West Bend 41400 - Manual (Page 7)

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EGGS add color, richness and leavening to bread. Use only large eggs. No
premixing is needed. Egg substitutes can be used in place of fresh eggs. One egg
equals ¼ cup of egg substitute. To reduce cholesterol, you can substitute two (2)
egg whites for a large egg in the recipes without affecting the end result. Watch the
dough during the knead cycle as some minor adjustment may be needed to get the
dough to the right consistency.
SALT has several functions in making bread. It controls yeast growth while
strengthening the gluten structure to make the dough more elastic and also adds
flavor. Use ordinary table salt in your bread maker. Using too little or eliminating the
salt will cause the dough to over rise. Using too much can prevent the dough from
rising as high as it should. “Light” salt can be used as a substitute for ordinary table
salt, providing it contains both potassium chloride and sodium. Use the same amount
as recommended for table salt. When adding salt to the bread pan, add to one
corner to keep it away from the yeast, especially when using time delay as the salt
can affect the yeast activity.
YEAST is a living organism, which through fermentation, feeds on carbohydrates in
flour and sugar to produce carbon dioxide gas that makes the bread rise. Active dry,
fast rising or bread machine yeast can be used in your bread maker. Use only the
amount stated in the recipes. Using a little more can cause the dough to over rise
and bake into the top of the bread maker. Fast rising yeast and bread machine yeast
are virtually the same and interchangeable with one another. Do not use
compressed yeast as poor results may be obtained. A ¼-ounce envelope of yeast
contains 2¼ teaspoons. Yeast can also be purchased in bulk so you can measure
the exact amount needed. Once opened, keep refrigerated. Always make sure yeast
is fresh and has not passed the “Use By” date.
SPECIAL NOTE ON FLOUR: How to make minor adjustments for dough: All flours
are affected by growing conditions, milling, storage, humidity, etc. While not visibly
different, you may need to make some minor adjustments when using different
brands of flour as well as compensating for the humidity in your area. Always store
bread flour in an airtight container. Store whole grain flours, whole wheat and rye, in
a refrigerator to prevent them from becoming rancid. Measure the amount of flour as
directed in each recipe, but make any adjustments after the first 3 - 4 minutes of
continuous kneading.
SPECIAL NOTE ON CINNAMON AND GARLIC: Adding too much cinnamon or
garlic can affect the texture and size of the loaf obtained. Cinnamon can break down
the structure of the dough, affecting height and texture. Too much garlic can inhibit
the yeast activity. Use only the amount of cinnamon and garlic recommended in the
recipe.
CHECKING THE DOUGH: Making changes to the dough is easy. This can be done
during the knead cycle only. Do not turn off the breadmaker to adjust dough.
• Touch the dough. If it feels a little sticky and there is a slight smear of dough
under the knead blade, no adjustment is necessary.
• If the dough is very sticky, clinging to the sides of the pan, and is more like a
batter than a dough, add one tablespoon of flour. Allow the flour to be mixed
completely into the dough before making any more adjustments. To prevent
heat from escaping, open the cover of the bread maker only to add flour.
• The the dough is dry and the bread maker appears to be laboring, add one
teaspoon of lukewarm water. Allow water to be completely mixed into the
dough before making any additional adjustments and keep lid closed to keep
heat in the appliance.
Dough is “just right” when it is smooth in appearance, soft to the touch, leaves a slight
residue on your finger, and the bottom of the bread pan is clean of dough residue.