I hesitated to make my sourdough starter for months because trying to figure out what tools I needed was overwhelming. There is so much information on the internet, but this information is laden with references to tools that were totally foreign to me.
Now that I’ve been in the sourdough game for several months and I’ve tried dozens of sourdough recipes, I’ve narrowed down the sourdough baking tools that I find most useful. I’ve broken this list into sourdough must haves and “nice to haves.”
Let’s dive in.
7 Sourdough Must Haves
Although you can kickstart your sourdough journey with minimal equipment, there are a few sourdough baking supplies that I continue to find very useful. With that said, here is a round of up of some sourdough must haves and how they can help you.
1. A Jar
While a repurposed pasta sauce jar will do, there’s something to be said for one of the fancy sourdough starter jars. These fancy ones have markings to help you measure the growth of your starter and special bands to help you keep track of when you feed it. Some also have thermometers.
I have two different sourdough jars: a big starter jar and a really big starter jar. The really big one from KneadAce is a bit more expensive, but I really appreciate it when I have a busy baking day.
I still use a plain old upcycled jar when I’m making a levain (a separate starter to be used for a specific recipe) or if I am sharing some starter with a friend. However, the shoulders and narrow openings on regular jars are a pain.
2. A Sourdough Starting Kit
Not to get confused with a sourdough starter, a sourdough starting kit is a useful purchase. I got one that includes banneton baskets, a lame, a plastic bowl scraper, a metal scraper, and a Danish whisk.
Surprisingly, the scapers have been my most used items from this kit since I use them for all different recipes, but all of the items are valuable in their own right.
3. Dutch Oven
If you want to make artisan sourdough bread, a Dutch oven is a must. I really like my enameled Dutch oven from Lodge. I’ve also used the cast iron Dutch oven from Lodge, and the bread baked very well in it. I prefer the enameled one because it’s easier to clean, but either works!
Of course, if you want to start with sandwich bread or other sourdough baked goods, you don’t need a Dutch oven. However, I also love my Dutch oven for roasting meat and making soup, so I feel like it’s an excellent investment all around.
4. High-Heat Parchment Paper
High-heat parchment paper is another must for sourdough baking. Parchment paper ensures the bottoms of your loaves bake properly. Plus, it saves you a lot of time with cleaning.
You might have some parchment paper already, but is very important to choose one that tolerates high temperatures since a lot of bread recipes bake at 425 to 450 degrees Farenheit.
We will talk about a parchment paper alternative later in this article, but parchment paper is a great option for getting started.
5. Good Oven Mits
Since you’re working with high temperatures, it’s really important that you have a good pair of oven mits. I really like my Kitchen Aid oven mits that have a silicone outside. They have a lot of colors, so I opted for a cute pink pair.
Plus, since these mits are silicone, they are really easy to wipe down if they get dirty which is a nice benefit.
6. Extra Skinny Spatulas
Although a lot of sourdough starter jars come with skinny spatulas for stirring, a few extra spatulas are a must. Depending on my baking schedule, I have days when I feed my starter twice a day, but I don’t usually wash my dishes that frequently. That’s where the extra spatulas come in handy.
Of course, you can use a rubber scraper if you’re in a pinch, but the skinny spatulas are so much more efficient.
7. Thin Tea Towels
Bulk fermentation is an essential part of most sourdough recipes. If you haven’t gotten this far in your sourdough journey, that basically means that you’ll leave your dough on the counter overnight. That’s where thin tea towels come in handy.
Thin tea towels that can be dampened without holding too much moisture are ideal. You only need a couple. However, I have about twelve in rotation in case my laundry is backed up for a few days and I’m doing a lot of baking, and that seems to be sufficient.
5 Sourdough Baking “Nice to Haves”
Now that we’ve covered the sourdough must haves, let’s shift gears to look at some tools that are nice to have.
1. Silicone Bread Slings
Remember how I mentioned the parchment paper alternative? Silicone bread slings are a reusable sourdough baking tool that can be used in place of parchment paper to line your Dutch oven. Many bakers recommend using them to help cook the bottom of the bottom of your loaf properly.
2. Magnetic Lame
You can definitely get away with the basic lame that is included in the sourdough starting kit, but it’s not the easiest to work with. A magnetic lame is easier to control, making it more ideal for precise scoring.
3. Cake Stand
Although it is not necessary by any means, a cake stand is a fun way to store and display you baked goods. I like to style mine with decorative parchment paper or lace paper doilies to create an elevated look.
4. A Good Bread Knife
Cutting crusty bread is no joke, so a reliable bread knife comes in handy. I use a CUTCO bread knife, and it handles the artisan crust like no other.
Naturally, you’ll need a good cutting board to go with your knife. We recently got a teak cutting board, and I like it a lot for cutting bread so far.
5. Butchers Twine
Butchers twine is another random sourdough baking tool that has come in handy a few times. I’ve used it to create fun loaf shapes, and some more artsy bakers use them to guide their elaborate scoring.
Start that Starter!
Now that you’re familiar with all of the essential sourdough baking supplies that you’ll need from your first loaf and beyond, it’s time to start your starter. Get your jar, flour, and water, and you’re ready to go!
Once your starter is ready to use, head over to my round up of my favorite sourdough recipes to choose your first wild yeast conquest.
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