Old-Fashioned White Bread Made Easy in a Bread Machine

One of my all-time faves... 

If you’re looking for a reliable white bread recipe for your bread machine, this is the one I come back to again and again. It makes a 2-pound loaf with a tender crumb and just enough structure for sandwiches, toast, or buttered bread straight from the counter.

This is an old-fashioned, no-frills white bread—the kind our grandmothers relied on—made simple with a modern bread machine.

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Why This Bread Machine White Bread Works

• Soft but sturdy slices (no crumbling)

• Great for toast, sandwiches, and freezing

• Uses basic pantry staples

• Consistent results in most bread machines

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Ingredients (2-Pound / 16-Slice Loaf)

• 1½ cups warm water (80°F–90°F)

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 teaspoons salt

• ¼ cup nonfat dry milk powder

• 4 cups bread flour

• 1½ teaspoons bread machine yeast or instant yeast

💡 Tip: Bread flour gives better structure and rise than all-purpose flour, especially in bread machines.

(I mainly use my all-purpose flour with fabulous results too)  

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How to Make White Bread in a Bread Machine

1. Add the ingredients to your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer (usually liquids first, yeast last).

2. Select the Basic / White Bread setting.

3. Choose light or medium crust depending on your preference.

4. Press Start and let the machine do the work.

5. When baking is finished, carefully remove the bread pan from the machine.

6. Let the loaf rest in the pan for about 5 minutes, then gently turn it out onto a cooling rack.

7. Allow the bread to cool before slicing for best texture.

What I especially love about baking this bread is the convenience! Just before bed, I fill the machine, press a button and tada! I wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread!

 

Of course, can't resist that first warm slice with butter! 

I love to store in this handy container that fits the 2-pound loaf perfectly. 

I'm attaching the links to these items so you can find them directly on Amazon. I'm an affiliate and earn a small commission for items I actually use and recommend and is no extra cost to you. 

WHERE TO FIND:

-->   ELITE GOURMET BREAD MACHINE

-->   BREAD MACHINE COOKBOOK

-->   SISTEMA BREAD CONTAINER 

Feel free to comment and ask any questions about the bread machine or the recipe. I'm including links to this great bread machine cookbook too.

FOODS THAT NEVER EXPIRE: What You Can Safely Store for Decades

Recently, while cleaning out my pantry, I stumbled upon some very old “expired” containers of just about everything you can imagine—canned vegetables, soups, powdered milk, crackers, boxed oatmeal, beans, seasonings, yeast, oils, and more.

It was time to reorganize my food stash and take a closer look at what truly needed to be tossed. I hope this article helps you decide what to keep, what to buy, and what to store for your future food reserves.

Foods That Essentially Never Expire

🟡 Honey

• Shelf life: Indefinite

• Why: Naturally antibacterial and low moisture

• Tip: If it crystallizes, warm the jar in hot water—still safe

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🧂 Salt (all types)

• Shelf life: Indefinite

• Includes: Table salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt

• Note: Iodized salt may lose iodine potency over time but doesn’t spoil

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🍚 White Rice

• Shelf life: 25–30+ years (stored airtight)

• Avoid: Brown rice (oils go rancid)

• Best storage: Mylar bags + oxygen absorbers

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🌽 Dried Corn (Popcorn kernels)

• Shelf life: Indefinite

• Bonus: Can still pop decades later if moisture stays balanced

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🍬 Sugar (white, brown, powdered)

• Shelf life: Indefinite

• Tip: Hardened sugar can be broken up or softened—still usable

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🌶 Whole Spices

• Shelf life: Indefinite (flavor fades)

• Examples: Peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon sticks

• Ground spices: Last years, not forever

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🫘 Dried Beans & Legumes

• Shelf life: 10–30+ years

• Note: Older beans may take longer to cook but remain safe

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🍶 Pure Maple Syrup (unopened)

• Shelf life: Indefinite when sealed

• After opening: Refrigerate to prevent mold

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🥫 Commercial Canned Foods

• Shelf life: Often safe well past “best by” dates if cans are intact

• Watch for: Bulging, rust, leaks—discard if present

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🍫 Dark Chocolate

• Shelf life: Many years

• Note: White “bloom” is cosmetic, not spoilage

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🍎 Freeze-Dried Foods

• Shelf life: 25–30 years

• Examples: Fruits, vegetables, meats (commercially sealed)

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Foods That Last Nearly Forever (But Not Truly Indefinite)

• Vinegar

• Soy sauce

• Hard liquor

• Cornstarch

• Baking soda

 

Not only is it helpful to know which foods have long or even indefinite shelf lives, but it’s just as important to understand how to keep food storage in good condition. Unfortunately, heat and humidity aren’t the only threats—rodents or pests brought home from the grocery store can also cause serious problems. More on this later.

TEXAS FREEZE of 2021. Top five reasons Texans were not prepared!

 

We are fast approaching the 5th anniversary since the Texas Freeze of February 11-20, 2021. Can you believe it's been 5 whole years? If you ever need a conversation piece, just bring up the "Texas snowpocalypse" or ask a fellow Texan what THEY were doing during the blackout. The room will explode with tales of woe!