Bread machines are usually pretty straightforward and easy to use items, but just like anything else in this world they may present us with some issues from time to time that need to be addressed. In the vast majority of these situations, there are simple fixes that only require minor adjustments on our part to get those machines back to pumping out high quality, delicious bread once again. So read on and check out some of the most common bread machine problems that we have noticed, and see how they can be fixed with just a small tweak of our recipes.
Bread Machine Troubleshooting
My Bread is Too Short
Expecting a nice, big loaf of bread and coming away with a short, stubby little bundle can be a let down to anyone, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your machine. In most circumstances, this kind of thing happens when the dough is too dry, which can be fixed simply by adding a bit of water into the mix.
Of course, sometimes, the yeast itself might be the culprit. Always make sure to check the expiration date on your yeast packages, and make sure that your product is fresh. Older yeast sometimes might not be able to give your bread that fluff and size you desire, so always be sure that your yeast isn’t expired in order to help guarantee that you get full sized loaves on your dinner table for every meal.
My Bread Won’t Rise
Since we are on the subject of yeast from our last problem, let’s take a look at another yeast related problem. Old or improperly stored yeast is the most common culprit behind loaves that simply refuse to rise, and simply not adding enough can also lead to this problem.
It isn’t always the yeast’s fault, however. Adding in too much salt or sugar, or pouring in water that is too hot can effectively kill off the yeast cells and prevent them from causing the reactions necessary for bread to rise. Finally, it might simply be a problem of the ingredients not being added in the correct order. So before you worry that you might be forced to eat crackers forever because of a defective bread machine, first check your yeast packages for freshness, and then take a look to be sure that the ingredients you are using are in the right proportions, and being added in the correct order first.
My Bread is Gummy
Let’s face in. Gummy bread can be downright disgusting, and no one wants to bite into a fresh piece of bread only to come away with a wad of dough in their mouths. If you start to find that gummy bread is a problem for you, it Is very likely that you have added too many liquid ingredients into your mix. A simple fix for that is to just add in a bit more flour, or else to decrease the amount of liquids that you put into your next batch. Sometimes, too much sugar has also been found to cause this problem too, so always keep an eye on your sugar levels and adjust it accordingly.
Of course, there is also a chance that something may have gone wrong with the bread maker itself when we start getting gummy bread over and over again. It is very possible that there is a defective thermostat to blame, and the machine just isn’t getting up to the temperature needed to fully bake your bread all the way through. When this happens, always check the user’s manual, and if necessary get in touch with the company to see what they can do to fix the situation.
My Bread is Full of Holes
While gummy bread might be gross, bread that is full of holes can be a major disappointment, especially if you were hoping to get a mouthful of warm, fluffy bread and get mostly air instead. If you notice this is a problem for you, than it is very likely that you have added either too much yeast or too much water into your mix. And if you are adding in fruits or veggies to your recipe, always make sure that they are dry before they get tossed in with the dough; even that little bit of extra water can work to change the texture of the bread believe it or not!
Forgetting to add in the right amount of salt can also lead to this problem. Remember, salt absorbs water, so it is very helpful in making sure that the water doesn’t run amok in your bread machine and leave your bread looking like a slice of Swiss cheese.
My Bread is Too Dense
The opposite of the empty, holey bread, sometimes our bread might seem like it is just too dense. We all love that fluffy bread, and we don’t want this massive, thick lump of bread filling our bellies before dinner. If bread is too dense, it is almost always the result of having an incorrect amount of one ingredient or another. Usually, this happens when we put too much flour into the machine, but it can also come from having too many extra ingredients, or from having too little water, sugar, or yeast in the mix.
These are just a few of the more common problems out there, and while there are plenty of other issues that people might have when using their bread machines out there almost every single one of them can be solved by simply adjusting your recipe. So before you go out there and give the manufacturer of your machine an earful about their defective products, make sure your yeast is up to date and double check that you have all o your ingredients laid out in the right proportions. It can save you a ton of stress, and can give that poor customer service rep one less thing to worry about that day.
