The bread maker is now part of the daily life of homemade lovers. Very practical and easy to use, it allows you to make breads with a variety of shapes and flavours. The secret of a good bread is therefore largely in the choice of the right equipment. Here are the criteria to be taken into consideration when choosing the bread machine that meets your expectations.
The choice of the tank capacity
Often, when you buy an appliance, you first look at the brand. In the case of a bread machine, other elements, such as the size of the tank, are essential. The classic bread maker has a single tank in which kneading and baking are carried out. The most complex are made up of two vats, allowing two kinds of bread to be baked simultaneously, a way of meeting the expectations of all the members of the family.
In terms of size, the tank should be adapted to the needs of the family. On the market, they are available for baking from 500 g to 1.5 kg of bread (the latter is suitable for families of more than 4 people). Small or large eaters will inevitably find their happiness. It should be noted, however, that it is not necessary to purchase a large tank if the consumption is not significant. Indeed, when the bread dough is placed in the tank and baked, the dough swells and occupies the entire space. Instead of inflating upwards, it spreads out to fill the void. The bread obtained will then be flat.
Make sure that the tank can be easily removed from the machine to pour in all the ingredients or to facilitate washing. You can also choose a horizontal or vertical opening depending on the shape of the bread you want to obtain. Some covers are removable for even greater ease of daily use.
The energy saving option
At a time when reducing energy costs is a major concern, it is recommended to take into consideration the power of the bread machine. The least energy consuming ones consume only 500 W, while others can go up to 1600 W. Most manufacturers are now working to reduce the energy costs of their products. It is in this context that they have developed an economic program for them. Cooking time is shorter and energy consumption is lower. The best choice will therefore be a device that is both energy-efficient and efficient.
Cooking options
Bread machines have several baking options. Depending on the chosen program, you can prepare the most common breads, such as classic, French, white or wholemeal bread, with different types of baking. You can choose to have a golden crust or not.
It is possible to prepare special breads at home with various ingredients. Machines that offer this possibility are equipped with a timer that indicates to users that it is time to incorporate the grains or herbs, so that they are not crushed during kneading. They will thus retain all their flavours.
The gluten-free bread option
Some machines are specifically designed for people who are gluten intolerant or who have a gluten-free diet thanks to a device that makes it possible to prepare bread without gluten. This program is interesting because flours that do not contain it are generally not suitable for baking. In addition, the baking robot can be programmed to bake fresh noodles or gluten-free pizzas, among others.
The delayed departure program for hot bread at the chosen time
Today, bread makers are designed to adapt to everyone’s lifestyle. The delayed program allows you to postpone cooking for several hours after kneading. This is an option that gives you the opportunity to have good hot bread in the morning without having to get up to start the machine.
Note that this option is not suitable for recipes with special ingredients to be added at the last minute. Dried fruit and nuts may be over-milled during kneading. However, you have the option of choosing a device with an integrated ingredient dispenser. This will allow you to program it to incorporate these ingredients in a timely manner.
The cooking progress indicator
A bread machine can have a baking progress indicator. This will allow you to know what stage of cooking you are at, when you knead, when you rest, when you raise or when you cook.