Frugal Upstate,
I love your blog – have gotten so many great ideas. Now a question – I love to make homemade pizza, and I agree with your comments that you can make it relatively healthy and inexpensive compared to delivery pizza. And everyone in my household loves pizza. My question — is buying a bread machine worth it for making pizza dough (and other homemade bread)? I’ve never owned a bread machine but have always been curious. Now that I have a spacious kitchen, I actually have room to store one. Any suggestions? Is a bread machine a good frugal investment in the long term for homemade pizza dough and other stuff?
I generally make my pizza dough with my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but do the rising, etc. in my oven on the bread-proof cycle. It’s a little more work than I would like for quick pizza meals, but it is good!
Thanks!
Alice
Alice,
Several people have written or commented lately asking me about the brand of my bread-maker, whether I recommend one etc~so your email is quite timely!
To start with I use a West Bend bread-maker. It is an older model that we’ve had for quite some time. About 2 years ago it managed to vibrate itself off the counter while kneading bread, breaking the cover off and cracking the casing-I now have to prop up one corner of the machine with a potholder each time I use it. And the lid falls off when I open it up. But hey-it still works.
Would I recommend one for you? Hmm, yes and no.
No, I would not recommend that you run right out and buy a new breadmachine. Although the price has come down quite a bit on these units (a cursory Google search showed prices from $200 to $44) it’s still a chunk of change.
Yes, I do think one could be useful for you-especially if you,like me, plan on using it as merely a bread mixing, kneading & intial rising device. My recommendation to you is to take a little jaunt to your local thrift store-something like a Goodwill or Salvation Army. Those places usually have 2 or 3 breadmachines, older styles, just sitting on the shelves.
Pick out a nice unit with the larger pan size (2lbs). Test it out*-plug it in and run the dough cycle for a few minutes to see if the little blade inside rotates around like it is supposed to. You don’t need to worry too much about the heating element etc-with the dough cycle it is only used to slightly warm the pan and aid with rising.
Head home with your bargain priced item and enjoy your breadmaking. If you find that you really love it and can’t live without it, then consider asking for a nicer model next year at Christmas 🙂
Jenn
Do you have a question for Frugal Upstate? I’d love to hear from you! Use my contact form to drop me a line and I’ll answer as soon as I can!
*Most thrift stores operate with an “as is” policy on all appliances and electronics. Because of this they usually have several outlets that are left available for patrons to test items.
gradchica says
I make pizza dough, French bread, and “free form” breads at least once a week. I have a bread machine and never use it–too much hassle. My 2 cents would be: if you have a stand mixer, try making bread with that first before buying a bread machine. I use my Kitchen Aid mixer for all my breads–mix it up in there, “knead” with the dough hook, cover and let it rise right there in the bowl.
For pizza dough, it’s the same number of steps, since you have to roll it out whether you use a machine or the mixer, and same for French bread. For sandwich bread, I’ve had the best results letting my lump of dough rise in the bowl, then for the second rise on the counter, then plopping it into a bread pan–the crust comes out much nicer for me.
Anyway, give your mixer (if you have one) a try first. Also, if you don’t have a mixer, it would be a much valuable addition to your kitchen then a bread machine since it can handle many more tasks.
Amyrlin says
I agree with gradchica, I find my kitchen aid stand mixer easier than the bred machine. I have used my bread machine for about 6 years exclusively for kneading and proofing. When I purchased my kitchen aid stand mixer (on clearance!!) the texture was unbeatable for pizza, bread, rolls etc. I have not used the bread machine since and I don’t think it takes any longer or a hassle using the mixer. I am planning to use my bread machine for a OAMC session for breads, etc, and for the holidays it is invaluable back up for all the baking I do.
Have a great day!!
Amiyrah says
I absolutely love my bread maker! And I love it so much because I got it for free. With a little bit of patience, you can get a free one off of craigslist or freecycle. I put out a request for a free one on freecycle once a week for 3 weeks, and by week 3, someone had responded and was desperate to get rid of her almost new bread maker. It has saved us tons of money because I don’t buy store brand bread anymore; I make it myself and we use it up all week. Pizza dough is made every friday for pizza night and has also saved us a bundle.
Since I’ve gotten my machine, i’ve checked back on craigslist and freecycle and see lots of people still putting up their machines to give away or sell very cheap. The best time is around wedding season when couples get them as gifts and don’t want to keep them.
Julie says
I found my bread machine for $5 on Craigslist. I love it. I rarely back the bread in the machine; I use it mainly for the dough cycle.
After reading some of these comments, though, I may have to dig out the Kitchen Aid and give that a try.
Sheena says
I’m in the market for a bread maker as well. Jayden absolutely loves bread, he goes through a loaf in less than a week. I was looking at one at Walmart, but I know I can probably score one on Ebay or Craiglist. I got my rice cooker from Ebay and coffee maker at a garage sale. I love buying used.
9to5to9 says
I’m on my third bread machine, and I couldn’t live without it. When #2 died last spring after a 10-year run, in fact, I ordered a replacement the very next day. And I bought high end this time, because a bread machine is a work horse for me.
The reason: I make 99 percent of our bread. I don’t do hot dog and hamburger buns, but everything else I do. I used to love kneading bread – it’s SO therapeutic – but in recent times years of typing and cake decorating have taken their toll on my wrists and I just don’t have it in me to knead that much. Plus I like being able to ignore it for a while and do other things after the initial mix. I don’t make in it, though. Every bread machine I’ve had has baked the bread too dry to suit me.
If you’re not a hard-core bread maker, though, I’d agree with Jenn. Start with a use one and see how you like it. Then upgrade if you love it.
I do disagree with you, Jenn, on the heating element, though. When the one on Machine #2, a Welbilt, died it noticeably effected the rise.
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate says
I love all these different takes!
9to5to9-Ok-I can see how it would affect the rise. But if you are buying thrift I wouldn’t worry TOO much about whether the heating element worked well or not. Or at least I’d be willing to take my chances. I think you’d have to run it for quite a while at the store to see if the heat came on.
San Jose Amy says
I like your blog
Carol M says
Jen-I currently own 4 (yes 4!) ABMs! My first one was a Freecycled, 1 lb machine. Next, I bought 2 machines a 2 lb and a 1 1/5 lb. I got a 4th 2 lb machine (again thru Freecycle) once I figured out that I need the 2 lb loaf size for my family. I get 3 machines going at once for pizza night (4 kids). This alone has more than paid for the $20 spent at thrift shops. THe 1 lb machine will go off with soon to enter college and get an appartment kid. I pawn off my other machines as more leave the nest. Since I have arthritis in my hands, this is a great device for me. I make breads, rolls, hot cross buns, cinnamon rolls, pizza dough in mine.
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate says
Carol-you are a perfect example of how useful an ABM can be. Of course, you must use up quite a bit of cabinet space with four machines 😉