Fresh bread always tastes so much better than store-bought. And with a bread machine, it’s quick and easy to have it whenever you wish.
Jump to RecipeOne of my most-used gifts from my bridal shower is my bread machine. I absolutely love having an easy way to make fresh white bread whenever we get the taste for it with our dinners.
It was my elementary school chorus teacher who gave it to me as a gift. She said that she has the same one and uses it all the time. We broke it in within the week of getting the machine, and have used it at least a few times per month since then.
So far, I have only tried a few recipes with it and they have all been a success. My go-to recipe is for a plain white bread that goes with almost any soup, chili, or pasta. I have also made a Hawaiian bread and pumpernickel as well. I’ve used the dough setting to make my homemade pizza dough, too.
The only thing we have noticed when we make fresh bread is that it doesn’t usually last as long as bread bought from the store. But it also doesn’t have any preservatives or anything like that in it, so it tastes much better.
The bread machine has many different settings. Even though I haven’t explored all of them, this is still one of my favorite machines. I have used it with the basic bread option and the dough option most of the time. I haven’t tried the express bake yet because I never bought any of the quick yeast.
The smell of fresh bread baking is like no other. It permeates the entire house with a mouth-watering, delicious smell that makes us all hungry.
The best part of making our own bread is knowing exactly what ingredients are going into it. And I know what I am feeding my family. I can choose the best ingredients to go in our bread and leave out anything we don’t want. Lately, I’ve been trying to lower the amount of sugar we are eating, so I can put less sugar in the recipe for us.
Personally, I like my bread at a light crust setting, so that’s what I always choose. But if you want your bread cooked longer, there are options for a medium and dark crust as well.
The machine does basic bread, French, sweet, whole wheat, quick bake, dough, and so many others. There are even options for bagel dough and jam, but I haven’t tried those yet either.
We’ve made the basic white bread recipe before and used it for a few different recipes. I use it for a side for many meals and have cut it into slices for sandwich bread. It can also be diced up to use for homemade croutons, or at Thanksgiving to make homemade stuffing. The bread really is so versatile and good for almost anything.
The bread machine that I have is the Oster brand machine, and I love it. The price point is really good for something that has so many uses. You can buy it here on Amazon and get started making your own fresh bread this weekend!
Step by Step
Pour all of the liquid ingredients (water, melted butter, and lemon juice) into the bread pan.
Add the salt, flour, dry milk, and sugar to the pan without stirring.
Form a small well in the dry ingredients, without getting down to the liquid, and put the active yeast in the well. It should not touch the liquids at this time.
Set the bread machine to a basic bread setting, choose your crust darkness, and press start. Once the bread machine has finished, remove the bread and place it on a rack to cool before slicing and serving.
Recipe
Originally Published On: October 3, 2017
Last Updated On: November 9, 2019
White Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 2 tbsp butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 3/4 tsp salt
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 tbsp dry milk
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Add liquid ingredients to pan
- Add dry ingredients except yeast
- Form well in dry ingredients and add yeast, don’t let the yeast touch the liquid ingredients
- Select Basic, crust color, and press start
- When bread is done, remove from pan and transfer to cooling rack
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Glad I’m not the only one who loves their bread machine! Sometimes I feel like I am the only one left using one, ha! It is just so easy, quick and cost effective method for bread. Delicious looking recipe, too!
Oh my gosh, I’m always surprised too when people say they love bread but have never made it themselves. I love fresh bread!
Why does the recipes call for bread flour, you can’t use all purpose flour ?
Bread floured is made slightly different than all-purpose flour. You can use either one, but when you are making a bread, all-purpose flour will often make it a bit heavier and denser. It’s mostly a matter of texture and which you prefer.
Baking fresh bread sounds like so much fun! I will definitely try out the recipe you gave. I hope it will be a success!
I love making fresh bread. It tastes much better than store-bought!
My kids loved it with peanutbutter and jelly and also their classmates as they’ve shared it to them. Now my children asks me to make again.
My boys love a good PB&J sandwich too!
Making homemade bread is always a good idea! I remember growing up where my grandmother would always bake bread just in our old oven and it made the house smell so wonderfully delightful. I wish she was still around and I would definitely get her her own bread machine…
The smell of the fresh bread baking is amazing and such a comforting smell. I’m sure your grandmother would have loved a bread machine.
Wow..what a great product. I love this. I totally want to try it out too.
It’s such a great machine. We use it so often at my house!
I need to get a new bread maker! I love the smell of fresh bread
Oh my gosh, yes! The smell of it baking is amazing.
Oh my gosh! I want a bread machine. We love making all kinds of sandwiches and subs. It would be great to make homemade bread too to go with our sandwiches and subs.
Having fresh bread is the best! And the machine makes it so easy.
Nothing compares to homemade bread! My mom uses to make homemade bread a lot when I was younger. I have been wanting a bread maker for a while now so I hope to get one soon!
You should totally get one. The taste and smell of fresh bread is the best!
I am glad you love your bread machine. I am kind of ambivalent about it. I have made ok bread with it. And it’s great when you have to step away for a length of time. But I really prefer to do it by hand if at all possible.
I completely understand that. With two crazy young boys, I don’t have the time to make it by hand most days. Being able to set it and forget works for us right now.
We eat so much bread at home that I should consider buying my own bread machine, it looks waaaay easier than the traditional way, which I’ve tried but it is so much work! I wonder what kind of preservatives they put in the bread from the stores…
I haven’t looked too closely at the preservatives, but there has to be something. My bread only lasts a few days whereas theirs last a week in my pantry, and who knows how long since it was made and shipped?
I’m all for making food and knowing exactly what ingredients are going in your food! Gives you so much piece of mind – LOVE THAT! I’ve never tried bread making but this sounds great.
Me, too! It’s one of the main reasons I love cooking and baking. Making food from scratch gives me control.
I would love a bread machine. We eat a lot of bread and it would be nice to have homemade all the time.
The bread machine makes it so easy! And the bread tastes much better, too.
I have always wanted a bread maker. I hear they are amazing and I always love bread that’s made in a bread maker!
April
You’ve heard correctly! It makes it so easy to have fresh bread all the time.
That is a great recipe. I love bread! We usually buy bread because we don’t know how to make one.
Having a bread machine makes it so easy. You dump the ingredients in, press a few buttons, and have bread a couple of hours later!
I love baking and a bread machine has always been on my bucket list. Your article just reminded me I need to get one. Hehe. 🙂
Oh, you definitely need one if you love to bake. It makes it so easy to have fresh bread whenever you want it.
I really wanted a bread maker and we never got one. I honestly think it would be so fun to make bread! This recipe looks delish!
I didn’t even know I wanted one until I had it! It wasn’t on my registry or anything, but we use it all the time now.
This is really good machine and since it doesn’t last as long as the bread from the store because I know breads from the store last as least one day or more, we could use it for a meal and make new and fresh each meal.
We make it fresh, especially when we are having some type of soup or stew in the fall and winter months.
I’ve been experimenting with making bread but don’t have a bread machine. Fresh bread is so good, I might need to get a machine so I can have it more often!
I’ve made a few recipes for bread products without the machine. But this makes it so easy and tastes just the same!
My mom used to have a bread machine when I was in elementary school. But, my mom never used it like her spice cabinet, was never interested in it. I tried to make bread once with it but I failed (this was when I was small). I think they got rid of it once we moved. I never saw it again.
Oh man, that’s a bummer they got rid of it. I know some prefer to do it by hand, but I like the ease of the machine.
Oh I have this exact model, but haven’t used it for YEARS. Maybe it’s time to dig it out of storage because I really did love fresh bread with ours. You are so right, it tastes so much better, and no preservatives!
When we were between houses and living with family, this is one of the kitchen items I made sure didn’t go into the storage unit. You should get it out and make fresh bread again. It’s so warm and delicious.
This bread machine recipe for white bread is wonderful and I was looking for it. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! We make this recipe for bread a LOT at my house.