Hello everyone. I'm just getting the hang of using by bread machine I got last Christmas. One thing I haven't worked out yet---how do you slice the bread thin enough for the toaster? Do I have to have a bread slicer? Thanks for your time..Cheri in NY

-- Cheri Asprion (t.asprion@worldnet.att.net), October 20, 2001

Answers

best i ever used is an electric knife

-- paul mccloud (vonmantik@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.

Thanks Paul, I'll try mine today. I have bread in the machine as we speak and never thought of using the electric knife.

-- Cheri Asprion (t.asprion@worldnet.att.net), October 20, 2001.

Or if you like your bread thick, you could buy a toaster that's made for bagels, they have wider openings.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.

You can get a plastic guide you put the loaf in that guides the blade and then use the electric knife.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), October 20, 2001.

Cheri....I used to use my bread machine, but I got tired of wasting the piece on the bottom that the stirring mechanism was attached too. If your's is like mine, you can stop the process midstream and shape the loaves and put them in regular baking pans and bake as usual. The machine takes you through the kneading and the first rise. I could never get the bread sliced thin enough either.....Harmony

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.

Folks please don't get mad at me---but could I suggest that you sharpen your knives? My cinnamon / raisin bread is SO good!

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), October 20, 2001.

I was wondering about the economic value or lack of in using a bread machine. I "think" the bread machine is more economical than heating up the oven and the house (in the summer) to make the bread. Harmony's statement above got me to thinking about it... any thoughts?

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.

My stirring paddle only leaves an indentation in the bread, no bread is on the paddle. Mine is a Regal Kitchen Pro. I also like the wider bagel type toasters. Though I will bake bread in the oven during the winter, bread machines are great and a huge timesaver. Stew in the dutch oven on the woodstove or in the crockpot and homemade bread, with less than 10 minutes of my time. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 21, 2001.

I have a Sunbeam from Wally World and it does make a hole in a slice or two towards the center of the loaf. I don't understand the problem though as it's a simple matter to save those bits to use in bread puddings, stuffings, croutons or just plain breadcrumbs for adding to meat loaf or whatever.

The consistent gentle heat makes my whole wheat breads rise much better than I can get in this cool house. I also like not having mixing bowls to wash, bread pans to wash, etc., just a few measuring tools and I'm away to other projects.

As to slicing, I use a serrated knife with no problems.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), October 21, 2001.

I have used an electric knife until recently when I found a rival cutting form at a yard sale for a quarter that works great with a regular serated bread knife. You can also make a form by using a heavy plastic storage box the size of your loaves and cut guide slots in the sides to always make the same width slices ( similar to a carpenters miter box). My neighbor and I made one that was tall enough so that we could leave the rim intact for added support and he can stick the knife in the side about 1 inch above the crown of the loaf before cutting into it. Thinking of the miter box, maybe a form of wood like what cutting boards are made of? Not only servicable, but sturdy and "country kitchen" sturdy.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair67@yahoo.com), October 21, 2001.

I just purchased a bread machine (Rival) at WallyWorld. I plan to try it when Boy gets home. He is (13yrs) always hungry after school and I think fresh bread would do the trick! Wish me luck! I've always used a Cuisinart or KitchenAid to work the dough. We'll see...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), October 21, 2001.

Harmony, what temperature do you set the oven for the bread?

-- Cheri Asprion (t.asprion@worldnet.att.net), October 22, 2001.

Just looking at this late. There is a serrated knife you can buy that has a little screw-on guide that you can adjust for thick or thin-- works pretty well. If you can't find it in a Lecter's or other cooking goods store, try the internet. And you never know, even Kmart or Walmart may have them.

We no longer have a toaster--we just use our toaster oven, and then you can slice as thick as you like (smile).

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 18, 2001.