Essential Tools for Baking with Sourdough

• Sourdough Starter: Follow my guide for making a sourdough starter to make one from scratch. Alternatively, you can find a friend who bakes with sourdough and ask for a little of their starter or purchase one online.
• Kitchen Scale: I know, I know. You don’t want to use a scale to measure your flour, water, and salt. I get it! I grew up using cup measurements too. However, sourdough has taught me how inaccurate cup measurements really are. We all measure a cup of flour differently and when working with a higher hydration (more water) dough, it can be difficult to go by “feel” until you have quite a few loaves under your belt. Use a scale for best results.
• Mixing Bowl: Use a big wide bowl for mixing your dough or a proofing container. Glass or clear plastic is helpful to judge the percentage rise of your dough.
• Bench Knife: Using a bench knife, especially when working with wetter doughs, makes the dough much easier to handle.
• Dutch Oven: I highly recommend using a Dutch oven if you are a beginner sourdough baker. This is the easiest way for a home baker to get steam in their oven and a high heat that doesn’t fluctuate. I typically recommend anywhere from 5-7 quart size and make sure it is rated to 500ºF and you buy the shape you want to bake bread in – oval or circular. You can also explore options for baking without a Dutch oven and even bake your sourdough loaves in a loaf pan instead.
• Hot pads: You will be baking sourdough at a very hot temperatures and handling your dutch oven up to 500ºF. Make sure you have really good hot pads so you don’t burn yourself.

All of these items are helpful in a sourdough baker’s kitchen, but you can find decent substitutes before investing in them if desired. Find my whole list of tools on my Amazon Storefront.

• Banneton Baskets: Banneton baskets are a traditional way to hold sourdough bread while it rises. It gives a circular or oval shape to the bread. I have also used small mixing bowls or tupperware with good success. If you are planning to make sourdough often, they are worth investing in. You will need one basket for each loaf of bread you make.
• Bread Lame: I love using a bread lame to score my sourdough loaves. You can make many beautiful designs which is part of the fun of baking the perfect loaf! If you don’t have a bread lame you can use a very sharp knife OR a razor blade.
• Hair Nets: This is my favorite way to line bread baskets. The dough doesn’t stick to these hair nets and it turns out very easily. Another option is to use floured kitchen tea towels. I’ve even used paper towels before and it works well in a pinch.
• Disposable Shower Caps: Another product I use daily with my dough are these disposable shower caps. You can re-use the shower caps and it keeps the warmth in and the dough moist. Plastic wrap also works. I’ve also started purchasing the re-usable, handmade covers from Wild Clementine Co which are also fantastic.
• Thermometer: Temperature is one of the most important factors as to if/when your sourdough starter and dough will rise. Sourdough performs best in 76-80ºF temperature range. Taking the temperature of your bread dough and ingredients with a thermometer will help you know how to make adjustments to your dough’s timing and help you troubleshoot your loaves.
• Parchment paper: I use parchment paper to turn my dough onto before scoring. This makes it easy to lift and put into my dutch oven when I am ready to bake. Keep in mind, not all parchment is created equal and some brands could stick to your dough. I love using the parchment paper from Costco and this parchment from Amazon also works well. You could also use a re-useable silicone sling or dump the dough straight into your Dutch oven and score it there.
• Mini Spatula Scrapers: These are my favorite for stirring down and feeding a sourdough starter.
• Bread Bag Storage: I store my sliced bread in plastic bread bags. I also like these re-useable beeswax bread bags.

• Danish Dough Whisk: This is not a necessity, but wow is this tool awesome! I used to get globs of dough all over my fingers when mixing my sourdough together by hand. This tool quickly and easily incorporates all the flour and water together and I don’t lose any of my bread dough down the drain because I can’t get it off my fingers. It is also very easy to clean in the dishwasher. Or support this small business with their handmade dough whisks which are also a favorite.
• Rubber Dough Scraper: I like having this tool to help shape my dough, scrape the edges of my bowls, etc… I don’t think it is completely necessary, though, it makes the process a little easier.
• Sourdough Discard Crock: I keep this in my refrigerator to add my sourdough discard to throughout the week.
• Dough Proofing Mat: I love using this dough proofing mat to keep my starter and dough at a warm temperature throughout the sourdough process. I have the large size.
• Brod and Taylor Bread Proofer: This was my most recent splurge and I absolutely love it. A bread proofer keeps the dough warm (you set the temperature). This is especially wonderful for winter baking when my kitchen is cold. It folds up neatly too for when I’m not using it.
• Bread Bags for Gifting: I always love gifting loaves of sourdough bread and these bread bags are perfect!

The unique nature of artisan bread requires some of those tools. For sourdough bread that is not artisan bread (think dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, sandwich loaves), you may want to invest in a few tools that will make your baking life easier.

• Loaf Pans: These loaf pans are my favorite for sandwich loaves. If you want to bake sourdough in a loaf pan, I recommend a metal 9 by 5 pan to fit the loaf.
• Stand Mixer: A stand mixer is a true investment! It can also save your hands, elbows and arms. I have a whole post with my honest review of three popular kitchen stand mixers that can help you make an informed decision if you’re looking to make a purchase.

Sourdough Beginner Guide

What is Sourdough?How to Make a Sourdough StarterHow to Feed and Maintain a Sourdough StarterWhen Is Sourdough Starter Ready to Use? Easy Signs to Look ForWhat is Sourdough Discard?How and Why to Make LevainSourdough Timeline for Beginners: How To Fit It Into Your DayHow Temperature Affects SourdoughSourdough Starter Ratios ExplainedEssential Tools for Baking with SourdoughSourdough Frequently Asked QuestionsHow to Dehydrate and Rehydrate Sourdough StarterHow to Add Sourdough Discard to Any RecipeHow to Replace Yeast with Sourdough StarterAdjusting the Sour Flavor in Sourdough BreadSourdough Artisan Bread GuideHow to Bake Sourdough in A Loaf PanAdding Inclusions to Sourdough Artisan Bread

Need More Help? Take a Sourdough Class with Amy Bakes Bread