Proctor Silex Bread Machine Instructions

The taste of fresh-baked bread is worth the effort it takes to prepare it.

Each model of bread maker manufactured by Proctor Silex works a little differently, so consult your instruction manual before operation. Likewise, use may vary depending on the needs of the recipe.

1. Select the bread pan best suited for your recipe, if your Proctor Silex model comes with different sizes of bread pans. For instance, use a 10-cup-capacity pan to make a 1 1/2-lb. loaf of bread or a 12-cup pan to make a 2-lb. loaf of bread.

2. Clip the kneading blade onto the peg in the bread pan.

3. Add the liquid ingredients for your recipe -- such as water, eggs, milk, fat and honey -- to the bread pan.

4. Add flour to the liquid ingredients, as per the amount called for by your recipe. Mix well.

5. Add any dry ingredients to the pan. Dry ingredients include dry milk, salt, sugar and other seasonings. Mix the ingredients.

6. Add yeast to the pan and mix.

7. Insert the bread pan into your Proctor Silex bread machine, keeping the “Front” label of the pan facing out. Center the pan in the bread maker and push down on the pan to secure it in place.

8. Select the cycle needed to prepare your recipe using the machine's “Setting” button.

9. Select an appropriate crust setting -- such as light, medium or dark -- by pressing the "Crust" button, if your Proctor Silex model is equipped with this option.

10. Press the “Start” button on the Proctor Silex bread machine.

11. Lift the bread machine's lid to check on the dough's consistency after about 10 minutes. The dough should form a slightly tacky, smooth and round ball.

12. Add 1 tsp. of water at a time, if the dough is too dry or 1 tsp. of flour at a time, if the dough is too wet. Do so until you reach the proper tacky consistency.

13. Close the machine's lid.

14. Wait for the machine to sound its signal. Proctor Silex models with digital displays may read “End” at this point.

15. Press and hold the “Stop” button. On some models, the signal will sound again to indicate a successful stop.

16. Allow the bread to sit for about 10 minutes.

17. Remove the bread pan from the bread machine. Wear oven mitts in case the pan is still hot.

18. Invert the pan and shake it until the bread slides out.

19. Place the loaf on a cooling rack. Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before slicing or serving.

Tip

Use bread flour rather than regular flour, as bread flour contains more protein and makes for heartier bread. Add 1 tsp. of gluten to each cup of flour, if bread flour is not available. Reduce wrinkled bread tops by adding 2 tsp. of rye flour per cup of flour to your recipe.

Warning

Run your Proctor Silex bread machine through a surge protector to protect the device's internal chip. Avoid unplugging the machine during a cycle to avoid damaging the chip.