I also have Breadman, don't remember the model (I am not at home, so can't check). It is at least 6 year old.
My sister bought Zojirushi last year and likes it a lot, it works great but is more expensive then Breadman. When my machine will be retired (hope it will work long time), I probably will also buy Zojirushi, if money allows.
Olga

Thanks, Olga. I know the Zoji has rave reviews and lots of recommendations. However, I just don't see the sense in paying over $200.00 for a machine that I will only use 1/8 of its functions. I only use it to knead the dough.

I think I have had my machine for about 20 years. They last a long time, for sure.
Barbara

If you are only going to use it for kneeding the bread why not just use your mixer or get a mixer that will do the job. I never use my bread machine because I like using my Kitchenaide mixer so much better.

Rozanna,
I have a Kitchen Aid but have never used the dough hook. Is there any difference in the end product. Does it handle mixing the dough and kneading the dough? If so, maybe that is the way to go here. One less thing to have to store in my no storage space kitchen.

Thanks.
bb

Barbara, have you checked ebay for the part? The KitchenAid bread hook works pretty well if you have the kind of mixer with the arms that hold the bowl. I have the type that is held at the base of the bowl by a little metal thing and mine is too worn out to hold heavy dough.

I think it is soooo easy to use the mixer. You know you never put exactly the amount of flour in bread that the recipie calls for and it is so much easier to add that little extra in the mixer. My mixer does not have the arms that hold the bowl but it works well for me anyway.

Erasmus you can get replacement parts for Kitchen Aide mixers and I think the factory will rebuild them for you - for a price.

I've never used my dough hook either. I would need to know how long to knead it so I need directions.
Hi everyone.
Barbara, when you finish, send me some bread.
Yum. I'm afraid I would gain 50 lbs.

Carla

I use my kitchenaide mixer almost every day. I have just the basic model, I think a 300 watt. I love it so much I almost kiss it good night!

I use the flat mixer blade at the beginning of the bread making just to incorporate most of the flour, then switch to the dough hook for the rest of the recipe. I knead the dough with the mixer perhaps 5-8 minutes and finish it by hand. I love the feel the dough in my hands.

Visit the King Arthur website for some really good bread recipes...they have a blog that is wonderful.

Deb

Eramus, I have the old style Kitchenaid that clamps the bowl in place, so no problem.

Rozanna, thank you sooo much, I will test my bread making skills this weekend.

Yes, I have looked on ebay for the pan and no luck. The machine I have is very old.

Carla, go to www.ehow.com. You will find the instructions there. You knead for 10 minutes.

Deb, unfortunately for my pocketbook, I have visited the King Arthur website many times. I use their flour and yes they have great recipes. Anybody ever tried making bread with semolina flour. It is really good!!!! And thanks for the tip to use the flat blade first. Makes sense.

Thank you all. I think my problem is solved. Or at least I will find out this weekend. I'll let you know.

Barbara

I love my Kitchenaide. I have a grain mill attachment and grind the wheat for whole wheat bread - and using 100% fresh ground whole wheat for bread is a little different than using white flour or store bought whole wheat flour. I make a sponge and let it sit sometimes overnight and then add the flour gradually with the other stuff. I don't time it but go by the look and feel of the dough.

Barbara, I am trying to get the wheat you make semolina flour out of to use for pasta but everyone that I like to order from apparently is out of stock - wrong time of the year I guess.

I can find Semolina flour at some local middle eastern grocery stores for a lot less than Red Mill brand.
For the cost of bread flour and yeast:Sam's Club. Find a friend to give the second pound of yeast to. And for the 25 lb bag of flour: One in the flour canister and three filled gallon ziplock bags (which I reuse for flour five to seven times.)
Some of you have seen my kitchen windows: They make for a cold kitchen in winter, so I really like the bread machine knead & heat cycles. It gives a far better rise than the room temperatures we get with a woodstove. I have the Cuisinart Convection Bread Machine (Sam's club last year). It has a dough option as well as an artisan dough option that is just extraordinary good.

Now have you tried a Silpat/Exopat for bread baking (and a baking pizza stone?)

This post gave me a good chuckle-----Several years ago we got a bread machine----I was making raisin bread every week-end and my DH and I would eat the whole thing-----LOL Finally after gaining some weight (both of us) we put it away and I haven't used it for a long time---But oh my that was really good bread. Specially with lots of butter

I also have a KItchenaid Mixer and I love it.

good luck with all the bread-making---I love the smell of yeast--

Florence

Rosanna, yes I might order a new bowl holder base for mine if I can unscrew my old one. I'd rather have the model with the arms that hold the bowl though. My mom gave me my mixer and am attached to it.

Bread machines are so fattening. My husband makes bread more than I do, especially pizza dough. He makes the dough and rolls it out and I do the toppings. Used to have a pizza stone but no more. Now I'm back on my Atkins diet ( as of yesterday) and I just have to turn my head away from the bread section in the grocery stores.

"Bread machines are so fattening." Truer words were never uttered. For diabetics, they can also be life threatening. But, I really cannot give up making my own bread for stuffing at Thanksgiving, and I always make bread when we have visitors for dinner. It just seems so much nicer than serving the store bought bread. If there is too much left over, I send them home with a doggie bag. LOL

Barbara

Actually I find bread mashine to be much better for dough preparation then mixer. The main difference is that bread mashine also warms it, so the yeast dough arises in a fraction of a time.
No comparison, have both Kitchenaide and Breadman, but always use bread mashine for dough after comparison.
Olga

That's good to hear, Olga. I was about to post "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I tried my Kitchenaid mixer this weekend and it didn't work so well. My machine kept binding up on me and started to scream. Once the dough got really thick it just wouldn't work any more. The bread-made two- had to be finished by hand.

So, Sunday, I bought a Kenmore at Sears. We had a gift card you see, so at least this old dog can make light fluffy bread again.

I used to be much better at kneading dough. I did it in the summer when the kids were home from school. Great way to get rid of frustrations! Now, I guess the motivation isn't there.

Barbara

Why do you need either a bread machine or a mixer?????

I've been making bread or more correctly, dough, every week for probably over 30 years. I tried a dough hook and didn't understand the use. Fewer things to clean = a better kitchen IMO. Knead your bread on the counter, it will take a couple of minutes, and then clean the counter and you have no additional things to fuss with. You get a feel for the dough after you do it a few times. It's really not that hard and it's how people did it for thousands and thousands of years.

Yes, I used to knead by hand in the summer when the kids were not in school. Great reliever of stress! However, now I have arthritis in my hands and kneading is very painful. The machine does that work for me.

I bought a bread machine at Sears and have been happily making bread and rolls ever since. Thanks all for your help.
bb