Hi there! I'm new to Big Oven and new to this "bread" group. I was wondering if any of you out there have mastered a bread machine recipe for a high altitude whole wheat or multigrain bread?

Hi There,  and WELCOME!!

Right now, I'm living at sea level, although in a past life, I did have to deal with the issues of high altitude.

I don't know the answer to your question, but have received a couple of new books on bread machines this week, so I shall take a look and see if any of them answer the question for you.   I have a vague recollection of seeing something about high altitude in one of them.

Anne

Thanks for your fast reply Anne. I've got a million high altitude baking books, but everything I've tried in the bread machine hasn't turned out very good (it's either too heavy/dry and sunken or ends out a gooey mess that never bakes right). Funny because if I take the time to make the same recipe by hand it seems to turn out a lot better. I've tried adjusting the machine to bake and knead about how I would, but it doesn't ever quite work that way, you know. Welcome to living in Denver, the mile-high city! If the altitude doesn't get me than the moisture (or lack of it) seems to!

Well, my books weren't much help, as they gave conflicting information.   I did google this though, and it might be a big help to you and others at higher altitudes:

http://ces.uwyo.edu/pubs/wy989.pdf

And here's a recipe from that link:


The following standardized whole wheat bread recipe was formulated to work reasonably well in all machines evaluated for this study at an altitude of at least 7,200 feet.  Remember to place ingredients into the bread pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer of your bread machine.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

1 1/8 cups water
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup flour, all-purpose or bread
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar, or molasses, or honey
1 1/2 tablespoons dry milk
1 1/4 teaspoons salt'
1 teaspoon dry yeast, regular dry active or rapid rise

Hope this is helpful.  Please let us know how it goes.

Anne