This is my list of sourdough baking essentials for beginners to get the most consistent results. Consistency is key if you want to improve as well as speed up your learning process! Better results = happiness.
- Digital scale
- Loaf pan
- Large Bowl
That’s really it! As far as equipment goes. See the list below for additional items that will greatly improve your sourdough baking adventure. I will also explain some of the items and why I think they’re essential to being successful.
- Banneton (proofing basket)
- Lame/Razor blade
- Dutch Oven
Digital Scale
Absolute must.
Consistency is huge while baking, and this is one of the best investments. This is one of my top baking essentials for beginners.
This also makes changing your recipe a lot easier, whether you want to double, triple, or halve the recipe.
It may seem like a large investment at first, but you can get one for $20 and it is well worth it.
Loaf Pan
Just a simple ole classic loaf pan. Normally I line it with parchment paper while rising and baking.
Baking right in the loaf pan works great, it also works great for baking multiple loaves. You can actually bake up to 8 loaves in a normal home oven using regular loaf pans.
Using a loaf pan also provides a good vessel for rising as it contains the loaf perfectly. They don’t allow the loaf to “breath” as much during rising but a great alternative if you don’t have your banneton yet!
Banneton
Also known as a proofing basket. This is where the loaf rises before baking. You can get these in several sizes and shapes. They are typically made from a wicker type material knows as “rattan”. This basket is lined with a cloth material.
Although producing round loaves is exciting and aesthetically pleasing, I think the oval shaped ones are much more practical for everyday use. This is what I always use in my easy sourdough bread recipe.
They provide support for the loaf while its rising, and the Rattan material and cloth allow some air flow around the dough. This stops moisture from building up and the dough to rise much more!
Razor Blade/Lame
An important tool in your baking arsenal. You can also use a sharp knife to score your loaves before baking but a razor blade or baker’s lame is even better.
Being able to slice through the soft, ready to bake sourdough loaf is key to getting a good rise. These slices allow to the dough to rise evenly during the baking process.
Dutch Oven
I have been using my enamel Dutch oven for years.
Not only are they good for baking but also for stews, curries, boiling bagels, pulled chicken, chilis and soups. So they’re multipurpose!
The reason I highly recommend using one of these for baking is they allow the loaf to be steamed inside with the lid on. This helps to form a delicious crust on the bread and will result in an amazing oven spring!
This is the closest you can get to simulating a commercial grade oven that injects steam in while baking.
Since it is so versatile it is an easy purchase to justify and you will have it for the rest of your life.
Baking Essentials
So a digital scale, a loaf pan, and a mixing bowl are all you need to start your sourdough adventure.
When you are ready to really get some amazing results and take your skills to the next level all you need is a Dutch oven, a banneton, and a lame/razor blade.
There is plenty of more equipment out there to use and improve on your skills but those really are the basics.
Once you go down the rabbit hole of sourdough baking you will find yourself calculating the curvature of the jar you are using to store the starter.
Or random mislabeled containers of flour in every cupboard from late night baking experiments.