My Top 5 Sourdough Making Products (Essential Kit for Better Loaves)

These are the 5 pieces of kit that made the biggest difference to my sourdough; from mixing, to shaping, to that all-important oven spring

8/30/20262 min read

You do not need a fully kitted out bakery to make great sourdough, but a handful of the right tools will save you time, mess, and a fair number of ruined worktops along the way. Here is what earns a permanent spot on my counter.

My Top 5 Picks

1. A stand mixer with a dough hook There is nothing wrong with hand mixing, especially while you are experimenting, but a stand mixer with a dough hook saves a genuinely huge amount of time and effort, and gives consistent results bake after bake. You will still be doing hands-on stretching and folding regardless, but the initial mix is where a mixer earns its keep.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Amazon Basics Stand Mixer

2. A proofing basket (banneton) with a fabric liner Look for one with a rope-style liner rather than plain wicker. Wicker baskets without a liner can develop splinters over time, which is the last thing you want touching your dough. Dust the liner with rice flour before use to stop the dough sticking. Alternately, there are some high quality cardboard options available.

Rope Proofing Basket (oval and round)

Brod & Taylor Banneton

3. A dough scraper (bench knife) An absolute essential. Use it to scrape sticky dough off your worktop, to help with the final shaping ball, and to divide dough cleanly. Cheap, durable, and something you will reach for constantly.

Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Scraper

4. A fine mist spray bottle Water is your best friend at almost every stage of sourdough baking, from wetting your hands to prevent sticking, to misting the dough just before it goes in the oven to help with oven spring. A great fine mist bottle beats running to the tap every five seconds.

Amazon Basics 500ml BPA-Free Water Spray Bottle

5. A bread lame or very sharp blade for scoring Scoring your dough before baking controls where it expands as it rises, rather than letting it tear wherever it likes. A proper lame gives a cleaner, sharper cut than a kitchen knife, and makes a noticeable difference to how your loaf opens up in the oven.

Magnetic Bread Lame

Honourable Mentions

A silicone counter protector mat is worth considering if you have wooden or butcher’s block style counters, as sticky high hydration dough can genuinely damage untreated wood over time. A silicone loaf tin liner also makes turning out a finished sandwich loaf far easier.