Is your bread machine just collecting dust because you aren’t sure how to use it? Have you lost the manual, or it was passed on to you and didn’t come with its original manual? Don't despair - I can help!
If you want to get some use out of your bread machine, you'll need to know what size of loaf it makes so the recipes you use in it will turn out just right. Today I’m going to show you how to figure out what size of loaf your bread machine makes.
The majority of the bread machines out there produce a 1-½ to 2 pound loaf. There are some that can make a ¾ pound loaf, or a larger 2-½ or 3 pound loaf, but they are not the norm. Here are 3 ways to figure out what size your is:
How to Estimate What Size Loaf Your Bread Machine Makes
1. Check the liquid and flour in your recipe
Look at recipe that came with your manual (if you still have access to it), or if you have a different recipe that you use in your bread machine that works well, that will work too.
- A ¾ to one pound loaf will usually call for ⅞ cup of liquid and 2 and ¾ cup of flour.
- One and ½ pound loaves usually call for 1 cup liquid and 3 cups flour.
- 2 pound loaves call for 1 and ⅓ cup liquid and 4 to 4 and ¼ cups flour.
- If you have a very large machine - a 2.5 pound loaf will call for 4.5 - 5 cups flour, and a big 3 pounder machine will need 5 to 5.5 cups of flour.
I’ve found that the above amounts aren't completely precise across the board on all machines, but it will give you a ballpark idea if you just aren’t sure what size loaf your machine makes.
2. Figure it out using water
- Figure out your machine’s capacity by filling the bread pan with cups of water. Tip: Count these cups out loud as you pour them in so you don’t lose track. Or start with a large measuring cup, like one that holds 4 or more cups, and after that add 1 cup at a time until you reach the full capacity. Remember to only fill up to the fill line, or maximum capacity line on your bread pan.
- A 2 pound loaf will hold around 12 or more cups of water.
- A 1.5 pound loaf will hold around 10 cups of water.
- And a 1 pound loaf will hold about 8 cups of water.
3. How to find a lost bread machine manual
What to do if you’ve lost your bread machine manual: Here’s a great place to search for your machine online to find what you need. If your bread machine is on this list, it should tell you what size loaf it will make. http://kitchen.manualsonline.com/manuals/device/bread_maker.html
Tips for safeguarding your manual
- It’s good to save it in more than one place, that’s my rule for important things.
- Take a picture of the important info in your manual and upload to Google photos or Dropbox, etc.
- Type out the basic info from the manual and save it in a doc that you store on your computer - give it name so you’ll remember it.
- Save it on a hard drive along with other important manuals of important appliances. It's good to set yourself a reminder to look through your list each year to delete any info on appliances you no longer have.
Now that you’re armed with some basic knowledge about your bread machine, you can start using it again! Once you smell that delicious aroma of fresh baked bread wafting through your house, and you bite into a warm slice spread with butter - you’ll be so glad you did.
