Bread Machine Baking Month, celebrated in January every year, is a treat for all the bread machine owners in America. Did you know that there are around 25 million bread machine owners in the U.S.? Yes, in the cold month of January, people in the U.S. use their bread machines to bake hot, fresh loaves of bread. So, let’s deep dive into the world of warm, crusty homemade loaves of bread!
History of Bread Machine Baking Month
There is nothing more blissful than biting that crispy, warm loaf of bread on a cold, wintry day! Especially if that is homemade bread made from your very own bread machine. This is what Bread Machine Baking Month of January is all about.January is a cold month that makes people crave hot, aromatic foods and is a perfect month to enjoy loaves of bread. But bread baking has always been an effort-exerting task, only mastered by a few. But this situation soon began to shift with the invention of the bread machine in the early 1900s by a clever young man named Joseph Lee.The initial versions of the bread machine had a simple working methodology — you just feed in the ingredients and the machine will take care of all the kneading (the most tiresome part of the baking process). Bread machines can also make loaves from store-bought mixes and also can be used virtually in any dough creation such as pizza bread, cinnamon rolls, or baguettes. This rapidly cut down the amount of work and labor needed to make bread.Over the years, the bread machine was further advanced to improve its efficiency and along the way, lower the cost of making the bread too. Nowadays food has become more accessible, and with the current busy lifestyles of many, old-fashioned homemade bread has become a long-lost tradition. But with a bread machine, baking bread at home has become as effortless as ever. So, let’s celebrate this month of January with fresh bread made from our bread machine.
Bread Machine Baking Month timeline
Bread is made in the Middle East.
Joseph Lee patents the first bread machine in the U.S.
Frederick Rohwedder develops a prototype automatic bread-slicing machine.
Domestic bread makers that automate the bread-making process become popular in the U.S.
Bread Machine Baking Month FAQs
How do you make good bread?
There are many ways to bake a loaf of good bread. The best way is to stick to the basic rules and use the right ingredients at the right level. The most important ingredients to add are egg, milk, and oil — you can also add in some seeds or grains if you like.
What temperature do you bake bread at?
The temperature for baking bread varies for different types of bread loaves. If you are baking a lean dough, turn your oven up to 190 – 210 degrees Fahrenheit. If the dough is heavier, you may want to bake your bread at 180 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
What ingredients do I need for bread?
The simple bread recipe involves only two ingredients — flour and water. However, depending on the recipe you decide to use, the ingredients may vary.
How to Celebrate Bread Machine Baking Month
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Bake it!
The best way to celebrate Bread Machine Baking Month is by baking warm, fluffy bread in your home with a bread machine. You can dust off your old machine or buy a new one and put your baking skills to use.
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Try something new
Although it's impossible to be bored of one of the tastiest man-made inventions, you can bring variety into your routine by baking something new other than the traditional bread. You can try to bake cinnamon rolls or even pizza!
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Gift a bread machine
Don’t have a bread machine? Maybe it’s the right time to buy one for yourself. You can also buy this gift for someone who’s in need in your community or locality.
5 Interesting Facts About Bread That’ll Surprise You
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Beat that if you can!
The longest loaf of bread ever baked in human history was 400 feet long — baked by 60 French and Italian bakers.
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Bread or erasers?
Back in the day, before the invention of erasers, white bread was cut up into pieces and rolled to be used for erasing graphite.
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The 13th
The phrase, ‘a baker’s dozen’ originates from the 16th century and refers to a dozen made up of 13 instead of 12.
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More than just a sweetener
Bakers add sugar to the bread in the baking process to not only sweeten the bread but also to bind the water.
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Not every bread is baked
In many traditions across the world, loaves of bread are steamed, fried, or even boiled.
Why We Love Bread Machine Baking Month
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Bread is a symbol of warmth!
In the snowy month of January, the simple smell of freshly baked bread can give us a feeling of warmth, while tantalizing our taste buds. It can bring back the sweet memories that are cherished forever in our minds.
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Bread baking is a lovely affair
Bread Machine Baking Month not only prompts us to bake our bread but also encourages us to spend time with our family, enjoying the delicious bread.
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Bread can bring out the best in us
Bread baking can bring out the best bakers and culinary geniuses in ourselves. Whether you are a rookie baker or a seasoned chef, a few minutes into the baking game, you can find yourself experimenting with stuff you’ve never done before!
Bread Machine Baking Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 2 | Monday |
| 2024 | January 1 | Monday |
| 2025 | January 1 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | January 1 | Thursday |
| 2026 | January 1 | Friday |
