Baking with a bread machine can be a real treat, but the sheer number of cycles and settings can be confusing. Many beginning bakers aren’t sure what the different names actually imply. Those of you who don’t have the manual or bought your machine second hand may need a little help with the basics. This list should help you navigate the most common settings and cycles found in modern bread machines.

Essential

That perfect white bread mom used to make is in this setting. Basic breads that don’t need a lot of fuss, American breads, and many flavorful yeast breads bake perfectly using the Basic cycle. However, for sweet breads, this setting is not suitable. It can result in too tough and yeasty bread.

Sweet

Sweet bread lovers, have no fear. The sweet cycle is your friend. It will help you bake the perfect sweet yeast bread every time. Quick breads, which do not contain yeast, should not be baked in this cycle. The sweet cycle setting includes a rise time and bakes for a different time than sweet yeast breads.

Comprehensive

Whole wheat flour often requires a little more rise time. As a result, the whole wheat cycle includes a slightly longer rise time, allowing the wheat gluten to do its job and the yeast to work. Adding vital wheat gluten to a whole wheat bread can eliminate the need to use this cycle. Still, for best results, when using whole wheat flour, use this setting.

French

European breads require slightly different settings than American-style breads. Enter the French cycle. You can bake Italian, French, and many other European breads in this cycle. The time is a bit longer, and on some machines the temperature settings may vary slightly as well. These settings ensure that you’ll be able to create breads with the perfect texture and crust that characterize basic European breads such as French and Italian.

Without gluten

Gluten-free bread baking involves using non-wheat flours, but you can still incorporate yeast. If you are on a special diet and cannot eat wheat, you can still enjoy the benefits of a bread maker. Room temperature ingredients and specialty flours like almond, millet, and sorghum usually give the best results. Potato and rice flours, though popular and cheap, do not produce as tasty and satisfying bread. However, they can be a nice addition to a loaf of wheat or gluten-free bread.

Faster Faster

If you want bread in a hurry, break the quick or quick cycle. It varies from machine to machine, but generally involves a shorter rise time. On some machines your bread will taste twice, on others just once. The manufacturer may request fast-rising yeast. If you do not have the manual handy, it may not be advisable to use this setting.

quick bread

Shortbreads and quick breads are great for breakfast or a party. If you love them, you will love this cycle. There is no built-in rise time, as these breads do not contain yeast. You may even be able to bake a regular cake with this setting, although results will vary from machine to machine.

Jam

If you have perfectly ripe fruit on hand, test your baker’s skills by making hot, fresh jam. You can make multiple flavor combinations, but keep a few basics in mind. The skillet, handle, paddle, and machine may be very hot in this cycle. You’ll need potholders to remove the pan when you’re done. Use diced fruit without pureeing for best results. Find recipes that are specific to your machine and don’t double batches. If the jam spills on the heating element, it can ruin the machine.

mass

Creating pie crusts, pastas, cookies, and anything else you can think of is so much easier with this setup. There is no bake cycle on this setting, so be prepared to finish baking the dough in your oven or, in the case of pasta, press, shape, and cut it to dry for later use. Some machines may incorporate a separate cycle designed specifically for pasta doughs.

others

Your machine may offer cycles such as a program cycle, a custom cycle, or a delay start. If you have options not listed here, you can run your machine with nothing more than the loaf pan and paddle. Keep an eye on the amount of time spent on each part of the cycle to determine your usage. Opening the machine while it is running will not damage it.

Before you start

Machine-made loaf pans have limited capacity. Don’t overdo it. If the tray overflows, you can permanently damage the machine. If you would like a copy of your manual, please do an online search. You will be surprised how many manuals are posted online for users.

Conclusion

Although bread machines are generally easy to use, unless you know what the different cycles and settings mean, you can still end up with a mess rather than a masterpiece. However, the above explanations will help you to become more familiar with your machine. Even if you don’t have a manual handy, this should get you started. Happy baking!