Deciding Between a Bread Machine and Oven for Baking
The call between a bread machine and a conventional oven will depend on the desires of your cooking ambitions, time, and the bread that you desire to produce.
Every technique has its own benefits and drawbacks, which means that different bakers can be used to prepare your bread.
For lovers of artisanal outcomes, Gozney pizza ovens sold at BBQs2u re-create the intense heat and steam of a commercial bakery to produce better crust and flavour.
Convenience and Control
Bread machines are more convenient as they automatically mix, knead, rise, and bake. They take very little work: just put in the ingredients, press a setting, wait, and read the contents of a new loaf.
This is perfect for busy people who want a convenient, hands-free mode. There are trade-offs, however, that come with such convenience. Bread machines can result in a uniform, sometimes denser texture and a soft crust, lacking the artisan qualities of oven-baked bread. The permanent paddle can also burn a hole out of the bottom of the loaf.
Unlike this, oven baking is highly controllable in all stages. A variety of options using hand-kneading, proofing, shaping, and scoring can be achieved due to this approach.
Ovens are capable of other types of bread, such as rustic sourdough bread, baguettes, and artisan bread with crisp, brittle crust. Utensils like a Dutch oven or a pizza stone retain more steam, which leads to a better oven spring and flavour.
Texture and Flavour Profiles
The texture and taste of bread vary between the two methods. Bread machines generally produce soft sandwich loaves with a closed crumb that are ideal as everyday bread. They do fine with recipes that do not need lengthy fermentation or high-hydration, but can produce denser results.
Baked breads, such as medium to long fermentation breads, obtain complex flavours and an open and light crumb. Oven-drying and heating provide a caramelized crust that is hard to mimic in a bread machine. The oven is the best choice for those who want a bakery-like result.
Lifestyle and Practical Considerations
- Time: Bread machines can be set to a programmed setting and delay timers to wake up to freshly baked bread. Back baking is more participatory but can be modified with no-knead recipes.
- Space: Bread machines take up some counter or storage space, whilst ovens are built-in and only offer some additional tools like baking stones.
- Cost: Bread machines have an initial outlay, but they may become cost-effective if buying artisanal bread in a store is a regular consumption pattern. Oven baking does not require new equipment, but additional equipment can be costly.
Conclusion
To have uniform and easy-to-use sandwich loaves, a bread machine is the right choice. The oven dominates artisanal versatility and results in a better crust. Factor in what is important to you; if ease and certainty are more essential, then go with a machine. Generally, deeper, more rustic results are achieved in the oven.
Brands like BBQs2u offer Gozney Roccbox, which provides both, allowing you to pick the one that will match your kitchen space.
