It wasn't much of a price difference to get the mixer, and I feel like this will give me a lot more options. I also think this will wind up being a great investment in my health! :)
Keep us posted how you enjoy it. This thread is for gluten free recipes Feel free to share. We want gluten free recipes.http://www.thecatsite.com/t/263996/gluten-free-recipes
Thanks! I will keep you posted, and try to share pictures/recipes of what I make with it. :clap:
 
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