My Favorite Sourdough Tools
If sourdough feels intimidating, let me say this first: You do not need a million tools to bake good bread.
I baked my first loaves with a bowl, a spoon, and prayers. Ha. Over time, though, I found a few tools that genuinely make sourdough easier, less messy, and way more consistent, especially in a real house that runs cold. These are the tools I actually use, not just the ones that look good on the internet.
A Glass Sourdough Starter Jar
This is where it all begins. I stick with these glass Weck jars because they’re easy to clean, don’t hold smells, and let me see what’s going on with my starter at a glance. Yes, you can use any jar you own, but once you start this process, you’ll appreciate the wide-mouth jar, trust me!
I always recommend a jar that’s bigger than you think you need. Starters grow fast, and overflow is… not the vibe.
A Digital Kitchen Scale (Truly Non-Negotiable)
If there’s one tool I’ll gently insist on, it’s a scale.
Sourdough is all about ratios, and measuring flour by cups is a fast track to frustration, especially when you’re using good-quality flour. A basic digital scale makes everything more consistent and way less stressful. I’ve had mine forever, and any simple food scale will do. Just make sure it measures in grams.
Organic Flour (I Order Mine from the Costco App)
Flour matters, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I buy organic flour through the Costco app, and it’s been such an easy win for sourdough baking at home. The quality has been consistent for me, I like knowing it’s organic, and ordering in bulk means I’m not constantly running out mid-bake. It gets delivered to your door and is the best price for organic flour out there. Don’t have a Costco membership? Find a friend who does and offer to bake them bread in exchange for them sending it to your door. (That’s what I do!)
A Dough Scraper
This is one of those tools you don’t realize you need until you have one.
I keep:
A plastic scraper for bowls
A metal scraper for the counter
They make sticky dough easier to handle and clean up faster, without over-flouring everything.
A Large Mixing Bowl You Like Using
This sounds basic, but it matters.
A sturdy bowl with enough room for stretch-and-folds makes the whole process calmer, especially when the dough is colder and tighter. Stainless steel, glass, or ceramic all work; just make sure it’s big enough and doesn’t slide around. I use an old Pyrex bowl, but this is one thing you probably have.
A Banneton
Do you need a banneton? No. Do I love mine? Yes.
It helps the dough hold its shape during the final rise and gives that classic sourdough look. If you’re not ready to buy one, a bowl with a floured linen towel works just fine.
My Sourdough Home
This is where my setup gets very real-life specific.
My house runs cold, especially in the winter, and sourdough does not love that. Instead of constantly guessing whether my dough is stalled, I bought a sourdough home.
Why I love it:
It removes a massive variable. I’m not fighting my house or the weather, I just bake. This was a game-changer for me and actually allowed me to bake without hassle! This was also a larger purchase, and once I paid for it, I was determined to use it and figure out the whole sourdough situation.
A Dutch Oven for Baking
A Dutch oven traps steam, which is key for a good rise and crust. You don’t need an expensive one, just something oven-safe with a lid. I have a heavy-duty one and also a larger one I found at Goodwill.
A Bread Lame
Scoring helps control how your bread expands in the oven. You can absolutely use a razor blade or sharp knife, but a lame makes it easier and cleaner.
What You Don’t Need (In My Opinion)
Let’s normalize skipping:
Fancy mixers
Proofing boxes you don’t actually need
Specialty flours to start
Anything that makes sourdough feel overwhelming before you begin
Most of my setup is about making sourdough work in my actual house, with my actual schedule, not creating a picture-perfect baking situation.
Good sourdough comes from practice, not perfection, and definitely not from buying everything at once. These are things I have collected over a year of baking! I do think that purchasing the key items will help keep you motivated and on track. There was no way I was going to give up on this new hobby after buying a fridge for my sourdough starter!
Are you a sourdough baker? What are your most used tools? I’d love to know.
XO
Sarah