Kenwood Chef: to do or not to do

[andyjhill]

Agreed.

That's a bit more contentious. In my view, it depends very much on what you like, because the choice of flour massively affects the results, and because different people like different breads, and for different purposes. For instance, I use one recipe for bread for toast, and another much lighter recipe for bread for sandwiches.

Agreed.

I spent quite a lot of time experimenting and making notes on results - what happens if you increase this, decrease that or substitute one ingredient for another .... for example water or milk, oil or butter?

but if you replace the water with milk,butter or oil you are changing the fat content of the bread and its taste and texture

[andyjhill]

I suppose that is one reason why the traditional wood heated brick bread (and pizza!) ovens produce such tasty bread, and the hot oven cooks the outside first sealing it and keeping the moisture in. I have a breadmaker (Breville) but the results always seem better if I take the dough out and cook it in a hot pre-heated oven, rather than letting it cook in the breadmaker



That's HeXus!

the reason the bread cooks better in your oven is that there is much more volume in your over ie more heat so when you put you loaves in the temp doesnt drop as much and also the rate that you oven can heat up vs the breadmaker is so much better.another tip is to use a cleaned water sprayer like the ones that you can buy from garden centers for£1-2 and spray the bread all over bfore you put into the oven and dont keep opening up the door and its drops the oven temperature

[Zak33]

Sair and I have discussed it quite a bit and I think if we go this route it'll be the full monty version.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Sair and I have discussed it quite a bit and I think if we go this route it'll be the full monty version.

Does it start playing Hot Chocolate songs when doing mixing??

[Zak33]

Does it start playing Hot Chocolate songs when doing mixing??

you just don't wanna think of me stripping off in a Job Centre queue mate....

you'll just be jealous

[Funkstar]

after clicking one Amazon link in this thread, I think I've received at least three emails offering me "stand mixer bargains" from them!

This is a seriously hot topic.

[Saracen]

but if you replace the water with milk,butter or oil you are changing the fat content of the bread and its taste and texture

Precisely. Some people criticise breadmakers because of the taste or texture of the results. My exact point was that you can do a lot to change both taste and texture by altering ingredients. Some changes have a large effect, some a more subtle one. Getting the best results requires some trial and error, and if you're going to do that, it's best to keep notes on what change produced what effect, which you like and which you don't. For instance, I use one recipe for white bread for sandwiches, but a different recipe for white bread for toast, because (in our opinion in this house) a heavier bread makes better toast. But that's because it's how we like our toast. You might like yours differently, and that implies a different recipe.

[scaryjim]

... another tip is to use a cleaned water sprayer like the ones that you can buy from garden centers for£1-2 and spray the bread all over bfore you put into the oven ...

Better than this, spray a load of water into the oven when you put the loaves in. That way you're cooking them in a damp, warm atmosphere (the wet air holds more heat than dry air at the same temperature). I have this bread-making book and it's full of useful tips. His tip on baking bread is to get your oven as hot as possible, stick your bread in, spray it with loads of water, then turn the temperature down to whatever the recipe calls for. And I can't fault it, my bread's been baking beautifully since I started using his technique...

[ristac]

My wife has asked for one for Christmas, we already have a blender and she wants it mainly for baking anyone know what these are like http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-KMX5...216070&sr=1-12

[GoNz0]

thought this may be the nudge you need to take the plunge http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...=hotukdeals-21

[Gordy]

My wife loves her Kenwood chef. It's great for cakes and all kinds of things.

They seem to be very well built.

[Zak33]

thought this may be the nudge you need to take the plunge http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...=hotukdeals-21

that is VALUE isn't it?

[GoNz0]

made the xmas cake in mine last weekend, my god was it easy...

whisk the eggs, stick em in a bowl so i can cream the sugar and butter, toss everything in and mix for 2 mins then cook all afternoon.

[Lanky123]

Damn you. Damn you all. Amazon should be paying you commission.





Next few weeks should be a lot of fun.

[GoNz0]

well if you clicked the link from hexus you may have helped pay for the site

whats 1st on the menu ?

was your 1st though, "fkin hell, how bigs the box! " ?

[Funkstar]

So does that come with the food processor and blender?