Is it worth it to purchase a bread machine?

I love bread but we are only a household of 2. Is it worth it to purchase one?

It's only wasted money if you buy the machine and don't use it. A friend gave me his machine in 2005 and I made bread on average of once a week and there are only 2 people in this household. Unless you have arms like Popeye, a bread machine will always do a better job of kneading the dough. After awhile, I got tired of coffee-can shaped loaves of bread so I let the machine do the work and would then dump out the dough and shape it into a baguette or rolls/buns and bake it in my oven. Homemade bread freezes beautifully and makes awesome toast. I also made rolls/ buns and froze them before the second rise. It was easy to take a few out of the freezer, let them rise at room temperature and have as many as required for a meal. Homemade bread only has 6 ingredients: yeast, water, flour, sugar, salt and butter. Next time you're in a grocery store, read the label of a simple white bread; it's shocking. I bought hot-dog buns once in the past 3 years because I was in a hurry and didn't have time to make my own. Allrecipes.com has dozens of recipes for breadmachines. After wearing that bread machine out, I upgraded to a very nice Zojirushi model and I'm not going back to store-bought. So, if you aren't bored to tears by now, my answer is yes - it's worth it.

Household size doesn't matter. What matters is how often are you going to use it and do you have space for it? Are you going to have the patience to learn about your bread machine and how to make bread in it? I have a household of 2 also, but I use my bread machine several times a week. I prefer shaping my own breads and baking them in the oven though. I bought the bread machine many years ago when bread machines were still fairly expensive for only $20. I've gotten my money's worth from it.

If you plan on using your Bread machine often, why not? Buy a small one that can accomidate a small number of eaters. You can always bake bread and give it to your friends, so buying one would be an investment. You can make all types of bread and steal a few slices for yourself before sharing with your friends, that way, not only are you using it you are enjoying the fruits of your labor!

A lot of homemade breads dry out within a day or two so it can be worth it, if you'll eat it fast enough. Get one with a small loaf size 1-2 lbs. The dry bread can still be used so it doesn't have to wasted mind you, dry it out completely and use it for bread crumbs, use stale bread for French Toast, or cut it into cubes, season and bake on low for a an hour to make croutons.

I'm a family of 4 and I use my bread machine almost daily in the winter. In the summer we buy bread, lol. It never leaves my counter all year long though, and I've had it for 3 years. It comes in very handy for pizza crust, homemade bagels (I make 2 batches a week), rye bread, pumpernickel, French bread for subs or garlic bread (I put minced garlic right in the dough--SO good), I use the bread machine to mix my dough and then shape myself and bake in the oven. I've even made rice pudding, banana bread, apple crisp...all in the bread machine.

Grain prices are on the rise so it's not as cheap to make your own bread as it used to be, but it's still cheaper than buying it all the time. A lot cheaper.

Sure see a lot of them at the second hand store and garage sales.
I make my own bread, because I love the entire preparation process.
I can tell if bread is handmade or from a bread machine. It's always better made by hand. Actually, I prefer storebought to bread machine bread any day, if I can't make my own.

Truthfully, I'd buy a Kitchen Aid stand mixer instead. Reasons? 1) I don't like tools/appliances that only have 1 use. Except for fire extinguishers! 2) The stand mixer is much more versatile! 3) Found the pan in my bread machine hard to clean.

I use my stand mixer to make my bread. You can make the dough ahead and let it rise overnight in the fridge. Or you can make the dough and freeze. Just allow to thaw and bake. OR you can bake bread and freeze it. Warm it up in the oven, toaster oven or microwave.

The Kitchen Aid will last you at least 30 years! My mother baked a LOT and she had one last almost 40 years. I have 2 on my counter and one is a good 30 years old and the other a good 25!

I prefer to bake our bread when I can because I think it's healthier (less chemicals and junk) and it sure tastes better!

well if you think you might not use it enough to warrant paying store prices...

shop the goodwill, they always have some at mine for sale
shop yard sales
shop craigslist too

that way you get one for super cheap and if you only use it once every 2-3 months you won't feel like you wasted so much money.


we got 1 for xmas and i have only used it about 2-3 times.
i plan to use it more often i just need to get bread flour.

Yeah if youve got enough cash!!
Its really nice having warm bread freshly made ,you know whats in it,its real easy to make and you can set them to make bread over night with a timer so you wake up in the morning to the fresh smell of warm bread!!mmmm

God Bless!!

HELLO
IF YOU HAVE A FOOD PROCESSOR THAT WILL MAKE THE DOUGH FOR YOU I WOULDN'T BOTHER, EVERY ONE I KNOW GIVES UP AFTER THE NOVELTY WEARS OFF,
I'M AN EX SQUADY AND AFTER I LEFT THE FORCE I USED TO MAKE MY ALL MY OWN BREAD.
IF MY NEPHEW COMES DOWN I MAKE BREAD AS HE IS MILK INTOLERANT
I USE OIL INSTEAD OF BUTTER OR MARGARINE IN MY MIX AND EVERY ONE EATS IT. I ALWAYS USE THE OIL METHOD AS IT'S EASIER TO MIX
TRY A LOCAL RAG AND TRY A SECOND HAND ONE FIRST.
I MUST ADMIT PRESET IT SO YOU WAKE UP TO FRESH COOKED BREAD READY TO CUT FOR THE TOASTER WITH MARGE AND MARMITE OR SCRAMBLED EGGS FOR BREAKFAST IS GOOD BUT HOW LONG WILL IT LAST

No....mine never worked - gave it away. I love to make fresh bread & you can make small or large.

yes, of course!!!!!! But it just depends on urself!!!!

We had one but the novelty wore off and we ended up giving it to our Daughter.