What does your Bread Machine do (and how does a bread machine work)?
Well, the name of these machines is pretty much self-explanatory if you ask me, but there’s still some curiosity on the process that’s behind a bread machine.
You might wonder what’s the difference between baking bread by hand and using a bread machine to bake one – of course, the fact that this is an automated process is the main thing that pops in our mind.
Yet, there are plenty of questions that can be asked – and therefore answered – when referring to the things most bread machines do.
Maybe you’re new to this whole automated bread-making thing, as you’ve purchased a bread machine, hopefully, one of the best value bread machines, or you are just a bit curious about the science behind it.
Well, look no further, as you have reached the end of your journey – where all of your questions will be answered, and you will know how bread makers work and how they are able to provide you with the tastiest homemade bread you’ve ever tried!
Bread Machines – The key to fresh bread
Your job in making bread using a bread machine ends as you complete the first step required to start the bread-making process. This is where your attention should be fully focused in order for the rest of the process to happen just right.
The first thing a bread machine does is accepting the ingredients required to bake bread.
You’ll have to be very careful when measuring them, as one single mistake can lead to a ruined loaf of bread – as we said, the bread maker knows how to do its job, but you have to supply it with the right ingredients and in the right amounts.
Cooking may be an art, but baking is a science. And baking in bread makers may be easier than traditional baking. But using a bread maker doesn’t make it any less of a science.
Don’t worry, it’s not that hard! It’s just like baking by hand – follow the recipe closely and then tuck in the ingredients in the bread machine.
The Mixing and Kneading of Your Ingredients
Of course, a bread machine will save you from something you might have found tedious in the past – mixing the dough for the bread.
After you’ve carefully placed the salt, sugar, flour, yeast, water, and fat inside the bread machine – it’s time for this nifty device to start doing its magic.
In the first two minutes, and aided by its trusty dough hook, the bread machine will mix the ingredients we have mentioned before.
After some proper mixing, the bread machine will stop turning its dough hook – for about ten, fifteen minutes – in order for the dough to rest and thus develop its gluten.
By now, you probably remember those times when you were making bread by hand, and after beating and mixing the ingredients well you’d let it rest in a bowl and watch the dough grow. Well, those are old times, no need to wait anymore.
We mentioned kneading as well, right?
After the time required for the dough to develop its gluten, the hook will begin to run again, for about six minutes, but this time kneading the mixture inside the bread maker instead.
Bread Machines make your dough – Rise, Rise, Rise!
Your new kitchen appliance – also known as a bread machine – comes equipped with a thermostat. You probably already know what that is so we won’t dig too deep into it.
So, this thermostat’s only responsibility is to make the dough inside the machine rise. Basically, it will gradually increase the temperature around the bread machine pan, so your homemade bread would be able to rise properly and in a good amount of time as well.
As we said before, no more idling for your precious bread – just let the bread machine do its work. Hopefully, baking bread has never been easier for you.
The bread loaf pan isn’t anything complicated, just a nonstick pan that holds the dough and then the fresh bread. These pans are removable and sometimes dishwasher safe.
Bread Machines help you – Bake, Bake, Bake!
After the thermostat will do its job and raise the dough accordingly, the bread machine will switch itself to baking mode. No user interaction required – nifty, right?
But, the thermostat is not done yet. After making the dough suitable for baking, it will turn on once more and raise the temperature inside the bread machine. The second involvement of the thermostat in the process means, basically, the baking of your bread.
The time needed for the machine to bake your bread depends on the program you chose at the start of the baking process. After fully breaking your bread, the thermostat will stop functioning again, the bread machine will turn itself off, and – voila! – your bread is all done.
Now, you can let your bread cool inside the machine, but we recommend you remove it as soon as the process ends, as leaving it inside will cause the top of the bread to soften – because of the moisture that will accumulate in the machine.
We’ve covered up the entire process the machine does in order to bake the bread for you. But there are still some things you have to take into account before leaving your machine running alone in the kitchen.
In order to get familiarized with your bread machine, and – of course – to get to know it and how it works even better, it’s recommended that you take a look at its settings as well. Most of them come with pre-set ready to make bread to ready made bread programs such as White bread or Basic, Banana Bread, Gluten-Free Bread, Sweet, Rapid, French, Pasta Dough, Whole Wheat Bread, and even pizza dough.
You’ll have to know how your bread machine works in all of the mentioned programs so that you can properly prepare the ingredients – and, eventually, clean the machine after you’re done using it.
Many bread makers come with a special Crust setting! With it, you’ll be able to decide whether your bread will have a Dark crust, Medium crust, or Light crust.
Final Thoughts
Making fresh bread at home has never been easier. Using an affordable bread maker to make your favorite bread recipes is now very simple.
So, what the best bread machine does is very simple – it bakes bread. While for some, this information might be enough – it shouldn’t be enough for you, as you should know exactly how your bread maker works, in order to bake the best bread possible.
Learning every program and setting on your bread maker will serve you in the long run and ensure delicious bread every time.
