How to Make Good Bread Using a Bread Machine

There seems to be two crowds when it comes to bread machines. The first is the crowd who use their machines often and love them. The other crowd has tried to make a loaf or two but after a few disappoinments the machine was abandoned. In this article, I will share with you how to make a good loaf of bread using any recipe you desire.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bread Machine
• Ingredients for the recipe of your choice
• Loaf pan
• Oven

1. Follow the steps in the recipe for adding the ingredients to the bread machine pan. I generally put my liquid ingredients in the pan first followed by the dry.

2. Extreme temperatures are deadly to yeast. Allow your ingredients to come to room temperature before using. Cold eggs, milk and even flour can effect the yeast. To make sure the water temperature is just right, dip your clean finger into the measuring cup. If you can't feel the temperature (not cold or hot), its ready! Use hotter water if you are adding cold ingredients.

3. Ignore the instruction for the setting on your bread machine. Choose the dough only cycle. Using the machine for mixing and rising your bread creates the perfect environment for the perfect loaf.

4. Grease the loaf pan or muffin pan. When the dough cycle finishes, dump the dough into the loaf pan or shape into rolls. Cover and allow to rise again.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls or bread loaf until golden brown. This is the secret to great bread... use the machine to do the work but bake it in your oven. I find this is the best way to eliminate dry, over baked loaves of bread.

[Mindee94]

on 7/12/2009 I just adore my bread machine! Fresh home baked bread is the Best! Never thought about greasing the pan however, thanks for the Great ideas on how to get a better loaf. ~Mindee