Essential sourdough tools and equipment you will need to care for a sourdough starter and make sourdough bread. These are things that get the job done and make your time baking easier and more efficient. This is a complete list of kitchen tools used by sourdough bakers.
Have you been bitten by the sourdough craze?
Making your own homemade sourdough bread is such a rewarding experience. Not only is sourdough a better option but there is also a big difference in the taste compared to store-bought.
When it comes to making bread, here are the sourdough bread tools and equipment I recommend every kitchen should have and some other options that are useful.
Are you wanting to make your own sourdough starter? It's easier thank you might think! If you need help on your sourdough journey, join my Facebook Group for sourdough bakers.
Need some sourdough recipes to use with your starter? Check out my sourdough focaccia, sourdough bagels, or my list of sourdough discard recipes.
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1. Digital Scale
This is the most crucial piece of equipment. When making sourdough or caring for a starter, a digital kitchen scale is going to give you the most accurate reading.
If you take a cup and scoop out some flour you will get a different amount every single time.
A digital food scale takes away all that variance.
When baking sourdough, a crucial piece and a term you will hear often is the hydration level. That just means the amount of water per flour that is in each loaf.
Even just a 10% difference in the amount of water and flour can drastically change the consistency.
Having a digital scale allows the measurements to be the exact same every single time.
2. Danish Dough Whisk
This little tool is a gem! While a spatula, wooden spoon, or even a fork will work just fine, once you use a dough whisk you will never use anything else again.
A dough whisk is designed to cut through and mix the dough with ease.
It's designed to delicately mix the dough without over-mixing and doesn't get a lot of dough stuck to it.
They are inexpensive and will make the task so much easier.
3. Banneton Proofing Basket
This little basket is used for final proofing when making sourdough bread. It's what gives the loaf that round shape.
They come in two different shapes and can be used with or without a cloth liner.
I like to use my banneton because the coils give the dough a nice texture.
There are round banneton baskets and oval-shaped banneton baskets.
If you are just starting out, there are also sourdough baking kits that are a great option as well.
If you are not ready to invest in one, another great option is to take a bowl and line it with a light tea towel or flour sack towel.
4. Silicone Bowl and Bench Dough Scraper
This little tool is a lifesaver and really inexpensive. It is one of my favorite tools.
Sourdough can be wet, sticky, and tacky bread dough. And the last thing you want to do is keep adding flour to the loaf just to handle it.
That's where this bowl scraper saves the day! It can be used to get that stuck dough off the sides of your bowls or counter.
I also use a metal bench scraper, or bench knife, when shaping my dough on the counter.
If you are frustrated with the sticky dough, these tools will make it so much easier to handle.
5. Bread Lame
A bread lame is a sharp blade connected to a handle that can be used to score the top of the bread.
While a regular razor blade can be used, the handle just makes it much easier.
A regular knife will not work. They are just not as sharp as a razor blade and won't cut through the dough.
Why do we need to score the dough before baking? When the dough starts to bake it rapidly expands (called the oven spring). There needs to be some give somewhere so instead of the loaf cracking or bulging it will expand where it is scored.
This razor makes it easier to get those fun intricate designs you see on sourdough bread.
6. Dutch Oven
The best and easiest way to make sourdough bread is by baking it in a Dutch Oven.
While it is easy to achieve similar results without one, using a cast iron Dutch Oven just gives you more control over the baking of your bread.
How does it work? When a Dutch Oven is preheated and then the cold dough is added, steam is created and trapped inside the pot. The steam is what gives the loaf its final rise and texture.
If you do not bake with a Dutch Oven, then the same environment needs to be created in the oven itself. There are just too many things that can go wrong, so using a Dutch Oven makes this step so much easier.
Learn more about the best Dutch Oven for bread and find the right one for you. A 5qt Lodge Dutch Oven is going to be the best bang for your buck and is durable and will last a long time.
Be sure to also use parchment when placing your dough in the Dutch Oven.
7. Instant Read Thermometer
Sourdough bread needs to be baked to 205-215 degrees Fahrenheit. My sweet spot is right at 210 degrees.
The best way to tell if it is fully baked is with an instant-read digital thermometer.
My favorite one to use is a ThermoWorks ThermaPen. It is on the pricier side but so worth the investment. It instantly tells me where my loaf is at and if it needs to return to the oven for longer baking.
8. Glass Jars
A variety of glass containers can be used to store your sourdough starter. Weck jars and mason jars are the more popular options.
Having a variety of jars is helpful to move the starter from a dirty one to a clean one.
Make sure to cover the jar with a light cloth or loose-fitting lid. Too much pressure can cause the jar to break.
9. Other Tools
A few other recommendations for sourdough tools that you might have on hand in your own kitchen:
- Glass Bowls
- Parchment Paper
- Wire cooling rack
- Bread Knife
- Dish Towels
- Flour Sack Towels
- Plastic Wrap
- Serrated Bread Knife
Sourdough Tools FAQs
The most important tools you will need are a digital scale, a Dutch Oven, bread lame, bench and bowl scrapers, and flour sack towels. Get my complete list of sourdough tools and equipment.
The best tool for sourdough starter is a Danish dough whisk. This whisk makes it so simple to mix your sourdough stater.
The best way to bake sourdough bread is going to be in a Dutch Oven. Learn more about the best Dutch Oven for sourdough bread.
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