Sourdough Baking Equipment: 10 Products For Easier Sourdough Baking

While you don't need any fancy sourdough baking equipment to make sourdough bread, sometimes, there are things that really do make sourdough baking easier.

Here are 10 products for easier sourdough baking - and with life getting busier all the time - easier is always a good thing, right?

From the right sized banneton to a straight sided fermentation container, this list of sourdough baking equipment was written with you in mind.

What Equipment Do I Really Need To Bake Sourdough Bread?

Many argue that you don't need anything special to bake sourdough bread.

However, I say, if you want to do something - do it properly!

Aside from a simple, easy to follow recipe, having the right sourdough baking tools will definitely set you up for sourdough baking success.

Having the right sourdough baking tools will set you up for sourdough success right from the start.

At minimum, the right sized banneton, Dutch Oven and lame will see you setting off on your sourdough journey prepared.

As you invest more time and effort into your craft, investing in more specialised tools makes sense.

Having a bread sling, different sized bannetons and Dutch Ovens and even a bread proofer may suddenly be in your sights.

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Sourdough Baking Equipment to Make Your Life Easier

If you are looking to make your sourdough baking easier, you'll love this list of sourdough baking equipment.

Straight Sided Cambro Containers

If you find it hard to determine when bulk fermentation has finished - these straight sided Cambro Containers could be transformational to your sourdough baking!

Because they have straight sides, it's much easier for you see when your dough doubles (and it must double).

You can mark the starting level - and the level it needs to get to - on the outside of the container. Simple, right? Get yours here.

Bread Slings & Parchment Rounds

Pre cut parchment paper rounds with lift tabs make placing your sourdough into your hot Dutch Oven so much easier!

Now you can of course just use regular parchment paper, however, it can sometimes get scrunched up inside the Dutch Oven.

This is a simple, easy way to ensure that your bread is neatly and easily placed into the Dutch Oven.

If you'd prefer something more resusable, you might like this silicone bread sling. It works in the same way, but can be used over and over again.

Bannetons

A banneton is a basket that acts as a shaping container for your sourdough during the cold ferment.

It allows your dough to rest, while still maintaining its tension. You can use a tea towel lined bowl - but a banneton is a much better choice as it allows your dough to breathe and also ensures the perfect contour.

You can even get the pretty lines you see on some sourdough loaves.

The size of banneton you buy will depend on the size of your Dutch Oven (you want your banneton to fit inside your Dutch Oven, then you know your dough will fit).

Bannetons are available in various shapes and sizes.

If you're looking for the right size to bake my Simple Sourdough Recipe, you'll find the correct size for a batard here and a boule here.

You might also like to consult my Banneton Sizing Guide for other dough weights and different shaped bannetons.

I have several oval bannetons as I love to make batards. This banneton is shaping a loaf of Dill Pickle Rye Bread - YUM!

Stand Mixer

While traditionally sourdough has been mixed by hand, there are many recipes, including sandwich loaves and pizza dough, which is much easier when mixed in a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Depending on how much bread you are wanting to make, stand mixers can start under $100 and range right up to several thousands for more commercial level mixers.

Somewhere in between is a mixer that is perfect for the home baker. This Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is the perfect compromise and is perfect for the at home sourdough baker who would like to produce easy sandwich breads, hot cross buns, pizza dough and other items that need to be kneaded heavily.

It's also handy for those who might not be able to handle sourdough bread due to arthritis or other illness.

Bread Proofer

If you struggle to keep your sourdough starter or sourdough at a constant temperature then a bread proofer may be the answer you're looking for.

Constant temperature is best for sourdough cultures and you will definitely notice the difference when your starter - and dough - is kept at the perfect temperature for fermentation.

This nifty dough proofer can be used for a variety purposes and folds down flat when you're not using it!

Digital Scales

While people have been baking bread without scales for hundreds of years - there is no denying that weighing your ingredients will give you a better success rate when it comes to sourdough.

Your sourdough starter will thrive by being fed in grams rather than cups. In fact this is the number one mistake people make when starting their starter for the first time.

Check out this guide to Best Baking Scales for Sourdough Bread to choose the scale that's right for you.

If you'd like to read more about the benefits of weighing your sourdough ingredients, you'll find in depth information here.

Silicone Dough Scraper

A silicone dough scraper is super handy in your sourdough kitchen.

It can be used for your initial mix, scraping the sides of the bowl for stretches and folds, getting the dough out of the bowl for shaping, dividing the dough ... want me to go on?

Seriously, if you don't have one, you need to get one! You will not regret it!

This dough scraper is my favorite - it also comes with a straight sided scraper which is great for shaping high hydration doughs and cleaning down benches from flour residue.

Lame

A lame is basically a very sharp razor blade mounted onto a handle.

Some of the lames on the market are simply beautiful, as well as functional. Now, you can of course just use a razor blade (or even a very sharp kitchen knife), but a lame makes sourdough scoring so easy!

If you get a curved blade, it even makes scoring for the perfect ear a breeze.

If you are looking for aesthetics as well as function - this is the lame for you. If you are just after an entry level lame, this one would be better suited.

Dutch Oven

A Dutch Oven makes sourdough baking so much easier!

It is the easiest way to imitate a commercial baker's oven in your own home.

It traps steam inside the vessel and holds it close to your sourdough - allowing it to expand as much as possible before developing a crust.

You can read more about the reasons to invest in a Dutch Oven here, as well as the best size to buy for your needs.

This is the perfect Dutch Oven to bake a basic sourdough boule.

If you are looking for a sourdough baking vessel that will allow you to bake any shape and size dough, consider the Challenger Bread Pan. It will enable you to bake boules, batards and baguettes without having to change your Dutch Oven every bake.

A Good Bread Knife

Now this isn't actually part of the baking process - but there's no point baking delicious sourdough bread if you can't slice it properly.

A good quality bread knife is essential to the sourdough experience.

This bread knife is great quality and a great price. It pairs perfectly with this bread slicing guide.