Boston Gal's Open Wallet

Bread machines are definitely handy to have. The only thing I don't like about mine is getting the loaf out of the pan. Because the mixing paddle is in the bottom of the pan, the loaf bakes around it and you have to do a lot of wiggling to get it our of the pan. When I bake bread in a regular loaf pan in the oven, I get a rectangle shaped loaf that easily rolls out of the loaf pan. It is great though waking up in the morning to a fresh baked loaf of bread -- it works better than an alarm clock.

 

We really love our bread machine, which we've had for 17 years. It also makes rice (with a little lid that fits the top of the pan). We also use it very often to just make dough that we bake in the oven--french bread, rolls, breadsticks, pizza dough, etc. You can put the ingredients in in the morning, let the yeast cure and flavor everything throughout the day, then bake it quickly for dinner.

To give you an idea of how much we love ours: recently the pan's mechanism got stuck, and we couldn't repair it. We remembered having given one like ours to my parents years back. We called; they still had it but weren't using it. So, now we have the same one--what we preferred to anything new.

 

But, BostonGal, don't you remember all of the advice that we gave to buy a second hand machine? It's the best thrifty choice!

 

I do recall that excellent advice, but that is why I had waited so long to get a bread machine. I tried a few times to strike a deal via craigslist - but all came to naught.

I did ask around the family to see if someone had a bread machine gathering dust somewhere, but again struck out.

So I am finally taking the plunge and just buying one.

 

How weird. We have that exact bread machine. We got it as a wedding gift 10 years ago from my husband's grandmother and it still works. I mean, we don't use it daily or anything but we do pull it out on a regular basis, perhaps monthly? We like it to make pizza crusts mainly, although I've started cinnamon roll dough in there and other assorted breads.

 

Looks like a great machine! We have a 10+ year old machine. It's much larger and cumbersome than the newer models. I keep hoping it will break so I can buy a new one! I often see bread machines at Goodwill. In fact, I recently told a friend this, she sent her husband over to Good Will later that afternoon and he picked one out that was BRAND NEW with the instruction book for ~$7!

 

I got one for Christmas and have used it about 6 times already... I love it! You're going to be glad you bought it too...