Is this a dying breadmaker?

Question

I use my breadmaker with the dough-only cycle. My breadmaker has been leaking grey goo into the kneaded bread for several weeks. And today, the breadmaker just did a terrible job of kneading the bread -- kind of crusty, not all the way mixed, and it didn't rise at all. I popped it in again, and this time when I checked it after about 10 minutes, the heating element was on, and I almost burned my fingers on the handle.

I unplugged everything, then tried again. Mixed, but still not rising, so I tried a third time with an extra sprinkling of yeast. No rise, and the yeast wasn't mixed in.

I bought the breadmaker about four years ago, and I've never had this problem before.

The packing has kind of come out, so I think I need to buy a new breadpan at least. My husband thinks I should buy a new machine, but I hate to waste it if the machine is still good for kneading. Do you think the machine is a goner?

Answer 1

This machine sounds down right dangerous.Yeah,it's time for a new machine,and since you aren't using it for baking anyway,why not get a heavy stand mixer with a dough hook?The bread machine you are using now is a one use machine,whereas a stand mixer can be used for a lot of different things.The yeast rise procedure can be accomplished in a number of ways,and any good cookbook will walk you through it.