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Sourdough Made Simple
31
items When I first started baking sourdough, I thought I just needed flour, water, and salt. Turns out, the right tools make the process so much easier (and way more fun). Here’s a mix of my personal go-to tools and some popular upgrades that serious baker...
Sections
7
1. Starter Care
2. Mixing
3. Bulk Fermentation
4. Shaping & Proofing
5. Baking Gear
6. Cooling & Storing
1. Starter Care
The basics I use to feed, maintain, and strengthen my sourdough starter so it stays active and healthy.
Wide mouth glass mason jars I use for feeding and storing my sourdough starter — durable, easy to clean, and the perfect size.
Ball Wide Mouth Quart Glass Mason Jars, 2 Pack
Airtight Weck jars I use to keep my sourdough starter fresh and active — sturdy, reusable, and perfect for long-term care.
Weck 3/4L Mold Jars Set of 2 - Airtight
A digital kitchen scale I rely on for precise measurements which is essential for consistency in sourdough baking.
Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale
Durable, flexible, and easy to clean.
2 Pcs Long Handle Heat Resistant Silicone Spatulas
A versatile silicone spatula set I use for mixing, folding, and scraping dough.
4pcs Silicone Spatula Set Heat Resistant Multicolor
2. Mixing
The mixing tools that make combining ingredients easier and more efficient, helping me achieve a consistent dough every time.
A sturdy Danish whisk that makes mixing sourdough dough easier — perfect for combining ingredients without overworking the gluten.
Danish Whisk, Sourdough Master, Choice of Walnut, Cherry, or Oak
A stainless steel Danish dough whisk I use for easy, mess-free mixing.
TEEVAA Danish Stainless Steel Dough Whisk
A large glass mixing bowl with lid that I use for combining ingredients and resting dough — sturdy, versatile, and easy to clean.
OZY 6.3 Qt Glass Mixing Bowl with Lid
A glass mixing bowl I use for prepping and mixing dough — clear, sturdy, and perfect for everyday baking
Pyrex Prepware 4-Quart Rimmed Mixing Bowl, Clear
Hands down my go to bench scraper, works so well cleaning my counter tops after I make bread. Sturdy, versatile, and easy to clean.
Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Bench Scraper
3. Bulk Fermentation
The containers and tools I rely on during bulk fermentation to help the dough rise properly and stay at the right temperature.
Easy track how much your dough has risen over bulk fermentation.
Cambro RFS4PP190 4 qt Poly Food Container
4. Shaping & Proofing
My go-to tools for shaping dough and proofing bread — from baskets to scrapers — that make handling dough simpler.
The essential proofing basket for home or bakery use.
9in Round Bread Banneton Proofing Basket & Liner
Great oval shaped banneton for your bread.
Bulka Oval 750g Groove Banneton Bread Basket
Get the perfect score on your loaf. A sharp tool is essential to get that perfect ear.
UFO BREAD LAME - Bee,Easy Scoring, Deep Cuts with Perfect Shapes, Comfy Grip, World’s Only Screw-Free Sides, Walnut Tool
Another great option for a lame, with a longer handle.
Fox Run Bread Lame Stainless Steel Knife 7.25"
Dusting bannetons and the dough's surface because it's gluten-free, prevents sticking, doesn't absorb into the dough, and helps scoring designs stand out
Bob's Red Mill White Rice Flour
5. Baking Gear
The essential gear I use for baking sourdough, including Dutch ovens and scoring tools, that help me get the best crust and rise.
A Dutch oven is key for a sourdough bread. It locks in moisture to create that perfect crunchy crust we all crave.
Round Dutch Oven
A heavy-duty 5.5QT enameled cast iron Dutch oven I use for everything from braising and stews to baking bread — durable, versatile, and built to last.
Overmont 5.5QT Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Perfect for bread baking, braising, and everyday cooking — durable, versatile, and easy to use.
Umite Chef 5QT Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Having one of these has made transferring the baked bread out of the smoking hot Dutch oven a breeze. No more burning of my hands.
KITMAL Silicone Bread Sling Oval & Round Red
6. Cooling & Storing
The racks and storage containers I use to cool, slice, and keep sourdough fresh after baking.
I love putting my loaf on a cooling rack right after it comes out of the oven. This just helps keep that moisture away from the crust.
KITCHENATICS Half Sheet Stainless Steel Cooling Rack
Having a bread knife makes cutting into the fresh loaf so much more easier.
Cherry wood bread knife, wooden knife, bread knife, bread saw, bread knife, sourdough knife
Another budget friendly option that I absolutely love.
HeengYanson Sourdough Bread Knife, Wood
All this hard work would go to waste if I didn't store my bread in a bread bag.
Reusable Lined Bread Bag - Keeps Bread Soft and Fresh - Food Grade Waterproof Material Bread Storage for Sourdough Homemade Breads
Another fantastic option for a bread bag! I love both so much.
Keeki Beeswax Lined Bread Bag - Blue
7. Learning & Inspiration
Sometimes the best tool is knowledge. Cookbooks and guides can spark creativity, teach new techniques, and help troubleshoot when things don’t go as planned. Perfect for beginners looking for guidance or seasoned bakers ready to level up.
My go-to sourdough guide for beginners — simple, approachable recipes that make baking artisan bread at home easy and delicious.
Artisan Sourdough Made Simple: A Beginner's Guide to Delicious Handcrafted Bread with Minimal Kneading
A reliable sourdough guide that breaks down the process step by step, helping me bake consistent, no-fail loaves with amazing flavor.
The Sourdough Whisperer: The Secrets To No-fail Baking With Epic Results
An easy-to-follow sourdough book that makes at-home artisan bread baking simple, approachable, and rewarding.
Homemade Sourdough: Easy, At-home Artisan Bread Making
A sourdough guide that combines artisan bread baking with gut-friendly techniques, making each loaf as nourishing as it is delicious.
The Sourdough School: The Ground-Breaking Guide to Making Gut-Friendly Bread
A beautiful bread book that blends tradition with modern techniques, inspiring me to bake artisan loaves with depth and creativity.
Living Bread: Tradition and Innovation in Artisan Bread Making: A Baking Book
An in-depth sourdough book that balances craft and science, guiding me to bake bakery-quality breads and sweets at home.
The Perfect Loaf: The Craft And Science Of Sourdough Breads, Sweets, And More: A Baking Book