This article is part of “Everything You Need to Know to Start Baking Awesome Bread Using a Bread Maker.”
Everybody knows that I love to bake homemade bread from scratch. Using a bread machine couldn’t be easier, and it makes some fantastic bread! A bread machine combines convenience with flexibility. If you enjoy a fresh loaf of bread, but don’t have the time or space to bake from scratch, a bread machine is for you.
If you have never baked homemade bread before and find the instructions a wee bit intimidating, I encourage you to try it. It may seem intimidating at first, and the various steps take a bit of time to learn, but overall, it is truly easy.
The simplest way to learn how to bake bread is to follow a basic recipe. Try Fast2eat Bread Recipes (much more to be published – keep checking); they are kind of foolproof 😉 really easy and the bread delicious.
Bread maker important safeguards
It’s maybe boring, but it’s also important to take some safety precautions.
While the bread machine is in use, ensure the cord is safely tucked away so that your children can’t pull at it. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not plug in the cord where people may walk or trip on it.
Do not let the cord dangle over the edge of a table or counter or touch hot surfaces. Do not place on an unsteady or cloth-covered surface.
Close supervision is always necessary when this or any appliance is used by or near children or incapacitated people.
Do not touch hot surfaces. When handling the bread pan or kneading blade after baking, make sure you use oven mitts if they are still hot.
Once you have finished using it, the unit is not in use and unplug your bread machine from the wall outlet before cleaning.
To unplug, press the “STOP” button, grip the plug and pull from the wall outlet. Never pull on the cord.
Always allow metal parts to cool before cleaning. Allow the bread machine to cool thoroughly before putting in or taking off parts.
To protect against the risk of electrical shock, do not immerse the bread machine or plugs in water or other liquids.
Do not connect the bread machine when it is over wet or soaked surfaces.
To avoid the risk of electrical shock. Do not touch the power cord with wet hands.
Do not operate this or any appliance with a frayed or damaged cord or plug; after the appliance malfunctions, it is dropped or damaged in any manner. Take the appliance to the nearest Authorized Service Facility for examination, repair or electrical or mechanical adjustment.
Do not use attachments not recommended by the manufacturer; they may cause fire, electric shock or injury.
Do not use outdoors or for commercial purposes, unless indicated by the manufacturer.
Do not use the bread machine for other than the intended purposes.
Do not place the bread machine near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
Avoid contact with moving parts.
Do not block any of the ventilation openings.
Do not try to disassemble or repair the product. Replacement of a damaged part should only be done through an Authorized Service Center.
Electrical power:
If the electric circuit is overloaded with other appliances, your bread machine may not operate properly. The bread machine should be operated on a separate electrical circuit from other operating appliances.
Check if the voltage of the bread machine is the same as the power supply voltage.
Use of extension cords
A short power-supply cord has been provided to reduce the risk of injury resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. Extension cords are available from hardware stores and may be used with care. The cord should be arranged to not drape over the counter or tabletop where it can be pulled by children or tripped over accidentally. If the appliance is of the grounded type, the extension cord should be the grounding-type 3-wire cord.
Power outage
If there is a brief power interruption of less than five minutes, the program position is stored in memory, and the machine will resume when the power is restored.
If the power goes out while you are using your bread maker, the display will go blank.
Periodically oil your bread pan spindle (rotating/kneading shaft) bearings.
If you look at the underside of your bread pan, you’ll see the bread spindle shaft. This does require oil on a fairly regular basis.
This is a simple thing to do. We recommend that you do this at least once every six months, or you could do this once a month or more frequently if you do a lot of baking or if your machine starts making unusual noises. If you only use your machine for making dough, you can do it once per year. It all depends on your baking frequency. Doing this periodically will extend the life of your machine and the pan.
Your instruction book will probably have some information about lubricating this part of the mechanism, but many don’t cover this maintenance step. Many bread machine owners have said that this simple maintenance has kept their machines running quieter and more efficiently. While you will not find this in your bread machine manual, it is a good idea to oil your bread pan Kneading shafts periodically. This helps keep it moving freely, it helps kill any rust that may have formed, and it will even help make the machine run quieter.
You do NOT want to add any oil to the interior of the bread pan or the internal spindle, only add a few drops of 3-in-1 oil to the exterior shaft on the bread pan’s underside.
You must, and I repeat, must use 3-in-1 oil or sewing machine oil. Do NOT use cooking oil, mineral oil or WD-40 type products. The cooking oil gets gummy, the mineral oil can cause rust, and it can damage the rubber seals, WD-40 and other such products are lacquer based and become hard when exposed to heat. They are also poisonous. So, please use the 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil and don’t go overboard with it and only apply it to the exterior shaft on the bread pan’s underside.
WARNING: Read the container of 3-in-1 oil or sewing machine oil before using it. Heed all warnings. These oils are generally poisonous and should only be used on the outside of the pan. Always wash your hands after handling the oil, and I recommend that you use a napkin or paper towel if you have to handle the areas of the pan that you oil in the future.
Oiling your pan
To oil your pan, you will need to turn the pan over. There you will see the kneading shaft, wingnut doohickey, and the doohickey-retaining clip. You want to put a drop or two of oil between the shaft and the retaining ring (see image below). Then turn the wing nut doohickey a few times to work the oil in. Repeat once more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Never, never, never get the outside bottom of the pan wet; this will cause rust to form, and the shafts will seize up, and the pan will become scrap.
Hopefully, these safeguards tips for your bread machine have been useful. Remember that prevention is better than cure, so make sure you give your bread machine the Tender Loving Care it needs, and your household will be enjoying delicious bread for years to come!
* (“Long-term dietary intake of gluten was not associated with risk of coronary heart disease. However, the avoidance of gluten may reduce the consumption of beneficial whole grains, which may affect cardiovascular risk. The promotion of gluten-free diets among people without celiac disease should not be encouraged.” Source: http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1892)
Also check:
- Everything You Need to Know to Start Baking Awesome Bread Using a Bread Maker
- Fast2eat Bread Recipes
Read bread-making further information in my book:
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Is is safe to have the breadmaker on in the kitchen while we are asleep upstairs?