Re: Breadmaker recipes

by Dandelion 7th June 2020, 10:23 pm

The yeast does go into the pan with all the other ingredients. With the previous breadmaker, the water and butter went in first with the dry ingredients on top (keeping the salt, sugar and yeast in different corners of the pan.) I had assumed this was the correct method for all breadmakers, so I was surprised when a few weeks ago I actually read ALL the instructions, and realised that yeast went in first, flour on top of this, salt and sugar, then water and butter last. What I might do is next time I use the timer, go back to the old way of doing it, as I think it's easier to keep the dry ingredients separate. I'll just have to experiment and see!

by freebird 8th June 2020, 8:50 am

My first Panasonic had the order of ingredients you have just described for yours ie yeast at the bottom and water last. Used the timer 99% of the time, and the bread was fine.

I can promise you the water doesn't soak through the flour into the yeast whilst waiting on timer programme. How do I know? Because a couple of times we managed to forget to insert the mixing paddle! What came out next morning was a flat cooked brick on top with the bottom two thirds being dry, unmixed flour.

If the flour you have bought from the farm shop is wholemeal, try replacing 100g with strong white (if you have any, or can get any). It helps the rise no end, but you still have a mainly wholemeal loaf. Also adding quarter teaspoon of citric acid (vitamin C powder) helps.

by Chilli-head 8th June 2020, 11:57 am

freebird wrote:
I can promise you the water doesn't soak through the flour into the yeast whilst waiting on timer programme. How do I know? Because a couple of times we managed to forget to insert the mixing paddle!

We've done that too, but fortunately we were making dough only, so it was just time wasted - I recovered by hand kneading. Forgetting the yeast altogether is my most common mistake when putting on an overnight loaf when I'm ~~drunk~~ tired. Sometimes I forget the salt, which makes a surprising (to me) difference in taste. Not good.

Also adding quarter teaspoon of ~~citric~~ acid (vitamin C powder) helps.

You meant ascorbic acid. I've never tried that, but I'm sure it mentioned it in passing in the manual somewhere.

by Dandelion 8th June 2020, 5:14 pm

Thanks for all the help - will try a few tweaks!!

by freebird 8th June 2020, 6:24 pm

Oops! Yes I did, thank you CH.

by Dandelion 9th June 2020, 11:12 pm

I keep thinking about your flat baked bricks Freebird - not what you want to find when you get up in the morning expecting lovely fresh baked bread! I hope you had some cornflakes to hand...

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