this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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Are bread machines worth it? I've always considered one but im just not sure if it's worth it. Is it still a lot of work to make a loaf?
That is a matter of opinion. A bread machine that you can figure out how to program correctly means you dump some stuff in before going to bed and have fresh bread in the morning. Some people love this.
Personally I say no. I prefer to mix my sour dough by hand and bake it in a dutch oven with charcoal.. Once in a while I cheat I put it in the electric oven which is easier. This is not hard, but I need to be at home for a full day since it needs to be kneaded, punched down, then get up early to bake it before my shower. You should not be surprised that I sometimes skip the gram measurements of a scale and just dump things into the bowl until it "feels right". (but I fully endorse the implication of the other comment that you should throw away your measuring cups/spoons - either go by weight or by feel: bulk measures are worthless).
Yeeesss! Tell me about your dutch oven approach...preheat the pot in the fire, right? Parchment paper or no? How long total do you run your fire? Do you monitor temps or go by feel? So many questions!
I don't preheat the pot. I do cheat and use charcoal briquettes, which means I can look up how many briquettes to make the proper temperature and put those on my oven. reheat the pot. I have to cook a few minutes longer to make up for lack of pre-heat.
I never use parchment paper for baking bread. The bread needs to break at hotter temperatures where parchment paper will burn. It doesn't work even when I use my electric of an inside. Bread needs to bake at hotter temperatures than paper will burn at and I've had bad luck with it. I also find that bread releases from metal just fine, but doesn't release from parchment paper.
100% yes and I'll tell you why (edit: 100% yes worth it)
I had the same frustrations years ago when I first tried them. This is how you do it:
Buy a nice digital kitchen scale. Forget your cups and tablespoons. You're working with grams now. Dabble with recipes that appeal to you. Trial and error. Once you nail it, that's your recipe from now on. The scale keeps it consistent every time. Game changer.
Buy a good bread knife. And resist the temptation to slice until it's cooled. You'll get better and better and suddenly you're making beautiful sandwiches with your clean slices.
Those two things will eliminate what I think the main frustrations are with bread machines: inconsistency and cutting issues.
Edit 2: WHEAT GLUTEN!! If your loaves are not chewy enough and just kind of mush, add straight wheat gluten. I have 15g in my personal recipe due to using half white all purpose flour.... replaces some of the gluten missing from that.