For aspiring sourdough bakers or those interested in my baking techniques, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite sourdough baking tools that may benefit your kitchen.
Sourdough baking is a lifestyle for me. I’ve almost always got a loaf or two of sourdough waiting on the countertop, starter bubbling in the jar, and a ball of dough fermenting under a tea towel.
Not to mention the sourdough discard waiting in the fridge for quick discard pancakes or some easy sourdough discard dinner rolls.
In the beginning, I didn’t need anything more than a handy jar to keep my sourdough starter in, a bowl for mixing and fermenting, and a cast-iron Dutch oven for baking. Those are still the essential tools, which I think is a comfort for those new to the process.
The right tools don’t have to be fancy tools! Sourdough is simple, nutritious, and affordable! It’s a budget-friendly skill with low overhead and great reward.
Yet, there are some things I’ve found over the years that add value to my kitchen, contributing efficiency and joy to my routines. Adding to your collection with a little here and a little there makes it more affordable, and what’s the rush? The world of sourdough baking is a forgiving one, and you’ll find that a lot of people can’t wait to give advice or a helping hand as you make your way.
Check out some of my other posts to learn more about creating a sourdough starter from scratch, maintaining and feeding a sourdough starter, and even how to use a sourdough starter.
This list is for the home baker, aimed at broadening the tools in your kitchen beyond the bare minimum. I hope this provides you with some insight into my own kitchen and the sourdough tools I’ve found extremely helpful.
For a more comprehensive list of my favorite items and best tools, browse my Amazon storefront.
Why You’ll Love Sourdough Baking
Simple ingredients – Sourdough bread is less complicated than most imagine. The ingredients themselves are basic, pantry staples, giving you full control over the nutrition and avoiding artificial ingredients and preservatives.
Delicious signature sourdough flavor – The flavor of fresh sourdough stands out from regular loaves of bread. The fermented grains yield a robust, tangy flavor that adds complexity and depth.
Gut-friendly – Fermentation makes these recipes more gut-friendly by breaking down phytic acid in the grains, so your body can absorb the nutrients more easily. Many people with gluten sensitivities have found that their bodies can tolerate sourdough bread recipes more easily.
Helpful Sourdough Baking Tools
KitchenAid mixer – While not a must, this stand mixer makes the kneading process a breeze. It’s powerful, beautiful, and easy to clean.
Digital kitchen scale – A digital scale ensures accurate measurement and fewer dirty dishes.
Mixing bowls – A mixing bowl is a must. You’ll use it for combining ingredients, as well as for the fermenting process. A bowl with a lid is great, but you can also cover it with a tea towel to keep your dough free from contaminants. I prefer non-porous materials, such as glass bowls, metal bowls, or stoneware bowls.
Bench scraper and dough scraper – A bench scraper and a dough scraper are often confused as the same thing. You can use them interchangeably at times, but the bench scraper’s rigid edge is perfect for scraping surfaces, while the dough scraper’s flexibility helps you handle sticky dough with ease. They are each very useful!
Measuring cups and spoons – Even when working with a scale, measuring cups and spoons are always useful in the kitchen.
Banneton basket – Also called a proofing basket, a banneton basket is lined with a towel, dusted with flour, and holds your dough as it ferments in the fridge or on the countertop. The size and shape of banneton baskets support your dough so they don’t spread thin and flat while proofing.
Bread lame – A bread lame is a razor blade made specifically for scoring bread dough, which is cutting a slit (or series of slits) in the top of the dough to release pressure and make a lovely design. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, read my post all about sourdough scoring.
Danish dough whisk – This dough whisk is one that you don’t realize you need until you have it. I use a wooden spoon for nearly everything, but wire whisks are often too flimsy. A Danish dough whisk is a hybrid of these two, and now I can’t imagine using anything else when mixing ingredients by hand!
Parchment paper – While seemingly trivial, parchment paper has been a lifesaver in producing the perfect loaf of sourdough bread without any sticking whatsoever. I always go with unbleached.
Cast iron skillet and/or Dutch oven – A well-seasoned cast-iron skillet can be used for so many things, from skillet pork chops and cottage cheese scrambled eggs to sourdough discard cinnamon rolls, so I just leave mine on the stovetop. And a Dutch oven is my go-to for soups, sourdough, and so much more, like this homestyle chicken and noodle soup or this honey sourdough bread.
Cookie sheets – Useful for cookies, like sourdough discard monster cookies, sourdough oatmeal cookies, and sourdough chocolate chip cookies, but not just for cookies. A cookie sheet is also great for sourdough pop tarts, sourdough chocolate chip scones, sourdough cheddar biscuits, and even sourdough graham crackers.
Bread knife – A great bread knife is designed for the crustiness of sourdough and makes slicing so much simpler. Try a bread bow, a quality culinary bread knife, or an electric knife set.
Apron – Having an apron to keep my clothes clean while working in the kitchen has been an investment over the years. I often make my own, like this cross-back style apron or this half apron to tie at the waist.
Grain mill – Baking with freshly milled grains has a learning curve, but the nutrition, flavor, and hearty texture are superb. I have used a Nutrimill grain mill, and currently use a Mockmill Lino 200 to grind wheatberries for fresh flour.
Tips
- Practice makes perfect. Truly, the more experience you gain with sourdough, the more confidence you’ll build and the more consistent results you’ll see. Just keep at it!
- A sourdough set is an affordable and great option for yourself or a friend looking to start the sourdough journey, typically consisting of a proofing basket, a bread lame, a flexible dough scraper, and a dough whisk.
- Don’t be pressured into postponing sourdough baking until your kitchen is stocked with all of the right tools. Start simple and grow from there!
Sourdough FAQs
The fermentation process behind sourdough recipes breaks down the anti-nutrients in grains, yielding a more bioavailable and digestible product. Overall, more nutrients are present and able to be absorbed by the body.
No, you don’t! While a Dutch oven produces an excellent crust for your sourdough loaves, this can be accomplished with cast iron skillets, loaf pans, and even baking sheets. To achieve a crusty exterior, place a small oven safe dish of water in the oven with your shaped dough as it bakes.
A healthy starter is number one, followed by proper fermentation. Don’t let the dough ferment too long or it will collapse.
Whether you made your own starter or were given some by a friend, baking bread before your starter is well-fed, active, and mature can result in disappointment. A mature starter is key to good sourdough baking.
Try These Sourdough Recipes from the Farmhouse
- Homemade Sourdough Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Sourdough Pita Chips
- Sourdough Bundt Cake
- Sourdough Oatmeal Bread
- Whole Wheat Sourdough Dinner Rolls
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Shop My Favorite Tools
- KitchenAid mixer
- Digital scale
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Glass mixing bowls, metal bowls, and stoneware bowls
- Tea towels
- Bench scraper and dough scraper
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Banneton basket
- Bread lame
- Danish dough whisk and wooden spoons
- Parchment paper
- Cast-iron skillet and Dutch oven
- Cookie sheet
- Bread bow, culinary bread knife, or electric knife set
- Apron
- Nutrimill grain mill or Mockmill Lino 200
