The bread machine is one of those household products that many people can’t justify purchasing. It makes loaf-shaped bread. So what? You can do that without a machine. That is true, but a bread machine has more uses than just bread. Here are several non-bread recipes you can make in your bread machine.
Meatloaf
You can make almost anything in your bread machine that you mix together and then bake as is. Meatloaf is a good example. Dump your meat, bread crumbs, eggs, and seasonings in the bread machine. Let the machine mix it all together on the knead setting. Pat the mixed meat down, add your toppings, and then let it bake. Most bread machines have bake setting where the machine only cooks.
Cake
Like meatloaf, cake is one of those recipes that you mix and bake. Pour all your ingredients into the bread machine, let it mix, and then bake it. The question you probably have right now is why use the bread machine when you can use the oven? When you cook a cake in the bread machine or a meatloaf in the bread machine, the outside of the batter or meat touches the sides of the pan. When it bakes, it creates a crispy edge, like the crust on a loaf of bread. It’s delicious.
Rice and Fried Rice
Use your bread machine as a bread maker and rice cooker in one. Follow the usual rule for rice of 2 cups of water for each 1 cup of rice. Use the bake setting on your bread machine. You will end up with perfectly cooked steamed rice that does not burn. That’s not so easy to do on the stove-top.
You can quickly turn that rice into fried rice, too. Once the rice is done cooking, add your soy sauce, spices, meat, vegetables, and beaten egg to the machine. Let the machine mix together the already warm rice and ingredients. The warmth from the machine will cook the egg and the whole thing will mix beautifully.
Rice Cakes
Rice cakes are used for many different foods, but they aren’t so easy to make at home. If you have a bread machine, the process is much easier. You mix the rice flour and water to make a dough. The dough is steamed. Use the bread machine to knead the dough. This is very important with rice cakes to get the correct consistency and texture. It’s something your hands aren’t going to get right.
Odd-Shaped Breads
Yes, this article says “non-bread recipes,” but it’s important to mention that you can make more than loaf-shaped bread in your bread machine. You can make challah, buns, and rolls. You let the machine knead the dough and then let the dough rise in the machine. You take the dough out before it cooks and most bread machines have a setting where it turns off before cooking. Mold your dough into the shape you want and bake it in the oven. The machine does a much better job of kneading and rising than you.