Sunday 5 April 2015

Panasonic Bread Maker

My wife got me a bread maker for my birthday last week and she followed the advice of the commentators on this blog and bought me a Panasonic SD- ZB2502. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who commented and left advice on the post where I asked about breadmakers last month, most people recommended a Panasonic and I can confirm I'm really impressed with it! 
Although we've only had it a week, so far every loaf has been amazing. Today's in particular was superb, a sun dried tomato and parmesan mix, only butter was needed for lunch and it was as much as I could do to stop myself from devouring the whole loaf!
I'm looking forward to trying out lots of different recipes in it. Dawn from Doing It For Ourselves has kindly sent me a recipe book for bread makers, so over the next few weeks we'll be trying anything that takes our fancy, from onion breads to making pizza dough. 

Hopefully this will be something we regularly use for a long time. It's stopped us having to have bread in the freezer, we can have fresh bread when ever we want it (not dependant on whether I have time to bake it or not), the bread is cheaper and I get to control what goes into it. Who knows if I buy a grain mill I might even start growing some wheat to bake with! 
Now who has a good recipe for me to try in the machine?

51 comments:

  1. I've been using my Panasonic for a few years, always performs well. I use the recipes in the book that comes with the machine, they've always worked well. The brioche turned out exceptional.

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    1. I like the sound of the brioche, I might have to try that!

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  2. Congratulations Kev, how exciting, I knew you wouldn't be disappointed with the Panasonic. I use mainly the recipes in the book that comes with it, but occasionally I'll throw in a few extras like sunflower seeds or whatever. But I was thinking maybe I'd try the sourdough in it as well, i.e. make up the dough and leave it to rise in the bread machine and then just turn it on to 'bake only' when it's risen high enough, be interesting to see if that works. (I don't think it would work on the ordinary cycle as it needs longer to rise than the machine would give it).

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    1. I can see you'll be asking us all for diet hints next....

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    2. It might come to the diet Sue as it's so morish! Altgough its a busy time of year so I should burn it off!
      I've read to be careful with sourdough in it as it can be unpredictable and bubble over if your unlucky.

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  3. You're one very lucky man Kev! and a belated birthday greetings to you too:) The most wonderful thing is to wake up in the morning with the smell of freshly baked bread, and at the same time availing the cheap electric rate by using the bread machine on timer:)

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    1. I certainly am! The bread in the morning does make me very hungry!

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  4. We have had our Panasonic for a few weeks, and have been using the recipes from the book, Last night we made linseed and oat last night, and have sun dried tomato and parmesan to try, all from Sainsburys. We do try and make a loaf last 3 days.

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    1. I think the sundried tomato and parmesan one is in one of my best loafs of bread I've ever eaten! I've got some poppys growing this year to save for seed to make bread with.

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  5. Would be intetested how many watts the breadmaker is rated?

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    1. I'm not sure off the top of my head although someone told me 6p a loaf, but I'm not sure if thats right or not.

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    2. Lol - Not cost. I was asking how many watts of electricity the breadmaker uses to make a loaf. It should be stated on the bottom of the breadmaking unit next to Amps.

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  6. Belated Birthday Greetings for last week Kev!
    I'm glad the bread machine works for you.
    By the way, did the seeds arrive ok?
    Have a great weekend.

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    1. thank you for the birthday message Sandie and thank you for the seeds, they did turn up (I need to do a post on all the seeds I've gotten off everyone but loads are now growing!). thanks again, you gave me loads!

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  7. Looks like great bread. Why don't you broadcast swedes on your new plot?

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    1. I do like a swede but there's only so many I can eat!

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    2. Not when you eat loads of carrot n swede or carrot parsnip and swede crush. I bulk process it and then freeze it.

      Pattypan

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  8. REad the instructions (fine print) carefully; some of them tell you you can t use your own milled grain. I ran into this problem and ruined the paddles and had to get new - they charged me too.

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    1. I'll have to have a look in the manual, It was only an idea as I haven't got a grain mill yet.

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  9. I love my breadmaker too great for a lunchtime loaf when no time for my sourdough . My Basic loaf recipe is :

    Bread machine Light wholemeal

    450ml water
    675g chapatti flour (or half wholemeal half white)
    2tsp salt
    2 tablespoon sugar
    25g margarine
    2tsp easy blend yeast
    Handful mixed Seeds

    I use the large loaf and dark crust setting , top tim for newbie bread machiners , watch the dough at the mixing stage its should come together in a moist ball if its a sticky mess add a little flour just a tablespoon at a time , same with water if it looks a bit dry. You're looking for a dough ball that just gently skids around the pan whilst mixing if that makes sense . Have fun trying the recipes out and dont forget the dough only function for cheats artisan flatbreads etc

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    1. And don't forget to put the water in last for the PanicSonic!!
      I'll be back with the recipes later...
      especially the cheese brioche!!

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    2. Sounds a good recipe. I'll make that when I'm back off with the kids after Easter. I'm planning on making lots of breads with my bread stone still, I love making rolls and focciatia to go with a meal.

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  10. I use my bread machine a lot but after the first couple of months I stopped baking the bread in it and now use the dough cycle for doing the hard work of kneading and the first proving. Twice a week I make basic white bread for toast, Fridays I make pizza dough, yesterday I made the best Hot X buns ever - I just had to shape the buns and let them rise again on the baking tray before baking. I've tried lots of different recipes and they have all worked fine in the breadmaker - I just check after 5-10 mins to see if I need to add a little more liquid or a bit more flour. Happy experimenting!

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    1. I've not checked it whilst it's working yet - maybe I should. Pizza dough will be good and a great activity to do with the kids.
      As for hot cross buns I think it would be dangerous for me to make them as I know I'd eat them all!

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  11. Pleased you went for the Panasonic. I have made th dough for Tiger bread following a link to a recipe from my friend Richard "moontide" at going your own way. He has his own little sourdough bread business. I did tiger bread buns and they really came out well. See link

    http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/so-far-today.html

    I wold also mention that when making white bread I have had the best results with the Waitrose Canadian Bread flour (which is also good for pasta dough (comes in white and brown). Each time I use the white flour the loaf really rises quite high and deep in the pan. I always make sure that the kitchen is hot when making bread as it helps with the proving. It also makes great bagel dough. enjoy the playing. Pattypan

    E

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    1. I love tiger bread but not so keen on bagels, I'll check out that link. I'm making a list of different breads to make! Thanks again!

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  12. Before you spend for a grain mill, here is a tip we use. Get some wheat berries. Grind them with an ordinary coffee grinder. We add about one 'coffee grinder' measure per loaf. Whir up the berries into instant whole wheat flour and add it to your mix. We do not count the added wheat berry grind to the measure. The fresh taste from the instant grind flour is amazing. You may not need a wheat mill.

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    1. That's a good tip, we've plenty of wheat as my father is a farmer so I'll have to find a coffee grinder and try this. Thanks!

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  13. Oh you've done it now Kev!!!! I read your blog about an hour ago, and then found myself off out onto Amazon for a jolly hour pricing up Panasonic breadmakers........have made my own bread for years, but lately have been forced to buy bread from the supermarket because I keep forgetting to make our own bread. So having been inspired by your good self, I just might treat myself to a breadmaker as well. (a birthday treat for me) But the one you bought is very pricey here on Amazon.Fr and the sellers on Amazon co uk do not deliver this model to France, although do deliver the cheaper white model. Have researched what the difference is, but have had no luck in finding the answer. The two models look the same, so perhaps the stainless steel is what makes it more expensive.

    Anyway, ........Happy belated birthday!

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    1. There is no real difference Vera... just the carcase.
      ANY PanicSonic breadmaker is good...
      but always remember to REVERSE the ingredient order with the PanicSonic... I believe it is the only series of machines that reverses the order...
      so all my recipe books come "tuned" for the normal ones...
      I took a rubber inkstamp outfit and put "REVERSE" at the start of each recipe....
      I remember now, tho'...

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    2. I've been thinking about it so long and I was really pleased my wife brought it me. I'm so fussy about bread and having it fresh. I think the difference with the models is that the steel one has a thing for realeasing nuts and seeds halfway through the mix rather than being added at the start.

      Tim - I've been adding it that way and didn't realise other machines did it the other way, I'll look out for it though.

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  14. Vera i have a russell hobbs 18036 it has served me well and cheaper than a panny , i got mine in the sale for less than £30

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  15. I had to LOL at Sue's comment about you will be asking for diet tips next rofl rofl... I was thinking to myself as I read your post, all that yummy bread is going to catch up to you LOL.

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    1. I hope it won't, It's a busy time of year so I hope I'll burn it off!

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  16. Another Panasonic fan here. It's the only make of breadmaker I would consider. I'm about to try my first multi grain loaf so hoping for the best.
    Keep up the good work.

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    1. We've been buying different flours to try, I love all the different breads.

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  17. Gosh that bread looks Yummy ! I'm so glad you're having fun...I can almost sniff that fresh baked bread aroma...lovely

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    1. Oh and if you get keen see if you can find one of these
      http://www.batemans.com/lot.php?lot=14116
      It works really well

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    2. That's just the kind of thing I'd like and for that money it would be okay as well! An electric one as well for day to day of course...

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  18. Happy Belated Birthday...
    and have fun!!

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  19. I would have thought you'd make your bread from scratch and bake it in the oven. You strike me as an old fashioned guy.

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    1. I am and I do like baking it by hand but sometimes I haven't got time and we struggle to get the bread to prove in our cold house! I'm so fussy about bread being fresh that we decided that it's the best option. I can still use this to kneed the bread and bake in the oven and I'll still keep my sourdough going as that tastes great with soups and things.

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    2. Kev

      If the house is cold and you cannot get the bread to rise have you thought about getting a heating pad/mat popping it on a plastic box lid and inverting the box bottom as the lid over the bowl of dough. It is something I am going to try as well. I have seen a post on it somewhere - if I remember where I will pop up the link. I think DC at Frugal In Norfolk has done something similar but her post was not the original one I saw. I thought it would be useful for the sourdough. There are commercial bread provers out there and they look fabulous but they also come at an extreme price. As I say if I find the original link will pop back. Would be good for bulk yogurt too. Pattypanx

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    3. To be honest since buying the bread maker it's been so easy to make the dough that I've not bothered by hand much since. although I should as the children enjoy it. I used to put it in the airing cupboard to get it to proove and that worked well.

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    4. Here are instructions as to how to make a home made proving box utilising a heat pad and a plastic storage box. Would be quite useful if you had a lot of bread to make. From what I have read quite a few people use this type of proving box and have had quite successful results even for croissants. I am going to invest in one as the front part of the house is warm the back like walking into a fridge and that is where my kitchen is. Hope it helps. Pattypan

      http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_12296261_make-doughproofing-box.html

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    5. P.S. I do not have an airing cupboard more's the pity.

      Pattypan

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