I received a bread maker as a Christmas present. I have made 3 loafs so far and although they turn out fine, technically, i find them very dense and heavy! i’m not sure if it’s the recipes i’m using ( 1 from manual, 2 online) or if i’m doing something wrong! Can anyone guide me and explain what to look for in a recipe so the bread isn’t so dense and heavy? is there maybe a good cookbook out there for me? I just want a nice, light, fluffy bread….well, for now 
Thanks a bunch!
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SumBuddy - said
August 18 2010 @ 19:12
Using milk or even powdered milk makes dough softer and more airy. I add 1 tablespoon of powdered milk for every 3 cups of flour. Adding butter/oleo/shortening/oil will also make bread more tender.
The recipe has to fail 3 times before I will totally give up on it.
This site has kitchen-tested recipes – I’ve tried the Cinnamon Bread twice http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/RecipeDisplay?RID=28 and it is yummy. Makes good French toast, too.
This Classic Sandwich Bread makes soft, squishy hamburger & hot dog buns. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/RecipeDisplay?RID=R425
Don’t give up yet!
mark - said
August 18 2010 @ 19:12
probably too much flour. The best bread is made using weight (not volume) for measuring ingredients. Try sifting the flour before measuring. You will find that you will be using less flour.
It's That Guy - said
August 18 2010 @ 19:12
It’s hard to get really fluffy bread from a bread machine. If you ever made bread by hand, you’d be surprised a machine would work at all, because there are so many variables.
Try using just slightly less flour. If possible, put in several tablespoons less than the recipe calls for, then watch while it’s mixing. If the paddle is making a smear beneath it, add flour a tablespoon at a time, giving each one a chance to mix in. (Of course you can’t do this with a mix). Try using a little more yeast, like a packet and a third or a packet and a half. And use the ‘rapid rise’ yeast, or a kind that is advertised specifically for bread machines. Or a tiny bit more sugar or honey, like 1 teaspoon.
Or just use the bread machine to mix and knead the flour, then rise it yourself, in a lightly oiled bowl in a warm place.
Two things make bread softer (though not necessarily lighter)–fat and eggs. If you add a little more butter or shortening than asked for, the bread will be softer, or if you find a recipe for ‘egg bread’.
dalbax2 - said
August 18 2010 @ 19:12
I think all bread will be dense, whether you use less flour or not. I have used my bread maker several times with all different types of recipes, and they all come out dense.
Droidcrasher - said
January 23 2012 @ 22:54
First…
Understand that the recipes you get out of your Black n Decker bread machine’s little recipe book is far from fool proof.
So…
Without tossing it out the window, here’s a couple of tricks I learned by experimenting, and others, by following old time experts’ advice!
In making mine a French Bread, in a Black n Decker Bread Machine…. I first added the hot water from the tap into the pan.
And yes I know…it’s a bit hot for the recipe, BUT…You’ll have plenty to do BEFORE starting your bread making process, so bare with me, it’ll have time to cool down a bit!
Once the water is in the pan (a cup and 3/4)… I immediately add the sugar (1 1/2 tbsp) and the salt (1 3/4 tsp) into the pan.
Now one trick I do is make sure to move that water , tilting the pan from side to side for a minute or so, as to DISSOLVE the sugar and salt into the water content!
Then…(and this is where I throw caution to the wind and totally go against the yeast maker’s advice)… I add the “bread machine” yeast DIRECTLY TO THE WATER… Letting it foam for about 7-10 minutes!
The recipe calls for 1 1/2 tsp of yeast….
Guess What!???
There is 2 1/4 in an packet…
So I put 2 1/4 tsp!
Also, my recipe book called for 5 3/4 cups of bread flour for a 3 lbs loaf!
Me!?
I figured if I was gonna make it LIGHTER…
That a 2 lbs loaf would be better.
After all, what do you think supermarkets wanna make!? MONEY, RIGHT!???
So do you believe they’ll put more….OR LESS FLOUR in the bread they sell ya!?
Bingo! More Profit = Less flour!
Less flour = More rise!
More rise = LOOKS BIG and worth every penny of that $3.50 loaf!!! lol
So I improvised…
And put in only 4 cups of WHITE multi-purpose flour bought at Walmart, which does just fine!
BUT CHECK THIS OUT!!!
AND LISTEN CLOSE FOR MY LITTLE SECRET…
As the professionals don’t want you to hear this, since they want to sell you more bread!
The secret to a light bread is simple…
SIFT YOUR FLOUR!!!!
Go to the dollar store and buy a little plastic flour sifter for 1.50$ !!!
And while your yeast is foaming…
SIFT YOUR 4 CUPS OF FLOUR INTO A BOWL!
Then add it to your bread pan on top the water, level it softly…and put the pan in the machine!
You can even add herbs and spices if you like that! I personnally add 1/2 tsp garlic powder on top the flour! (NOT GARLIC SALT!!!) to give it a little Oompf!
And that’s it…
Set the machine for a FRENCH BREAD SETTING
(#3 on my machine)
Set it for a 2 lbs loaf!
Set the crust to medium!
And VOILÀ!
This bread is FANTASTIC!
EVEN THE CRUST is delicious!
If anything, it rises just a little too much! lol
So experimenting with 2 tsp bread machine yeast instead of 2 1/4 might be perfect!
Try THAT!
And let me know!!!
Droidcrasher
Droidcrasher - said
February 29 2012 @ 18:28
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
******************
Expensive, 25$ battery operated sifters don’t seem to work THE MAGIC. I still trust my 1$ DOLLARAMA plastic sifter! WHY!?
#1- Because the mesh at the bottom of the sifter is finer on the DOLLAR STORE one! They may look the same from below….But when you take a close look UP TOP, you’ll see it is finer meshed!
#2- The difference in concept: The little star gizmo inside the DOLLAR STORE SIFTER seems to do a better job of squishing any molecular LUMPS! As opposed to the 25$ battery operated sifter that is nothing more then a FANCY VIBRATOR, which possibly explains why THEY CAN’T USE A FINER MESH, as the lumps SIMPLY WOULDN’T GO THROUGH!
Takes more time, I agree BUT…
After tens of french style loaves….
I have YET TO MISS!!!
And they are just EXQUISITE!!!