ludicrous experiment 1 of 2: breadmaker in a van

bread machine

I mentioned earlier that I’d picked up some other items at the thrift shop that I wanted to play with, as ridiculous and impractical as they may be. I am fully aware most folks won’t have the interest, space, or power to run a bread machine. But for me it’s cheap fun.

Today’s adventure is a Toastmaster Bread Box bread machine, model 1150. $14.39 at Savers with my 20% coupon. It is too large for vanlife but there was a spot for it under the sink….

It’s rated 550w. The kill-a-watt observed 100w while kneading, 480w while baking and a couple watts while waiting for the bread to proof. There was one surge to 620w; it was during early kneading and I think it was that plus a pulse of heat to keep the yeast in its happy place. Odd that it exceeded rated wattage, though.

wheat bread

270Wh total, 3.75 hours from start to finish.

It’s darker than it looks in the pic. The sun was quite bright and washed it out a bit. It’s a bit fluffier than I like. I prefer denser, “toothier” breads so I’ll be looking at ways to make it more substantial.

I’ve been making bread in the field for a few years, but the benefit here is the absence of mess. Rather than multiple bowls and dough stuck to everything, the ingredients are dumped in, button pushed, loaf slid out, and and a few crumbs wiped out of the “pan” with a paper towel.

details

details on the recipe page

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