What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Knowing how to fix problems that arise is part of becoming a good baker. While every manufacturer’s pamphlet has an in-depth section devoted to the problems that are specific to their machine, there are a few problems that every bread machine baker will run into from time to time. I find it helpful to have a short list to quickly refer to when a loaf comes out looking different than expected and I want to find out why. This is when you get to play with the chemistry of baking. Remember that these problems are seldom caused by machine malfunctions. Usually simple adjustments can be made to fix them. Here is a list of the most common problems I have encountered, with a number of possible causes and solutions listed for each. If I encounter the problem with a certain recipe, I often note the adjustment that solved it right on the recipe for future reference.