Bread machines?

[ffutures]

I'm vaguely thinking of getting a bread machine - I get the impression that very little real skill is needed to use them, which suits me very well, and I do like really fresh bread in the morning occasionally.

But I don't know much about them, and there seem to be a lot of models with different features. So what I'm wondering is which are essential, and which are just feeping creaturism?

This page shows the models sold by Argos, about the most ubiquitous store in the UK. Since I want to try this without spending a fortune I'm tempted to go for the cheaper Morphy-Richards model - they have a long history of making reasonably good domestic appliances such as electric blankets and hairdriers. but I don't know it if has all the features I need.

All comments gratefully received.

Comments

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

We have the Panasonic SD253, which shows on that site at just under £100. I don't use it that much anymore, but that's because we stopped eating bread in any quantity for dietary reasons, not because it was a pain. It works well with the readymixes, makes excellent Italian style bread with olive oil, and lovely dense fruity breads for Christmas. It's easy to clean, and quiet. I'd prefer to make my own, but my hands are too arthritic to knead it properly and you can just bung everything in the machine and set the timer. Some styles of bread don't work with the timer, they especially warn you against any recipes with fresh milk in them.

The biggest pain, which is true of all of them, is the little extras you find yourself keeping on hand - Vitamin C powder, powdered milk, etc. My Dad lives on his own and has an earlier Panasonic than mine, which has a window you can look through. He makes all his own bread, usually freezing half a loaf to keep it fresh. I think he spends quite a lot of time in the kitchen watching it ...