That $35 bread machine from the thrift store actually makes better bread than the fancy bakery downtown

I was totally that guy who rolled his eyes at bread machines. Thought they were just another kitchen gadget people use twice then donate. But my buddy Jake got one at a garage sale in Portland for like 8 bucks and kept raving about it. So I found a beat up Zojirushi at Goodwill for $35, figured what the hell. First loaf came out dense and weird, but after tweaking the yeast and water ratio from a forum post it got way better. Now I've made maybe 12 loaves and the smell alone when it's baking is worth it. Plus a loaf costs me maybe a dollar versus the $6 at the bakery on 5th street. Has anyone else had good luck with thrifted kitchen stuff or am I just lucky?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_lucas1mo ago

That line about "dense and weird" first loaf really hit home because mine came out like a brick the first time too. I think the key is ignoring the recipe book that comes with the machine because those are always wrong for some reason. The best thing I ever found at a thrift store was a cast iron skillet for $12 that had like 40 years of seasoning on it already. Those bakery prices are criminal though, I can get a whole loaf of sourdough for less than what they charge for two slices at the fancy place.

the_nina1mo ago

That bit about the recipe book being wrong is so real. Actually, the real trick is that most thrift store machines are missing the original paddle or the little measuring cup that came with the Zojirushi models, and those actually matter for the ratios. I had to order a replacement paddle off ebay for like 7 bucks after my first brick loaf. The cast iron find sounds amazing though, those old Griswold skillets are worth a fortune if you spot one. Just make sure you strip and reseason it if it came from a thrift store, you never know what kind of weird soap or metal particles might be baked into that old seasoning.