Make Your Own Bread - Bread Making Hints and Tips

Whilst these tips are intended for those using a bread making machine, some may also be useful to those baking bread by hand.

• Take the bread pan out of the machine prior to adding ingredients. It will make the job of weighing and measuring easier and also avoid the danger of spilling ingredients into the body of the bread machine.
  
• Accurate measuring is crucial for a successful loaf. Always use a proper set of measuring spoons and or scales. Measures may have been provided with your machine. If not, your local stores will usually sell them, or see our bread making shop.
  
• When using "Raisin bake" or "Raisin beep" add extra ingredients or flavourings when the machine makes a sound or beep. Check that all of the ingredients have mixed in and use a flexible plastic spatula to scrape down the sides of the tin. If you do not have a beep facility on your machine, you should add the extra ingredients about 5 minutes before the end of the kneading cycle.
  
• Before using "bake only", remove the kneading blade or paddle if possible, then grease and line the base of the bread pan with non stick baking paper or greaseproof paper, before adding the teabread (or cake) mixture.
  
• When using "bake only", set the timer to the minimum time recommended in the recipe or manual. Check the loaf after this time, and before the timer has finished if necessary, and remove the baked loaf if it is ready.
  
• Try not to keep opening the lid during the rising or baking process as cold air will decrease the temperature in the machine and slow down the process.
  
• Once the loaf is baked, always remove the bread tin from the machine using oven gloves.
  
• The timer delay facility is useful for when you are out or asleep, waking up to the smell of fresh bread is an experience not to be missed.
  
• If you want to achieve a slightly darker crust than your machine allows, try brushing the top of the finished loaf with melted butter or egg yolk mixed with water, and then browning under a hot grill or in a pre-heated oven at 200C / 400F / gas mark 6 for 5 - 10 minutes.

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