| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/28/2009 4:20:11 PM | Hey There
I have read that making your own homemade bread is alot cheaper then actually buying it in the store. Have any you found it has cost less for you to make bread yourself then buying it for yourself? And if so, how much has it saved you in money? | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/28/2009 4:42:44 PM | It can be frugal but it depends on the type of bread. I can buy a loaf of white bread for less than $1. I don't think I can make it for less than that considering the cost of electric or gas to heat the oven. Whole wheat bread is probably a different story. It might be cheaper to make whole wheat than buying store made bread. Another thing to consider when making bread. How much can you eat? Homemade bread spoils faster than store bought if left out of the fridge. You might be throwing a lot of bread away if you don't eat a lot. I do not store bread in the fridge because in my opinion it ruins the bread.
I make my own bread because I know what's in it and I use all natural products for ingredients. I think that's an important advantage to making your own. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/28/2009 6:27:30 PM | It used to be that frugal meant getting better for your money, living providently, not wasting etc. It didn't mean just cheap. But with the diminishing of our language, usage has changed and now it just means cheap. I buy yeast in a large package--it keeps a very long time in freezer or fridge--and wheat in bulk which I grind myself, so I don't start with store bought flour. I have to believe anyone can make a simple loaf of bread for under $2 a loaf. After all basic bread is just flour, salt, yeast and water. That's pretty cheap. I've quit making loaves, instead making rolls of various types and freezing them in the Debbie Meyer Gold Bag. Works great. I didn't use to freeze bread because I didn't like it frozen, but this works great, no freezer issues.
Also, remember that bread includes things like flatbreads and tortillas, biscuits ... For a single living alone, sometimes those breads work best. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/28/2009 6:41:23 PM | Large corporations don't want you making your own food , ie. bread , rice , pasta much better to have Spumco Corp to make it for you . Why waste time turning on stove , heating water and putting ingredients into pot ? Time better spent out there having fun and looking for happiness .  | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/28/2009 7:23:42 PM | i dont make bread because its cheaper...i make it because it is superior in quality to store bought...i know exactly what goes into my bread...do you think all the preservatives etc they add to store bought bread is good for you?...i dont know if they still do this or not but one preservative that used to be found in bread was formaldehyde...yes...embalming fluid...
just for a lark one day when i used to vend at the country market here i had a list of ingredients of all that goes into my ciabatta...flour, yeast, salt, water and a bit of milk...then i had a list of the ingredients of store bought ciabatta right beside it...you would almost hafta be a chemist to know what half the crap in the store bought is...
there is also a therapeutic value to making bread...
also one of the nicest aromas you can have in your house is home made bread...theres no secret to making bread...its one of the easiest things you can make...
i buy my yeast in the form of a loaf...called live yeast as opposed to dry yeast...since i first used it a few yrs ago i wont go back to using dry yeast again...
it is a bit time consuming tho...but it doesnt take any longer to make 6 loaves than it does to make 1 and bread freezes quite well...
i think if you search breads in the thread index you will find a posting for ciabatta and italian artisan bread...i have tried both recipes...both are fool proof | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 11:25:20 AM | i dont make bread because its cheaper...i make it because it is superior in quality to store bought...i know exactly what goes into my bread...
^^
ditto here... as a mom of three, it is actually cheaper to buy the bread in the store but if I can't make the trip, out the breadmaker comes 
i heart my breadmaker | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 12:37:03 PM | Bread makers - pffffffffftttt....
I use my own hands to mix, knead, form etc...can't beat that! EVER!
I make ALL my own breads; quite the variety, too.
The smell of home baked bread is wondrous. At least I know what's going into my bread unlike those store bought! | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 1:23:09 PM | | breadmakers are ok for certain types of ppl...i.e...those with arthritis or whatever...i have one but i never use it...i hafta feel the dough...i dont discourage ppl from using them,,,they are just not for me | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 2:29:25 PM | | Show me a breadmaker that'll make real whole wheat bread and I may convert. But the only time my breadmaker comes out is when I'm making a larger-than-normal meal and I simply need my hands free for other things in the kitchen. And then I still refuse to use the baking portion of it as I despise square loaves... | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 3:01:29 PM | activedad
When I'm lazy I use this breadmaker. Best there is and it makes wonderful wholewheat.
Zojirushi bbc-x20 | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 3:09:01 PM | I make bread more now than I ever did before. I hated kneading by hand- my arms were always sore for days after. GOD BLESS BREADMAKERS!  I let the machine knead, then I do the shaping or rolling out!
Hey Mik, do you have any tried and true French Bread recipes? I know I can get them online, but the recipes that you use and adapt are always the bomb! | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 3:30:40 PM | retrddiva...i have never really tried making french bread...i bet curvessdaytona would know...or lapilot...
i know that if...when you preheat your oven...set a tray of water on the bottom rack and preheat the oven to 50 degrees higher than the baking temp...(to allow for heat loss when you open the oven door to put the bread in)...then set the heat to whatever temp your bread requires you will get a really good crust...i got that tip from curves | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 4:05:43 PM | I am a gal who never could make a decent loaf of bread! I could build a house with what I have produced! lol
Thus, the bread machine is my bestest friend! I am with Mik. Homemade is superior in its quality for sure. I can buy cheaper sure, but it is processed and lord only knows what is in it! | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 4/29/2009 10:40:49 PM | You know me, Retro ... I'm nothing if not lazy, so yup ... I want the ABM to do as much work as it can ... cup of this, tablespoon of that, little yeast, press start, go sit in the backyard with a book and a bevvie and soak up the sun until the little beggar beeps ... works for me! 
I have a few recipes for a "French" loaf ... the basic one:
1 cup water
2 cups bread machine flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2¼ teaspoons dry active yeast
That'll give you a 1 lb. loaf ... if you just want the machine to do the kneading for you, double the recipe, put on dough cycle, when it's done, take it out of the pan, divide, let rise, punch down, let rise again, and bake.
ABM makes awesome pizza dough and bagel or pretzel dough too. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 5/1/2009 2:17:32 PM | | Could never get on with a breadmaker, so make all my bread/baps by hand. Tastes better than store brought stuff and you have the advantage (as many have previously started) of knowing whats in it. Books always make it seem difficult, but I think its one of the easiest things to make | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 5/2/2009 2:45:04 AM | I've never used a bread maker, though I use a KitchenAid mixer for certain types of bread. Sometimes just to bring all the ingredients together and then finish by hand, sometimes(in the case of really wet, sticky doughs) I use the mixer all the way. Some I do by hand from start to finish. I've found that the larger quantities you buy your ingredients in, the more inexpensive it becomes. 1 pound blocks of dry yeast, 10 or 20 kilo bags of flour, etc.
A few things I keep on hand at all times for my breads:
Rye Flour
Lemon Juice
Malt Powder
Kosher Salt
Dark Ale
Corn Meal
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Caraway Seed
Unsalted Butter
Saffron
Herbes de Provence
Spray Bottle of Water
I also have a baking stone that sits on the bottom rack of my oven at all times. Most breads and ALL pizzas go directly on it. It's also great for avoiding burnt bottoms on other things(especially chocolate things) by providing a barrier between the element and what you're cooking. A good sized baker's peel is pretty much essential too. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 5/2/2009 8:47:40 AM | | Hi, I tried you're recipe with regular flour and had to change it from 2 to 3 cups of flour and 1 extra TBSP. or water and mixed it in my kitchenaid mixer 10 minutes. I let it rise to double, then put it on a cornmeal sprinkled cookie sheet made slashes across it and let it rise again, It was sooo good and easy, I made it twice in one day, I am going to use the same dough for my cinnamon rolls. Thanks for the recipe/ginny | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 5/2/2009 2:21:57 PM | Even the cheapest unhealthy white bread around here in the stores is close to $2 a loaf. Have made bread for years and can make two loaves of the best white, whole wheat or combo grain breads for under $1.50 for the two loaves. Once you have the yeast on hand and bread flour, its so quick to mix up a batch of dough, knead, let rise and bake. And the smell is this side of heaven when its baking and the taste is simply superior. Artesian breads in the store are over $5 a loaf, and most arent fresh.
~Beth~ | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/1/2009 6:27:38 PM |
and 1 pound blocks of yeast !! NO ONE makes that much bread !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think 1 pound block would make about 40-60 loaves and should last in the fridge for at least a month. Some people prefer to use fresh yeast.
and saffron ? that you put in sea food dishes...and if you do put that in YOUR bread....eeewwwww
I assume you've never had saffron bread.
Personally, I've made hundreds of thousands of loaves of bread, the majority in a large factory bakery, but also many loaves in a small scratch bakery (no mixes or prepared items).
I've also been baking since I was a kid, have made many different types of breads.
I also prefer using a breadmaker or my kitchen aid to prepare many items.
Its just easier, plus you can do other things while its mixing.
I dont use a mixer for the more delicate things like muffins, pancakes, pie crust dough, etc. where you just barely have to combine ingredients. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/1/2009 7:33:00 PM | loki09...aptly named...the god of mischief...why are you poo pooing on people in here?...when i buy yeast...i buy it in a 1 pound package...same size and shape as a pound of butter or lard...i keep it in a tupperware container in my fridge and yes it will keep at least a month...indefinitely if frozen...frozen is a little harder to work with tho...and to answer your question about freezing killing yeast...(before you get a chance to ask it that is)...no freezing with NOT harm yeast...either live yeast or dry...i have a bunch of dry active yeast in the freezer that came into my possession one day cleaning out the pantry at work,,,that yeast is over three yrs old and its still fine...
as far as bread makers go...to each their own...if my arthritis gets so bad that i cant knead dough ...guess what?...out comes my bread maker...
saffron in bread?...why not?...the amount used for bread would more than likely affect the color rather than the taste...
perhaps you should post one of your genuine home spun handed down bread recipes...you come in here guns'a'blazing but yer only shooting blanks as far as i can tell...back yourself up...give yourself some credibility before you start running your mouth...
bread is bread...the staff of life...its been filling bellies since the dawn of time ffs...i highly doubt that one of your ancestors recipes is that different...we aint reinventing the wheel...we are makin bread
as i posted before...its more frugal if you make it in quantity...freeze what you dont need...you also have some control over what goes into it...the smell of a fresh baked loaf of bread...either from the oven or from a breadmaker is very appealing...it gives a homey atmosphere to your kitchen...
now that you have me cranked up on the do's and donts of bread making...i think i will make cottage cheese/chive bread tomorrow...yes i will make the cottage cheese and yes i have chives in the garden...
i think you should apologize to all the people that you just pissed off in this thread...and...post a bloody recipe
 | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/1/2009 8:30:16 PM | WOW! Loki has a chip on his shoulder! Anyways, I appreciate a lil banter but don't knock someone like Mik who is continually baking bread. I have tried his recipes and they are huge success here at my home. Everyone has their preference and we each do our own thing as it pertains to us. I, like Mik, have a huge amount of yeast at my home because I bake all the time!
 | |
|
JKLF96
|
Joined: 4/21/2009
Msg: 22 | |
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/1/2009 8:52:29 PM | I would not use this recipe.... machine bread compared to homemade by hand...no comparison..secondly this does not take into account the humidity and temperature....sometimes you will use more flour sometimes less it just depends...
bread is not the easiest thing to make...contrary to what these girly men think they know....if they did make their own bread they would include what NOT do...
Look guys don't just google "french bread recipe" slap it up here and call yourself domesticated...
I have found many recipes for breads, frostings, etc online...tried them out and they were hideous !!!! you get people ( like guys trying to impress women ) who think they know a little something and whala their experts.....whatever...
I got my bread recipe from my mom...and she got it from her mom...the key is finding a GOOD recipe and try it...and get ALL the details of how it's put together...
I've enjoyed some awesome bread machine bread, Many bread machine's control the temp and humidity,
Nothing wrong with googling a recipe and experimenting with it, I'm no expert and certainly not trying to impress anyone. Post your mom's recipe and I'll bet I can find the same one online..
It's not rocket science, But it doe's take a bit of trial and error to get it right.. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/1/2009 9:44:08 PM | Since our family only eats hearty breads its actually cheaper for me to make two loaves of artesian bread than buy them since they run over $4 a loaf here. So by grinding my own bulk grains, having yeast on bulk in the refrigerator, I can mix, knead, rise and bake two loaves for under $2 and they will be healthy breads not white all air loaves of junk. Heck I can even bake bread in my solar oven during the summer months.
~Beth~ | |
|
JKLF96
|
Joined: 4/21/2009
Msg: 24 | |
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/2/2009 5:43:53 PM | 1. No I do not share recipes...you have some money then we can talk...my recipes have been in my family for over 70 years. So no, I'm not posting anything...deal with it, I don't have to; I called you out on making bread...REMEMBER
You picked the wrong bread maker to call out..I'd take Mik's recipe over a 70 yr old one anyday...Kinda stale don't ya think..So if your not willing to share take your ball and go home.. | |
|
| Is making bread more frugal?
Posted: 6/2/2009 6:34:00 PM | WOW loki09, dont know why you are so negative about bread and peoples opinions, not to mention being ignorant on so many facts.
If you put bread in the freezer after you mix it up...you will have problems..I know this, I tried it does not work very well
Frozen dough works just fine when thawed, proofed and baked. If it doesnt rise as much as the fresh dough you can add more yeast next time you make it. You are obviousely doing something wrong.
bread is bread...the staff of life
first off its stuff of life, spell check that ok along with about everything else you typed
staff of life = bread lol, you can even google that.
it is about what you do WITH the ingredients with yields a different result...anyone with some knowledge of baking will tell you that
Very few breads have a secret step which will give an extraordinary effect. Sourdough is one, some people have a starter that has been used for literally hundreds of years, just add enough to replace what you used that day.
I do not need to give myself credibility
Yes, you already showed that many times. You havent shown much if any yet...
It’s always the same douche bag who sits on these posts who think he knows something and when someone comes along and smacks them with a reality bat they freak And you are referring to yourself or another individual?
You personally made hundreds or maybe even thousands of loaves of bread.....great!! that's AWESOME wow would you like me to bake you a cookie....your a factory bread maker... one crappy recipe made over and over again --- thats a joke son ! Yes, I worked in a factory bakery when I was in my early 20's, as well as a scratch bakery, I had about 3-4 years of experience. You learn a lot about different doughs and get to know about various problems and how to fix them. It shows that I know a lot more about breads then the average person here.
I learned the hard way....no mixers....and had to learn with no mixes or prep... fun I rarely ever buy any kind of mix, they rarely taste as good as scratch, as for mixers, one of the greatest invention ever IMHO, maybe if you actually used one properly you would realize that they are a great tool. | |
|
Home
login 
