Why do you need a bakery?
The taste and smell of freshly baked bread in many people are associated with childhood, home warmth and comfort. Meanwhile, in the conditions of the modern metropolis, few people have time to engage in baking. Bread from a bakery or supermarket does not cause so many positive emotions, and the care of a healthy lifestyle makes you think about the composition of purchased products.
Buying a homemade baker can be a way out because you:
- Do not waste any time preparing the dough and controlling the baking process;
- know what products you’re using.
The bakery is a functional device that, depending on the programs announced by the manufacturer, is able to bake bread, baguette, buns, pies, biscuit cakes, as well as cook yoghurts and jams. The user can choose the mode of cooking yeast and yeast-free baking, as well as establish the degree of roasting crust.
The main advantage of a household appliance is its autonomy. You do not have to control the process of cooking the dough and baking mode, the device will do everything without your participation.
But there are also drawbacks to the bakery: models with a large set of functions have the appropriate dimensions and weight, and the ingredients for homemade bread (for example, rye malt) can not be found in all stores.
In addition, you will not be able to save on the product of your own preparation, because industrial baking, in any case, will be cheaper. These flaws pale before you know exactly what the bun is made of and when.
To make sure that the baker fully lives up to your expectations, before choosing a model, you need to understand its characteristics and read the advice of experts. As with other multifunctional appliances, it’s important to decide what tasks your family needs a new device for.
How to choose the right baker: expert advice
In modern devices, there are up to 20 different programs and functions, baking and cooking other dishes. In this variety, it is easy to get lost and buy not what you need. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, we offer to understand the technical characteristics of the devices.
The size and weight of baking
Modern devices can have baking bowls of different volumes. The weight of the finished product can range from 0.4 to 1.5 kg.
When choosing a device, start from how many people you have in your family and what the consumption of the finished product is assumed on the basis that homemade bread is stored no more than 1/2 days.
Here are some metrics you can focus on:
1. For one or two people it is enough 500-750 grams. Bread.
2. For three or four people, it will take 800 to 1300 grams. Product.
3. For a family of four to five adults, it is worth considering models for baking large buns weighing 1.5 kg.
Many bakers also provide the ability to vary the weight of the finished product, that is, allow you to lay a different amount of ingredients. This option is better not to consider, because in large bowls a small amount of dough is not always mixed qualitatively. Using a small baker to bake a few buns in a row is also a bad idea, as the built-in thermal protection will work (the device will be switched off until it is completely cooled).
The shape of the bread
Depends on the features of the container in which the dough is kneaded and baked. Most manufacturers have a classic rectangular shape, but there are also models with different buckets, such as round or two square compartments.
There are also devices with different baking trays for baguettes, bagels, breadsticks, tortillas, croissants and other things, but in this case you have to form the dough yourself under the proposed forms. The plus is that such devices have a separate function of preparing the dough.
Number of programs
Before you choose a quality bakery for the house, pay attention to its functionality. The number of programs is the most important parameter on which the price of technology depends. If you plan only to bake bread, then you do not need such functions as cooking jam, cooking porridge, pilaf or soup, and therefore, and overpay for them do not need. The basic set of functions of the baker allows you to bake wheat and rye bread, as well as sweet muffin and yeast-free pastries (for example, the basis for pizza).
Power
The speed of baking bread depends on this parameter. For modern models, power can range from 450 to 1600 W. Standard figures are between 500 and 750 W. Before you choose a baker, you need to properly correlate the power and volume of the bowl. The larger the capacity, the higher the setting should be. Also, do not forget about the time that is necessary to prepare the dough. A good indicator is considered to be 3 to 4 hours for a full cycle of bread preparation.
Having a dispenser
The dispenser is a special container for additional ingredients that you want to add to the dough. It can be nuts, dried fruits, dried berries, candied fruit, spices, pieces of cheese and more. In addition, there are yeast dispensers.
Supplements are not to be shredded during the preparation of the maggot, the device adds them at the right time to the finished test. Many users note that dried fruits can stick together after washing, so they should be dried on a napkin before laying in the dispenser.
Body material
Low-cost models are usually made of lightweight heat-resistant plastic. More powerful and expensive devices have a body made of chrome steel or another metal alloy. The material from which the outer part of the baker is made does not affect the process of making bread, so you can buy a good device with an external plastic part.
Baking mould material
The container for kneading the dough and baking the bread is removable. As a rule, it has a non-stick coating and technical devices for kneading dough (bags). According to reviews, it is better to choose a device with interchangeable containers, as it will diversify the forms of baked bread.
In addition, additional capacity will be a replacement for those who for some reason have failed. Before choosing a baker for the house, it is recommended to inspect the bowls for chipping and damage to non-stick coating.
Number of messengers
Bread can be equipped with one or two devices for kneading dough. Each option has its own peculiarities. So, one spatula can bad mix the mass in the corners, there may remain flour.
Two telomeres perfectly cope with mixing the full volume of dough, but if you put the ingredients from a half-calculation, the dough may not work. And finally, metal mesers are better than plastic, so when choosing a model always look into the bowl.
Noise
In the process of kneading the dough, the baker can work quite loudly. Meanwhile, many housewives put the device with a delayed start for the night or in the morning. In order for the device not to wake up your family, pay attention to the noise level – it must be within 55-60 DB.
Control system
Before you choose a baker, it will be right to pay attention to the control panel. There are models with buttons and a touch screen. The first reliable and almost do not fail. The buttons can also provide backlighting.
The second is easier to wash, but these models should be provided with a lock against accidental touches. Otherwise, any sloppy touch, including a child or pet, can knock down the work of a baker.
The presence of a removable lid
The bread cover can recline or be completely removed. The second option is more convenient if you need to clean the inside of the container. According to experts, this option is not worth paying attention to, so before you choose a baker, you should just appreciate the convenience of design.
More features
- The timer. Allows you to set up the deferred start of the bakery. It is important to remember that it is impossible to leave the products in a warm container for a long time, as milk and eggs can spoil.
- Maintaining the baking temperature. Thanks to this feature, you will have warm bread or croissants for breakfast.
- Choosing a crust roasting regimen. You will be able to adjust the work of the baker in such a way as to get a slightly browned or well-roasted crust at bread or pies.
- Cooking other dishes. Modern bakeries are not only for baking yeast or yeast-free bread. They can also be used to cook jams, make yogurts and other dishes.
- Custom mode. Designed for those who like experiments and have already mastered the basic settings of the equipment.
- Lock the set mode of operation. The user can lock the lid or the baker’s control panel. This feature is useful for families with children and active pets.
