Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
🥖 Sourdough Starter Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Begin (Beginner-Friendly!)
28
items A curated list of the exact tools, books, ingredients, and tips to help you create, maintain, and bake with a thriving sourdough starter — even if you're brand new.
Ready to finally start your sourdough journey? This list includes the must-have tools and ingredients recommended by experienced bakers: the book everyone loves, the easiest flours to feed your starter, the gear that actually makes a difference, and ...Check out my Amazon Storefront for easy links.
Ready to finally start your sourdough journey? This list includes the must-have tools and ingredients recommended by experienced bakers: the book everyone loves, the easiest flours to feed your starter, the gear that actually makes a difference, and ...Check out my Amazon Storefront for easy links.
Sections
6
The Book That Makes Everything Easy
Starter Set-Up Essentials
Feeding & Baking Ingredients
Proofing & Shaping Tools
Baking Day Tools
Nice-to-Have Extras
The Book That Makes Everything Easy
Why it’s essential: Breaks the process down into simple steps, explains why things happen, and helps you understand your starter’s behavior. Makes sourdough feel less intimidating and way more fun. Use this for: Building your starter, learning feedin...
I tried internet recipes and failed (and cried), but nothing in this book has ever let me down, and has taught me the best!
The Sourdough Whisperer: No-Fail Baking
Starter Set-Up Essentials
These are the exact items that make caring for a starter easier, cleaner, and more predictable.
Perfect for someone who wants everything in one box — this kit brings together the basics you’ll actually use when starting your sourdough journey. It’s not just random gadgets — it pairs the tools you need most (proofing baskets, scrapers, jar for y...
Sourdough Starter Kit with Bannetons & Baking Tools
Perfect for feedings. Wide opening = easy to stir and scrape. Clear jar = you can see fermentation rise levels. Thick glass, you can freeze and refrigerate, and seal tightly or loosely with the lid options. Two is great in case you want to clean the ...
Weck Tulip 1L Jars - 2 Wide Mouth Glass Lids
The non-negotiable. Sourdough is all about hydration ratios, so accurate grams prevent 90% of starter mistakes.
Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale, 11 lbs
Get a Silicone or Wooden Stirring Spatula Won’t scratch jars, won’t harbor smells, and keeps the starter mixed evenly.
Skinny Spurtle for Sourdough Starter, Teak
Feeding & Baking Ingredients
These are the foundational ingredients that feed your starter, support healthy fermentation, and help you bake a loaf with great rise, flavor, and texture. Quality ingredients make sourdough simpler and more predictable — especially when you’re just ...
A high-protein bread flour like King Arthur’s is a staple for developing strong gluten structure, better rise, and a chewy crumb — exactly what sourdough lovers want. It’s consistent, dependable, and widely recommended by home bakers for bread baking...
Bread Flour
Amazon route: You're gonna go through a lot of flour so maybe this is easier to get it fast or check your stores.
King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour, 5 lb
I feed mine this or bread flour at a whim. I think this activates/feeds it better before a bake! I sometimes use half and half or a combo as well when it comes time to bake. You can make a special gluten-free starter, too, if desired, but investigate...
This is a certified gluten-free 1:1 all-purpose flour alternative that you can use for gluten-free sourdough baking when paired with a gluten-free starter. Great if you want an everyday flour that works across baking projects (cookies, muffins, bread...
This is a certified gluten-free 1:1 all-purpose flour alternative that you can use for gluten-free sourdough baking when paired with a gluten-free starter. Great if you want an everyday flour that works across baking projects (cookies, muffins, bread...
King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour, 3 lbs
Whole Rye Flour is a starter superfood. Boosts fermentation, helps young starters take off faster, and adds depth to flavor.
King Arthur Organic Medium Rye Flour - 3 lbs
Chlorine in tap water can weaken or slow your starter — filtered water keeps it happy.
Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher, 6-Cup, White
Proofing & Shaping Tools
Once your starter is active, these are what help you create actual dough and shape it for baking.
Encourages dough to hold shape and promotes a beautiful crust pattern. Comes with a liner if you prefer a smooth look, and can choose round or oval or various bundles.
Banneton 9in Bread Proofing Basket Set of 2
The secret to preventing sticking in your banneton. WAY better than wheat flour for this step.
Bob's Red Mill, Gluten Free Rice Flour, 1.5 lb
Essential for lifting sticky dough, folding during shaping, and keeping surfaces clean.
Stainless Steel Dough & Bench Scraper Tool
Easier mixing without overworking dough. Great for beginners learning the feel of hydration.
Zulay 13-Inch Danish Dough Whisk - Wood & Steel
Bowl Covers for Bread Proofing: Using bread bowl covers can help keeping the moisture of the dough in the bowl, prevent the dough from drying out during the proofing process, and create the best environment for the dough to ferment. TIP: grab shower caps from hotels when you go!
MAQIHAN 200 Bread Proofing Bowl Covers
Quick TikTok Tip to grab the shower caps from hotels
If you don’t take hotel shower caps, do you even bake sourdough?? 🍞 This is a message for my people: always take the hotel shower caps. You’ll thank me later. 🛀🏼 Much better than messing with/wasting plastic wrap. Cloths and reusable liners are great, too, of course if you have them but some beginners don’t yet. I have a list of my sourdough essentials on Benable and Amazon storefront when you’re in it to win it and want the right baskets and tools! Tell me I’m not the only one. What random thing do you always take from hotels? #sourdoughtok #sourdoughtips #sourdoughstarter #hotelhack #thisis40
Baking Day Tools
(Optional but makes things easier)
Creates steam for that signature sourdough rise and crispy crust. Easiest way to get bakery results at home.
Lodge 6 Qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Bread lame/scoring knife. Magnetic handle for fast blade changes, ergonomic grip, and sharp scoring every time — perfect for getting clean, controlled oven spring and gorgeous crust patterns.
KneadAce Magnetic Bread Lame Scoring Tool
Keeps dough from sticking and lets you lift dough into the Dutch oven safely. Can get roll or sheets or reusable ones, also in my list.
Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment Paper Roll 45ft x 12in
The disposable version which will not curl or burn like a standard roll/sheet of parchment, and great easy "handles"
Parchment Bread Sling for Dutch Oven, 50 Pcs
Perfect disposable parchment sheets for sandwich bread loaf baking
100 Pcs 9x5 Inch Non-Stick Loaf Pan Liners
I like this 3-piece reusable silicone set of bread slings because you're ready for round or oval loaves as well as a flat sheet for maybe homemade discard cheese-its and drying other recipes
3PCS Silicone Bread Sling & Baking Mat Set
Rectangular loaf pan with lid — perfect for baking structured sourdough sandwich loaves with straight sides and consistent crumb.
9x5 Inch Cast Iron Loaf Pan with Lid Set
Nice-to-Have Extras
(Not required, but they make the process fun + a little more pro.)
Eco-friendly beeswax bread bags that keep your sourdough crust crisp and crumb soft — reusable storage that replaces plastic and preserves freshness. Easy to clean and reuse.
2-Pack Reusable Beeswax Bread Bags, Linen
Large Kraft Paper Bread Bags: Sturdy paper bags with a clear window and label stickers — perfect for storing, presenting, or gifting your homemade sourdough loaves.
Paper Bread Bags 25PCS with Window & Stickers
Reusable, washable bread bags that keep sourdough fresh while reducing waste — breathable fabric preserves crust and crumb.
Bread Bags 2 Pack XXL Cloth with Lining & Double Lock
Stainless steel cooling rack that boosts airflow around your bread — keeps your sourdough crust crisp and crumb tender after baking.
Ultra Cuisine Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Cooling Rack 11.5x16.5
Breathable, reusable bowl covers that protect your dough and starter from drying out — a sustainable swap for plastic wrap.
wegreeco Reusable Elastic Bread Bowl Covers - Set of 3