Cheap Breadmakers at Myyrmäki!

[Hank W.]

IKEA has reportedly measure cups with imperial/metric

[sds]

Out of curiosity, are you using the recipes that came with the machine? If they've been translated, they may not have been translated correctly..ie..from cups to ml's, teaspoons to ml's. Try some of the ones from online recipes. I don't know where you're from but it took me awhile to figure out the metric measurements. I generally play around with recipes until I find something I like. The beauty of bread is that you can throw all kinds of grains and seeds and savory seasonings into it for different flavours and textures.

Yes, the recipes came with the machine. They are in Finnish (and I am British). Indeed perhaps they got the measures wrong - particularly as there are differences between US and imperial tablespoons for instance. (I discovered that 1 US tablespoon = 0.832673844 Imperial tablespoons in case you are interested - and perhaps cups are different too as Hank pointed out.)

I will try your recipe and let you know the results!

Thanks again,

Stephen

[sds]

Google is a useful resource for conversions - for example 1 imperial teaspoon in US teaspoons. The keyword is "in" - you can type in virtually any measure "in" another measure and it converts. It's pretty useful.

My bread machine is kneading up Cory's recipe now. The dough looks very well formed - I'll post a picture of the resulting loaf in about three hours from now

Stephen

[sds]

Loaf number 6, according to Cory's recipe, sadly sank itself into another inedible disaster.

I updated my web page with more pictures:
http://www.stephensykes.com/blog_perm.html?99

I wish I could work out where I am going wrong. Maybe there is something wrong with the yeast?

[Rosamunda]

Your latest loaf looks to me like it is sort of OK but only half baked. Like it needs some more time in the "oven". Could be something wrong with the breadmaker, the timing is maybe faulty????

Have you been using the SAME packet of yeast for all the six loaves? If so, I would definitely bin it and buy some new and do one more loaf just to factor out the yeast issue BEFORE you take the breadmachine back to the store!

(BTW, don't be worried about taking it back to Citymarket. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! If you show them the pics of your failed loaves and smile I am sure you would get a refund)

[sds]

How big is the pan inside the machine? If the loaf is rising and bubbling, the yeast is good. The pan can only hold so much and allow for so much expansion..it would fall if it got pressed against the roof of the machine pushing the air out of the loaf. Without the air bubbles, it's a sinker thus why it's important to use good yeast.

I watched the process very carefully. The loaf rose to the top of the tin, and no further. Then for a period big bubbles formed on top of the loaf. They did not reach the roof of the breadmaker, and eventually small holes would appear in them and they would collapse.

The some minutes before the heater came on to full power for baking, the loaf sank. Certainly this loaf ended up undercooked also, but I suspect that was a combination of it sinking with me choosing the "light" colour program.

I take the point about the yeast, and I need to be sure that it is good - but the fact that the bread *is* rising leads me to believe that the yeast isn't actually inactive. But indeed there could be something wrong with it.

My feeling is that perhaps the loaf just rises too fast - could there be too much yeast? Maybe my yeast is too active, or my 5ml teaspoon measure is way off.

So I have two possible next loaves: less yeast, or new pack of yeast.

Stephen

[Mook]

The last attempt looks like the bread I usually end up with (but that's OK, the missus likes chunky bread!)

I always reckoned that the problem was todo with the atmosphere here (fairly dry), although it's currently p*ssing with rain, so maybe not.

My other thought is that more yeast is needed rather than less! You'll know when to stop when it overflows the tin

Other things to try might be proper yeast (from the fridge in the super), but warm it up a little first. Actually, using warmish water/milk might be another thing to try.

[sds]

I don't have any other suggestions.. You used the recipe that I bake about 3 times a week and it works fine.

Good luck!

Thanks. I baked another loaf (#7) with your recipe, and a new pack of yeast. This time I used a bit less yeast because I had an idea that it was rising too fast.

But the result was pretty much the same as loaf #6. A few extra bubbles on top, but undercooked, sunken, and gooey. I wonder if the machine really is faulty? Perhaps the thermostat is broken somehow? I'm also running out of other explanations - maybe I should take it back.

Stephen

[strawberry]

Ahem... Can I ask which make it is? Is it the Chef one?

[sds]

Ahem... Can I ask which make it is? Is it the Chef one?

Sorry for the delay, I was away for a few days. Yes, it's the Chef C-735. Why do you ask? (Do you know something I don't?)

[aurora]

Hi Stephen,
I am amazed at your persistence ( sisu). When and if you do give up, try Artessani bread. It is really nice and so much less hassle plus superior taste to any I have tasted from a bread machine( -in-laws attempts). The bread you made looked truly revolting....

I liked the pictures of Pinja she is very lovely. I hope you have not been feeding her your bread - child cruelty and all that.

Aurora

[strawberry]

Ahem... Can I ask which make it is? Is it the Chef one?

Sorry for the delay, I was away for a few days. Yes, it's the Chef C-735. Why do you ask? (Do you know something I don't?)

No, sorry, mate - I only asked the make for selfish reasons: in case I finally decide to acquire one, too... (Have been thinking about it for a while, as I've an allergic child who needs naturally gluten-free bread and apparently a machine would be great for that?) Sounds like Chef might not be my first choice. I really think you ought to take it back before spending any more money and effort on further attempts - there may well be something wrong with the thermostat... Good luck!

[sds]

I am amazed at your persistence ( sisu). When and if you do give up, try Artessani bread. It is really nice and so much less hassle plus superior taste to any I have tasted from a bread machine( -in-laws attempts). The bread you made looked truly revolting....I liked the pictures of Pinja she is very lovely. I hope you have not been feeding her your bread - child cruelty and all that.

Thanks for the comments about Pinja... she is the apple of my eye I don't think anyone would eat my bread, not even her! What is Artessani bread? Google turns up no results for that (but suggests artesian bread).

No, sorry, mate - I only asked the make for selfish reasons: in case I finally decide to acquire one, too... (Have been thinking about it for a while, as I've an allergic child who needs naturally gluten-free bread and apparently a machine would be great for that?) Sounds like Chef might not be my first choice. I really think you ought to take it back before spending any more money and effort on further attempts - there may well be something wrong with the thermostat... Good luck!

Yes, I think I will take it back tomorrow if I have time, or Tuesday. So hopefully they will exchange it, and I will try again. I'll let you know how it goes, because if the machine in fact normally works, then the price in Citymarket was pretty good.

My family all have breadmakers, and having tasted my mother's homemade bread (delicious), I decided to get one. They are also quite puzzled about what else I can try. So, I will see what Citymarket customer service say.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Rosamunda]

Artessani is a bakery that makes ciabatta (some with cheese, or olives etc) and they probably use some unrefined flour which makes the bread look homemade and rustic. It actually tastes quite good but is (extremely) expensive. They sell it in Citymarket. Good luck when you take the machine back..... can't wait for the next installment

[strawberry]

Thanks for the comments about Pinja... she is the apple of my eye

I had to go and have a peek at your Pinja - she really is c u t e!!

What is Artessani bread? Google turns up no results for that (but suggests artesian bread).

It is in fact spelled Artesaani... It's just a name a bakery has given a line of their breads - the more "international tasting" ones, if you like - i.e. ciabatta and such like. I'm am not entirely sure which bakery it is, I am guessing it's "Primula" but will have to double check...

Yes, I think I will take it back tomorrow if I have time, or Tuesday. So hopefully they will exchange it, and I will try again. I'll let you know how it goes, because if the machine in fact normally works, then the price in Citymarket was pretty good.

Indeed, the price would be very good for me... Much appreciated if you let us know how things develop!

Good luck!