The Bread Machine Cookbook for Beginners

Chapter 1: Bread Machine Basics: What You Need to Know Before You Bake

Welcome to the bread machine world. If you’ve just unboxed one, or you’re dusting off a machine that’s been sitting in the back of a cupboard, this is the place to start. I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know before you measure your first cup of flour. We’ll cover the machines themselves, the ingredients you’ll use, and the buttons you’ll press. By the time you’re done with this chapter, you’ll feel like you’ve got the lay of the land, and you’ll be ready to bake your first loaf with confidence.

First, let’s talk about the machine itself. There are basically two types of bread machines on the market, and they differ in how they mix and knead the dough. The most common type has a single mixing paddle at the bottom of the bread pan. This paddle does all the work: it mixes, kneads, and then stays in place during the rise and bake, leaving a small hole in the bottom of the finished loaf. You’ll need to remove the paddle before slicing, but that’s a five-second job. The other type has two paddles. These are sometimes called “dual blade” machines. They knead the dough more thoroughly and evenly, and they leave two smaller holes, but the loaves tend to have a slightly better structure. If you have a dual-blade machine, you’ll just need to take care to remove both paddles before you