We’ve heard the rumors of Germans eating fresh bread with every meal. Are they true?
Many Germans bake their own bread instead of buying the sometimes stale bread from their grocery store and local bakery, according to Graham Tappenden, a self-employed IT consultant and blogger who lives in Germany.
Cheap and Convenient!
Let’s face it; some Germans save a lot of money and time baking their own bread with store bought bread mixes. Buy a (pretty cheap) bread box mix at the grocery, then mix it up according to the directions and bake it for convenient fresh bread.
Here in America, bread box mixes are not as plentiful. That’s probably because our culture does not prize fresh bread quite as much. You can save money by baking your own bread, but it can be time-consuming.
Fresh Bread A Must
For Germans, fresh bread is of the utmost importance. Graham talked with me about the importance of bread in German culture, the different types, and the impact of the recession on bread. We even touched on when the German school day ends (you’d be surprised) and what the children do for lunch.
No Sliced Bread
Do you know why Germans don’t like to buy sliced bread? Fresh bread is prized, and once the bread is sliced, it’s a fast road to staleness. Some Germans even have small bread slicing machines in their homes. Obviously, those of us who buy pre-sliced bread at the grocery store instead of a whole loaf may get a raised brow from the Germans.
Yes, you could say that Germans have a thing for bread. But do they really have fresh bread with every meal? Find out in the podcasts!
Click below for the first podcast episode, about 18 minutes in length, or click here to download both podcasts and listen to them at your convenience.
Check back tomorrow for the second podcast, as well as my take on Boston Baked Bread. I wonder if the Germans would think it strange, or delicious?
Photo credit: Graham Tappenden
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Hi Kelly,
thanks for asking me to do the podcast with you.
I look forward to any questions that anyone may have about German bread, or any other German food!
Graham,
It was such fun talking with you about German food and bread! I learned quite a lot! When did you decide to get a bread slicing machine, and did you get it locally or order it?
I try to make fresh bread for my husband and I too. I will bake on the weekend and then we will have homemade bread throughout the week. So good!
Actually, when I first moved here I used to buy either sliced bread or use a bread knife. I guess I was still stuck in my British ways. When I got married, my wife already owned a bread slicing machine.
Monet, what a great idea! I know someone who bakes 6 loaves at once and then freezes 5 of them. There is nothing as good as homemade, fresh bread!
What do you think of those automatic bread making machines? They were almost a big fad here in USA a couple of years ago.
I have one for th9se times when I want that fresh bread experience.
We make all our bread at home. I have a very nice 1lb loaf machine, we use it every other day. We do not care for the store bought breads and love the choice of how thick to make slices for different applications – and oh the lovely bread puddings and croutons we make!
I have one of those automatic bread machines, and I pull it out occasionally (maybe every 6 weeks). I like it, except that it only makes one loaf, and it takes over 3 hours to make one large loaf. I love making honey wheat bread in my bread machine. The beer bread I made last week was OK; I wouldn't make it again (though hubby seemed to really like it).
Wow, you are much better on the homemade bread front than I am! Good for you! Do you make all kinds of bread (honey wheat, sourdough etc.)? I do love how you can make the slices as thick as you want! Don't get me started on bread puddings (I absolutely adore that dessert)!
our bread machine bread comes out very thick and heavy what are we doing wrong?
Yes we make different kinds, French, Light Rye, Multi Grain and that good old raisin bread for breakfast. The machine is nice just fill, set and in 3 hours a wonderful loaf is ready to cool. It's only my husband and I so the 1 lb loaf is perfect to have fresh every other day. Sometimes they don't even get a chance to cool all the way before they get sliced. I love the end pieces!
Hmmm…what recipe are you using? It could be a matter of the ratio of dry to wet ingredients being off. On a different note, apparently heavy bread can be caused by using low-grade flour (I googled it and found that to be a potential problem).
You may want to try using a different bread recipe and see if the result is any better. Happy baking!