Getting a new bread machine is exciting. At the same time, it can be a little overwhelming. Bread flour? What’s that? What yeast should I use? What if the recipes don’t turn out? What’s the best way to store the bread?

This post answers the most common questions that people have when they get their first bread machine.

Bread Flour

You’ll want to use bread flour in your bread machine.  It has a higher protein content so it’s better for making bread.  If you’d like more details, I have an article about different types of flour.

What Yeast Should You Use?

I’ve been using Red Star active dry yeast in my bread machine for years.   Any active dry yeast will be great. 

If you’d like more information about yeast, I’ve got an article about different types of yeast.

Read the instruction manual.

It seems boring, but it’s important to gather some facts about your new machine.  Check out what settings your bread maker has.  See what order the bread machine ingredients should be added to the pan.  Learn how to wash the pan.

With Zojirushi bread machines, for example, you do NOT immerse the pan in water. Instead, you carefully wash the inside while keeping the outside of the pan dry.

Don’t have a manual?  I have a page with links to manuals for some bread machines.  

Try the recipes that come with the manual and follow the recipes.  

You know the saying you have to learn to walk before you run?  It’s true with your bread machine too.

At first, you’ll need to follow the recipes exactly.  Resist the urge to get creative with yeast, flour or to make substitutions to the recipe. People can go a little wild when they first get a bread machine.

However, during this phase, I do urge you to try different recipes so you can see how different types of bread turn out and you can see what you like.

If you have problems look at the troubleshooting section of your manual.

Don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out quite right.   It happens to all of us.

Your bread machine manual should have a list of common problems and how to handle them.  If you can’t find the answer to your problem in the bread machine manual, I’ve got a bunch of articles on troubleshooting.

Afraid that you’ll eat too much bread or that the bread won’t keep?

Not to worry. You’ll soon grow used to the presence of yummy bread in the house.  Having homemade bread will become the new normal.

Also, bread freezes really well.  You can read more about these issues here.

Enjoy and keep at it.  

I’m not sure what I’d do without my bread machine.  I make all our bread, hamburger buns, and dinner rolls.

I try new recipes all the time.  Sound interesting?  Sign up for my newsletter to be notified about new articles on the site.