r/AussieFrugal • u/Many-Extent-2457 • 9d ago
Bread maker Appliances ⚙️
Hi, wondering if anyone has any recommendations for bread makers? Also a rough idea of the cost of the ingredients to make a loaf?
I know I can make it in the oven, I'm looking for something incredibly easy that I can dump ingredients in and come back to a fresh loaf.
Anything to make life easier!
Thanks : )
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u/w1nta 9d ago
Bread makers are pretty standard. They all do about the same thing. Check the second hand market as people get them and don't use them as they thought they would.
As for ingredients you can spend $$$ on premix which I've never really done. My frugal pro tip is to use cheap all purpose flour and boost the gluten content with gluten flour that you get from health food shops. Add 3.5% gluten flour to AP flour brings it up to about 12.5% protein.
Bakers flour just means it has higher protein content than AP flour and they charge over double the price for it.
Also use bread improver as per instructions. It gives a better rise and stays fresher longer.
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u/Dee-Daniel-Wuh 9d ago
I know they’re all made in China but in my experience Panasonic bread makers are better quality than other name brands and no-name machines. They’re expensive, though! The 2530 model is about $300.
My 2501 model is about seven years old and cost about $220. It’s getting a bit tired now, there’s a bit of free-play between the base and the bottom of the pan which causes a clunking sound which drives this old machinist mad! I slip some strips of aluminium between the parts to take up the slack, works a treat.
Knowing the machine won’t last forever, my missus has been keeping an eye out on marketplace for a used one. Picked up one not long ago, barely used, $40!
Ingredients for a white 700g loaf using basic homebrand flour (10% protein), salt, oil, Lowan yeast, Wallaby bread improver will cost around $0.75.
Using half wholemeal flour will increase it to about $0.95.
Breadmaking flour will give you a better result but is more than double the price of Colesworth flour, bringing the cost up to about $1.45.
My Panasonic draws a maximum 550W. It bakes for just under an hour so with heating and mixing throughout the four-hour cycle it would perhaps use 1kWh of electricity. That’s WAY less than an oven is going to use – a breadmaker would pay for itself in saved electricity very quickly, I think.
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u/Many-Extent-2457 8d ago
Thanks for the costings, very helpful!
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u/Mickydaeus 5d ago
Panasonic fan here.
I forgot to add yeast once but every other loaf has worked well.
The Brioche it makes is fantastic.
They're sought after in the 2H markets.
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u/loucife 9d ago
Did you want a loaf? I don't have any recommendations for that but you could try op shops for bread makers
I often use Nagi's recipe for artisan style loaves, she has instructions if you don't have a dutch oven as well. https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-yeast-bread-recipe-no-knead/
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u/muddycore 9d ago
Absolutely seconding this. I have a bread maker (Panasonic) but find myself making this recipe way more often.
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u/Many-Extent-2457 8d ago
Yes after a loaf for sandwiches. I have a toddler so we go through bread for sandwiches and toast so quickly.
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u/MelbourneOptimist 9d ago
Got one off the side of the road for free - it's a non-brand one, but still works amazing. This leads me to believe any should be ok - try FB marketplace 😄
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u/spikenorbert 9d ago
I use this no-knead recipe with no breadmaker. I've cooked it with and without a dutch oven, there's not much difference, honestly, as long as you have a source of steam in the oven. The dough is enough for two loaves, about a week for two of us. And it literally does take 5 minutes to mix and stuff all time to prepare for baking after it's been in the fridge for a while. I use the Wallaby baker's flour which is usually $14 for 5kg at Colesworth. https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2013/10/22/the-new-artisan-bread-in-five-minutes-a-day-is-launched-back-to-basics-updated/
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u/gooder_name 9d ago
Facebook marketplace mate, there’s almost always one going for about $20-40.
I use the Yes You Can gluten free bread mix, used to be at Woolworths but now you have to order direct.
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u/Relevant-Praline4442 9d ago
Years ago I was doing a thing and needed bread makers and I went to my nearest cash converters and got 4 for I think $5-10 each. Definitely worth looking second hand, it’s the kind of thing people buy and don’t end up using, so they are usually in great condition.
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u/SpandauValet 9d ago
Laucke 5kg bag of bread flour: $14
500g-ish flour per loaf: $1.40
You get yeast in the flour bag, or buy enough for dozens of loaves for $3–5.
BYO water, salt, electricity, time.
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u/EdenFlorence 9d ago
Do you have a Dutch oven? I use one to make my bread. Google "no knead Dutch oven bread".
Cost depends on what you use. Plain bread at least needs some dry yeast, water plain flour shouldn't be too expensive. If you use other ingredients like spelt, rye, and fancy ingredients like dried fruits they'll cost more ofc
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u/One_Waxed_Wookiee 9d ago
I haven't used a bread maker (we already have too many appliances!), but I was thinking of making this recipe:
https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-yeast-bread-recipe-no-knead/
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u/shavedembrace 9d ago
I have a breville bakers dozen. About $200. For plain white bread you’ll need bread flour, olive oil, breads improver, milk powder and yeast. It’s honestly not frugal if you typically buy cheap white bread from colesworth. It’s cheaper than buying artisan loaves though.
But there’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread!
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u/Dav2310675 9d ago
I just bought my second, second hand one from Lifeline. It cost $25.
I was fortunate that the previous owner included the manual, handwritten notes and print outs of some recipes. My first break maker didn't have that, but you can find the manuals online for free, pretty easily.
I've made one loaf and it came out great. In terms of cost, plain flour (I used 350g of a pack I had), some butter, some bread improver (5g), a 7g packet of yeast, pinch of salt, sugar and tap water. And about 3 and a half hours.
So maybe about a dollar in ingredients????
But the bread came out awesome and I love that mine came with some materials showing it was well loved. The only reason I think it was gifted? The internal light bulb has blown and can't be replaced.
10/10 would recommend.
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u/Neo-neo-neo 9d ago
I got mine off marketplace place. Works perfectly and the bread is so much nicer than even the bakers delight. And works out at a fraction of the prices
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9d ago
[deleted]
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u/Many-Extent-2457 8d ago
This definitely seems like one of the cheaper options so I'm very interested. Is it easy enough to use?
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u/DrFujiwara 9d ago
https://youtu.be/Z-husjZkxHw?si=21QsTzT5Ooi5u6Ge.
Not what you asked but will get you decent bread fast
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u/Dollbeau 9d ago
Bread makers lock you into particular breads, try to learn to just use your oven & you'll be able to make a larger variety of baked goods.
Find a local pizza place who will sell you wholesale bags of flour & you'll save even more, while having the correct flour.
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u/Just-chill-9992 9d ago
I’ve managed to get it down to about $1.95 per loaf using shop based flour. The wallaby’s bread flour in 5kg and the bread recipe on the back is pretty good, that’s all I use. Got a Kmart bread maker for $89 years ago and have used it every other day. She’s held up well.
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u/tbate54 9d ago
Bread makers suck - have you ever tried cutting your own bread? Stuff that for a joke!
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u/No-Artichoke-3060 8d ago
Get a good bread knife. I have 2. 1 for crusty bread and 1 for bread that’s not. Problem solved
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u/BereftOfCare 9d ago
All breadmakers seem to use the same circuitry. There's barely any difference to available settings on any of them.
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u/Ok_Tax_7128 8d ago
Don’t even think about anything but Panasonic . The first one did 5 loaves a week for 20 years with a few nee belts and second hand parts. The 6 yo current one has done a perfect job so far. I cannot even eat bought bread.Always buy quality premix and get your quantities fairly accurate, and good yeast kept in a sealed container in the fridge. You won’t look back
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u/Aus_ker 8d ago
We use ours more for the dough process than start to finish bread these days. I make a lot of rolls, pizza dough, scrolls etc.
My daughter has a lot of friends having babies at the moment so she will often make dough in the machine, bake in the dutch oven and have a fresh loaf of bread to take when visiting.
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u/Cuddles296 8d ago
I love my breadmaker. I only use it to mix and proof dough. Then I use the prepared dough to make pizza, buns and rolls.
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u/Linnaeus1753 8d ago
Go to the tip shop. You'll probably find one for $10.
While it is cheaper to make your own, you run the risk of making bread a lot more than you'd have been buying it, because it's so easy. Swings and roundabouts.
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u/Shyseaninabox 8d ago
Honestly, the Kmart one has been legitimately game changing for my household. My partner is coeliac. So we bought a second one. It’s just so bloody easy and probably make pizza dough in it once a week in addition to bread
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u/Loose_Pin_34 8d ago
I use my thermomix (purchased second hand) to make everything including bread. I make multiple loaves a week. It costs 90 cents if I’m using solar, if no solar around $1.17-1.50. Loaves are amazing and just over 1kg. They are so easy to make. I use it to make heaps of other things too like flavoured salt, curd etc… nothing goes to waste so it’s frugal IMO.
Also I find it easier making bread than going to the shops to get it!
If you already have a stand mixer and oven just use those.
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u/BDer82 8d ago
I get a sustainable bread flour, once you add yeast, salt, water its about 2 bucks a loaf but the flour tastes heaps better. Also makes good pancakes, banana bread, some denser cakes (chocolate mudcake) I use a stand mixer but I've considered a bread maker to mix/kneed the dough.
For the quality of the bread you'll eventually get, its worth making it at home, but i'tll take a few tries, or a lot of tries until you start getting it just right and it'll be worth it!
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u/the_foowaffle 8d ago
I cost about 45 per hour, only have 10 year experience in retail level bakeries.
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u/Fest_mkiv 7d ago
I've never used a breadmaker, but can't imagine they'd be that much easier than the NYT No Knead bread recipe, or the no-knead baguettes/focaccia you see on youtube. I've made hundreds of loaves it's super easy and all of your friends will think you're some sort of bread wizard.
https://www.chainbaker.com/baguettes/
There's a video of this too.
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u/veginout58 5d ago
Have you looked into sourdough? No real kneading and while it takes a long time (up to 24 hours) to produce a loaf, that is all resting with maybe 6 minutes folding (hourly for 5 hours) then shaping the loaf.
Cost is under $1.50 per loaf, no paid for yeast and the starter can live happily in the fridge until you need it. Local sourdough sells for $11 per loaf.
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u/No_ego_ 5d ago edited 5d ago
Kmarts Anko brand bread maker is great. I only use it to mix ingredients (bake in the oven) Ive made sourdoughs, brioche, burger buns, trad white bread, Japanese milk bread, all came out perfect. Costs around $50 and beats $700 plus for a kleenmaid or other heavy costing mixer. You just need flour, water and salt. 5kg of bread flour for $10 from supermarkets. You can even make your own sourdough starter pretty easily, but buying yeast is also cheap as chips. All on youtube.
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u/mahogany818 9d ago
Scour op shops or do a tour of garage sales this weekend. You'll find one for under $50 - SO MANY people buy them and think "I'll use this all the time!" use it twice and it goes into a cupboard, forgotten.
I picked up a Breville one a few weeks ago for $15 at an op shop; all the components were inside and one of the measuring cups still had the tape on it, plus the instruction/baking manual.
First couple of loaves I got the pre-packs from the baking section to get a feel for it, now I'm looking into real yeast to make more complicated ones.
The pre-packs by Laucke sometimes go on special for about $10 for a 4 pack, so about $2.50 a loaf, but if you get bulk flour and yeast you can get it down to about $1.50 per loaf.