How to use and care for a bread machine

The first way to stay out of trouble with your bread maker is by reading the manual. Next, get to know your bread machine before actually using it. Look it over and press buttons to see exactly what they do. Unless the instructions explicitly tell you not to do something, then have at it and become familiar with your product.

Here are some other ideas:

Wash your bread basket and other removable parts first – Dust can collect on items from sitting in a box. Before using any of your pieces, wash them with soap and hot water and allow to dry. Be sure you know how all parts fit together so you can put them back together again.

Measure your ingredients properly – If your bread machine comes with measuring cups, use those instead of your own. The ones that accompany the machine probably measure differently than your set at home. Measuring out too much or too little of an ingredient will affect the taste and look of your final product.

Avoid using hot liquids in your dough – The machine simulates all the steps of regular bread baking, including heating up the dough so it will rise. Using hot liquids from the outset can over-stimulate the yeast and ruin your bread.

Know your conversions – If you have a traditional bread recipe and want to convert it know what you are working with. For instance, different size bread pans will make different size bread loaves. A 10 cup pan will make a one pound loaf. Anything that will be bigger than that will make a mess. Also, measure the amount of yeast differently for white and wheat flours.

Cool your bread – Allow it to cool before slicing it. Be careful removing the bread from the pan when it is hot. You can allow it to cool in the pan if you wish.

Basic cleaning

Your bread maker has numerous parts, including a pan and a paddle. The first thing to do is separate the paddle and pan otherwise you may miss some of the dough stuck to the bottom of the paddle. This can cause serious issues when trying to make additional loaves.

Once the two main pieces are separated, along with the crumb tray and lid, it is best to hand wash the entire unit. This will keep the individual pieces from getting banged up and destroyed in the washing machine and will also allow you to monitor how well they are rinsed clean of all the soap.

Hardened dough

If not properly cleaned, a concrete-like substance can form on the inside of your machine. This is from the dough that has now hardened to your bread maker and could take the likes of a jackhammer to get it off. Baked on dough splatter is another difficult item to try and break free, especially after it has time to rest and adhere to the sides of the pan.

If this is the case with your bread maker, it is best to disassemble the entire machine and let it soak for at least 20 minutes in hot soapy water to help moisten the dough enough to allow you to scrape it off with a soft spatula or even your fingernail. Be careful not to scratch the non-stick surface as this will cause even more stuck on pieces.

Most important

Probably the most important aspect to cleaning your bread maker doesn't occur until after you are done with the disassembling, washing and possibly even scraping of the pan, paddle, tray and lid. It is of the utmost importance, especially if there is going to be some time between making bread, to completely dry your machine. Failure to do so could cause rusting, a breakdown in moving parts and even points of chemical residue that could make bread stick to the pan.

Wiping down your machine after each use will ensure that it continues making that completely addictive bread for years to come. Once everything is dry, you can clean off the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and then another quick wipe down. Once you are all done, you can reassemble the bread maker and put it away until the next time you are ready to bake.

Get to know your bread machine before you use it to avoid mishaps.

It is extremely important, for the life of your bread machine and for the success of every loaf thereafter, that the bread maker is properly cleaned and stored in between uses. Here are a few tips to make sure the bread maker is getting a thorough cleaning every time.

Having a bread maker allows you to keep your family well supplied with fresh baked goods at all times. If you are a big family, or one that likes bread, this could mean the pleasure of a new loaf every day or two. If you clean your bread maker properly, this pleasure will be long lasting.