If you want to bake your own bread at home, a bread maker is an essential piece of kit. Beginners, however, need to think carefully about which type to buy, so here is our guide to choosing one.
Key Factors When Buying a Bread Maker
There are many things to compare when deciding which type, model or brand of bread maker to buy. We've gathered the key information to help you choose the best bread maker for your kitchen.
1. Loaf Size
Consider both the size and the weight of bread the machine can make in one batch. Think about how much bread you eat each day and choose a capacity that meets your needs. Bread makers come in different sizes according to the loaf weight they can produce.
2. Types of Bread the Machine Can Make
A good bread maker should handle many kinds of bread so you can bake the styles you like, such as white bread, light bread, sweet bread, whole wheat and rye. If you get bored of the same loaf every day, choose a machine that can make a wide variety.
3. Other Menus Besides Bread
As well as baking different breads, it's a big plus if the machine can make other things too, such as pizza, pastry, pasta, waffles, cookies and pies, so you get more use out of it.
4. Programming
Most bread makers today are automatic and have a timer. Bread can't be baked straight after kneading or mixing; the dough must first rest so the yeast can work, for at least 2 hours. An automatic program that lets you set the machine to start in advance makes life much easier and ensures fresh bread is ready when you need it. Some models can be set to run fully automatically up to 13 hours ahead.
5. Baking Pan
A good bread maker uses a baking pan with a non-stick coating so the bread doesn't stick to the sides. Without it, the crust looks unattractive and the pan is much harder to clean, meaning more scrubbing than usual.
6. Adding Extra Ingredients
Some recipes need ingredients added later in the process. The machine should allow this, or have an alert that tells you when to add them for the selected program. For example, when making raisin bread, the machine reminds you to add the raisins at the right stage.
7. Ease of Use
A good bread maker should be easy to use and come with a user manual, so you can operate it correctly and get the best results.
8. Durability
The machine should be well designed and built from good materials. Look for Thai Industrial Standard (TIS/มอก.) certification, issued by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), so you can be confident of the product's quality.
9. Price
Avoid bread makers that are too cheap, as they use low-quality materials and parts. Because they are electrical appliances, substandard components can cause short circuits or fires, putting your life and property at risk.
Bread Machines for Medium and Large-Scale Production
For medium or large industrial operations, a home-style automatic bread maker simply won't do. MK Unigroup supplies industrial bread-making machines at affordable prices that are easy to use and save labour, including:
- Refrigerated proofing cabinet (retarder prover), trolley type: designed to help bakers better control their production schedule and temperature, with heating, cooling and humidity control. It features a Bi-tronic 2 control panel and comes in many sizes.
- Automatic dough divider, model DSA: suitable for bakeries and pizza shops. The cutting area inside is made of 304 stainless steel, and cutting is fully hydraulically controlled, with two levels of protection between the cutting tank and the hydraulic system. The dough-cutting blades are also stainless steel, and the nuts holding the blades are not welded in place, ensuring consistent cuts. The pressing plate is made of high-quality, non-expanding food-grade material with an extra layer of rust-resistant stainless steel coating, and a removable stainless steel tray catches scraps. The machine is controlled by a PLC with a Siemens operating panel for setting the working time, and switches off automatically when finished for safety and energy saving. It can also be used as a dough press without the dividing function. A button activates blade cleaning, and soft rubber wheels with brakes make it easy to move while keeping it quiet during operation.
- Automatic dough divider and rounder: built for heavy industrial use, dividing and rounding dough for round rolls, hamburger buns, pitta and pizza. It handles both high-hydration, soft dough and very stiff dough. The 25 kg dough hopper is made of Teflon-coated stainless steel, and the dough is handled gently as it is pressed into the dividing chamber, which is adjusted to give the required weight. Once divided, each piece is rounded, and the rounding unit can be changed to suit the dough weight. Settings and speeds are controlled via a touch screen that stores up to 50 programs, with adjustable weight, cutting speed and rounding speed. Output is 1,000 to 2,500 pieces per hour per row.
- Bread dough mixer, model Twist: a fixed-bowl mixer available in capacities from 30 to 300 kg of dough. The frame is made of thick, highly robust material. The bowl, central column and safety guard are 304 stainless steel, while the spiral hook is made of durable 341 stainless steel. The top of the mixing head is anti-UV ABS. The spiral has two speeds, with two timers on the control panel for each speed; switching from slow to fast and stopping at the end of the set time happen automatically. The bowl can run in reverse at low speed, with a button to reverse the bowl so the mixing head can be raised easily. It is belt and pulley driven, has motor overload protection and wheels that lock to the floor during operation.
These machines can save a factory a great deal of labour. If you're interested, contact MK Unigroup.
