This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-24352660

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Can you bake your own white loaf for 47p? Can you bake your own white loaf for 47p?
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron doesn't know the price of a value loaf from Tesco because he bakes his own bread. Is his way cheaper, asks Denise Winterman.David Cameron doesn't know the price of a value loaf from Tesco because he bakes his own bread. Is his way cheaper, asks Denise Winterman.
Asked the cost of a "value sliced white bread loaf at Tesco this morning", Prime Minister David Cameron said he didn't know because he makes his own bread in his £100 breadmaker using flour costing about £4.40 for a 1.5kg bag.Asked the cost of a "value sliced white bread loaf at Tesco this morning", Prime Minister David Cameron said he didn't know because he makes his own bread in his £100 breadmaker using flour costing about £4.40 for a 1.5kg bag.
But is the prime minister on to something? If you have a breadmaker and all the basic ingredients at home, can you make a white loaf for 47p or less?But is the prime minister on to something? If you have a breadmaker and all the basic ingredients at home, can you make a white loaf for 47p or less?
Seeing as it's a Tesco value loaf in question, let's assume all your ingredients have come from Tesco and are the cheapest available.Seeing as it's a Tesco value loaf in question, let's assume all your ingredients have come from Tesco and are the cheapest available.
Tom Herbert is a fifth generation baker who won Young Baker of the Year and is one half of Channel Four's Fabulous Baker Boys. He says his recipe for a classic white loaf is the most downloaded off his website. It also weighs roughly 800g, the same as the sliced white in question.Tom Herbert is a fifth generation baker who won Young Baker of the Year and is one half of Channel Four's Fabulous Baker Boys. He says his recipe for a classic white loaf is the most downloaded off his website. It also weighs roughly 800g, the same as the sliced white in question.
According to the recipe you need 560g of strong white flour, 10g of salt (Herbert specifies sea salt but you only have Tesco's cheaper table salt), 5g of dried yeast, 200ml of rapeseed oil and 300ml of warm water. According to the recipe you need 560g of strong white flour, 10g of salt (Herbert specifies sea salt but you only have Tesco's cheaper table salt), 5g of dried yeast, 20ml of rapeseed oil and 300ml of warm water.
So does it come in at under 47p? No, it's more like 96p, with all prices rounded up to the nearest penny. And that's ignoring the cost of the energy used to heat the oven, water prices and the time and effort used to measure, mix and knead the ingredients. So does it come in at under 47p? Yes, 42.4p in fact, with the prices of the ingredients (apart from salt) calculated to the nearest penny.
It's the rapeseed oil that costs the most, coming in at 60p. If you were to use sunflower oil that would cost 36p, taking the cost of the loaf down to 72p. The taste, smell and quality of the homemade loaf will be "incomparable" to the shop-bought one, says Herbert.
But the taste, smell and quality of the homemade loaf would be "incomparable" to the shop-bought one, says Herbert. "You'll also feel great having made something with your own hands and your home will smell lovely."
"It's almost impossible to match the price of those cheap, mass-produced loaves," says Herbert. An earlier version of this story incorrectly calculated this recipe using 200ml of oil instead of 20ml.
"But if you can afford those few extra pence what you get will be so much better. You'll also feel great having made something with your own hands and your home will smell lovely."
You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on FacebookYou can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook