Lars, I feel your pain. My Panasonic (same model as yours) sort-of broke last year. The yeast dispenser stopped working. Unfortunately, I discovered the problem after going through an entire bread-baking cycle. The yeast never dropped down, so I was left with a brick of partially baked something (It sure wasn't bread).

I went online and discovered that the procedure before the automatic dispenser was to put the yeast in one corner, cover it with flour and other dry ingredients and then add liquid with salt on top. It worked, but I wasn't happy with having to remember the strange process. That machine is now at a local hospice thrift store.

I really like my new Zojirushi, but if left to its own devices, it can turn out lopsided loaves. So I've got to be vigilant about checking the dough distribution immediately after the rise cycles begin.

Bread machines aren't perfect, that's for sure. But I still find it convenient for making bread loaves and it does a great job on kneading heavy doughs. I don't have a stand mixer, so I'm happy with the Zojirushi in spite of its quirks. I used to make dough in my food processor. That was really easy. The only drawback was that I couldn't use recipes called more than 3-4 cups of flour. It seems like each appliance has its pros & cons. Good luck making your decision.

I made a batch of bread dough by hand during my lunch break, but it will be on its own for three + hours at room temp (74 degrees in my kitchen). The outdoor temperature is 72 degrees, which isn't much different, but I probably could have put the dough in the garage, which is slightly cooler, I think. I don't think it will rise too much at 74 degrees. I made this dough in a bowl with a wooden spoon and then kneaded it by hand, and I'm not sure I kneaded it enough, as I did have a time constraint. Fortunately, I had made my lunch the day before, and I used the last of the bread making my sandwich, and so if I want another sandwich tomorrow, I will need more bread. I could make a burrito, however.

I do not think I have room for a Zojirushi, since it seems to be at least 17" wide, and I only have 15" of counter. The FoodSaver I have is 16.8" wide, and it will not fit in that space, as I was hoping it would. I do have a FP that I could use for bread dough, but I hate cleaning it, and so it's not worth it. It's easy enough to clean the KA bowl and dough hook, but it's even easier to clean a regular bowl and wooden spoon.

I guess I will do without for a while and see how I feel. I might use the Cuisinart to make pizza dough, however, but maybe now.

Lars

Panasonic is relatively reliable.

However, in operation, the machine does it's work violently, causing a lot of vibration.

Inside the machine, there are many mechanical electrical connectors between the few circuit boards and switches and the motor. It is possible that a connector came loose.

It is not difficult to open the machine and check if that is the case.

dcarch

Thanks! I will open it up and look for loose connections. I'll let you know what I find and whether I am able to figure out how to reconnect anything that might be loose.

Lars

I had 3 Black and Deckers that broke some part or another, but thankfully all under warranty.

I decided to learn how to make it by hand. I very much enjoy doing it, even though my loaves don't come out perfect :-)

I bake them at 375 for 35 minutes, Lars.

I suspect dcarch will be found to be correct. You didn't hit the machine hard but you did position it in an unusual configuration. It is nice to hear that it is easy to get into. If it doesn't get repaired, I would suggest you think of dcarch's recent point that he often finds bread machines at the second hand stores. Visit a couple and carry a tape measure to find one that would fit.

BTW, Most of us don't bake in our bread machines. Your current experimentation would be useful if you decided to join us.

Panasonic bread machines use spade electric connectors like the ones linked below.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2134565}}

Lars, if you decide to get another one, if you can't fix that one, I agree that they can be had for not very much at the local GoodWill or second hand stores. I see them often for a couple of dollars.

I never bake in mine, I just use it for making the dough, as my carpal tunnel doesn't allow me to comfortably knead bread any more. I'd replace it in a shot, although I do have a recipe that calls for no kneading at all and it makes passable bread too. I just like different kinds, so I keep using the machine!

Annie

I use my bread machine's bake cycle to make rice, and it's also great for making risotto, because it does all the stirring for you.

dcarch

I will definitely check the thrift shops, although how will I know if one they have actually works? I will take my machine apart this week-end as well.

The bread I baked today came out fine, but I think I will decrease the amount of oil in the future, as the dough got more oil added to it when I oiled the bowl that I used for letting it rise. The bread is almost like a cake, but it will probably taste different tomorrow. It will be fine for sandwiches, but I also want to use it for croutons and bread crumbs for other recipes.

I baked a lot of bread when I was a child, starting at age nine, until I went to university, at which time I stopped, more or less, until I moved to San Francisco, and then I started again. I never stopped ;making pizza dough, however.

Lars

I lost the paddle for my bread machine and until I got a new one, I tried some bread in the Cuisinart using the dough paddle. It was OK. I like the fact that I don't have to worry about the rising times when I use my machine for the dough. I still bake it in the oven, I don't like the big hole in the loaves that you get when you bake in the machine. One nice thing for me about doing the Cuisinart route is then I can have only one machine on the counter. I couldn't find much online about making bread with a food processor though, which seemed odd since at one time that was all the rage. I love my bread machine though, because I love good bread and the machine saves me a lot because with it I tend to make bread instead of buy it.

I have one of the cheap brands & it makes great bread. I went through several machines early on, they broke quickly, but didn't make bread as well as this one. I've had it several years & it is still going, although it doesn't work in the bake cycle. I often make rolls anyway, so no problem for me. A couple of years ago I got a Kitchenaid mixer to get rid of the bread machine. The bread just wasn't as good, & I've made it by hand but that isn't as good as my machine either. A friend gave me her bread machine recently that she never used, & bread isn't as good from it. I don't know what it is about this particular bread machine, but I will be devastated when it dies. I got it at a yard sale for $1. I will be looking at thrift stores for a replacement, although this one is so old I probably won't find an exact replacement.
By the way, check the thrift stores' policy, most in my area will refund your money within a week or so if anything mechanical doesn't work

I have one of the cheap brands & it makes great bread. I went through several machines early on, they broke quickly, but didn't make bread as well as this one. I've had it several years & it is still going, although it doesn't work in the bake cycle. I often make rolls anyway, so no problem for me. A couple of years ago I got a Kitchenaid mixer to get rid of the bread machine. The bread just wasn't as good, & I've made it by hand but that isn't as good as my machine either. A friend gave me her bread machine recently that she never used, & bread isn't as good from it. I don't know what it is about this particular bread machine, but I will be devastated when it dies. I got it at a yard sale for $1. I will be looking at thrift stores for a replacement, although this one is so old I probably won't find an exact replacement.
By the way, check the thrift stores' policy, most in my area will refund your money within a week or so if anything mechanical doesn't work

I love reading about your bread machines. Not being mechanically inclined and having to ask my son to help me do everything in that realm, it has become evident to me that these things have a mind of their own. I figure they look at me and say with their snide expressions, "This old lady doesn't know what she is doing and let's just have a little fun". Been thinking of getting a food saver, but since I don't know what I am bargaining for, I figure I might just be asking for another battle. For instance, I spent out quite a bit of money on an apple peeler because I can't peel by hand anymore. I fought that thing and ended up having peelings every place but where they were supposed to be. My cleaning lady found me one at our local Good Willl, and it works slick as a whistle. I love it. Go figure. Barb

Publickman
I was astonished to find that most of the thrift shops in our area allow a buyer to return an appliance within a few days if it does not work. Once I learned to ask, I found very few that would not accept returns for full refunds.
Worth a try.

Lars, if you can't get the old machine working, have you considered using the stretch and fold method instead of kneading dough. It takes time, but it allows you to build a lot of strength in the dough with very little work, but you do need to be able to attend to the dough every 20 to 30 minutes for around an hour, plus or minus. In addition to great results, you won't need another machine.

Have you tried... no knead bread. No machine, no kneading. Mother nature does the kneading. Dozens of videos and recipes out there. I love it. I'll give you a few to get started. Highly recommend. I use Bread flour, Instant yeast, water, sea salt. Here is one video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU
another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yePMpoyXwys
another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q5O4g5XI8Q

This post was edited by SandyTroy on Wed, Feb 4, 15 at 21:02

I have not yet tried the no knead bread, but it looks intriguing, and I think it is worth experimenting with. I normally do not make white bread, however, and so if there is a whole wheat version, I would try that.

The last video with the dogs in the kitchen was a bit gross to me - I would never allow animals in the kitchen (I turned it off when I saw slobbering dogs), but the other ones were good. Thanks for the ideas!

Lars

Like many others here, I don't bake in my bread machine. I love it for everything else, though. I can't hand knead anymore so I just use my machine on the dough cycle then bake in the oven. I love the cinnamon buns made with it. If it ever gives out, I will most definitely buy another of the same brand if possible. This is the second one I've had in many, many years.

Madonna

Intrigued to find out, if you can get your machine to work. I made a BIG mistake, when I got my machine out of storage (during divorce) and gave away the el cheapo from my daughter. The el cheapo made such good bread, baking in the machine.

I ended up getting rid of mine, after moving here in to my little house, with the little kitchen.

Haven't baked bread forever. But all these posts encourage me to go ahead, and bake my own again.

Love your idea Lars, about making the dough one day, and baking if off the next.

Will have to make some this weekend. ;)

Moni

If you can't revive your bread machine, there is a smaller Zojrushi that makes a 1 pound loaf.

for those who have never make 'no knead bread' it is the 5 min a day artisan bread. mix it up one day (5 min) leave on the counter for 14 to 18 hours later then either use it form a loaf (5 min) and let it rise.... or refrigerate it (5 min) and use it within the next 7 to 10 days from the frig. By leaving it on the counter for 14 to 18 hours mother nature does the kneading. Also refrigeration afterward for any amount of time is an additional cold fermentation. I do whole wheat, spelt flour (ancient wheat), & a wonderful rye. Easy to add herbs, grated cheese, seeds. Picture of rye attached. I also use the same no knead artisan bread recipe for baguettes, pizza dough, rolls, ciabatta, & fougasse. There is also a sweet dough version with milk instead of water and a bit of honey and an egg.

Sandy, can you post the whole recipe you use?

Moni

I am also interested in the whole wheat and rye recipes, as those are what I generally make.

I thought about the smaller Zojirushi, but I really want to be able to make a 1-1/2 pound loaf and knead larger amounts of dough. I'll still consider it, but I think a one pound loaf is just too small. I'm going to try the no-knead recipes also, as those would be good for a week-end. I could make the dough Friday evening and bake it Saturday morning.

Lars

Lars,

The capacity of a bread machine may be just for the size of the loaf after baking in the machine. But if you are only making dough and not bake in the machine, you may be able to make larger quantity dough than the machine says.

dcarch

That may be so, Dcarch, but I really do not want to buy a bread machine and then not bake in it. If all I want to do is made dough in it, I would rather make it in a bowl, I think. I have no problem kneading dough and can make dough in my KA mixer or else try the no-knead recipes, which look intriguing.

After looking at various reviews, I have decided that the Panasonic machine that I have is the best choice, especially for the space that I have, and I have already made a beautiful cover for it! I will definitely try to fix it tomorrow.

Lars

This post was edited by publickman on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 21:17

I was unable to disassemble the bread machine to the point where I could fix it, and so I put it in the recycling bin :(. Now I am having to adjust to baking bread the old way, and the last loaf I made (Swedish rye) I baked in the wrong size pan, and so there are still more adjustments to make for me. The pan I used was too large, and so the loaf came out flat looking, and the loaf I baked before that (in a smaller pan), which was whole wheat, came out with droopy looking ears, and so I think I did not knead it enough or else it had too much liquid. I've not yet tried the no-knead versions yet, but I have watched Martha Stewart make a couple of loaves that looked easy enough, although neither were whole wheat.