Must-Have & Nice-to-Have Sourdough Shopping Lists!

Every great sourdough loaf starts with the right foundation, and that includes having the proper tools on hand. Whether you’re a beginner or refining your technique, this curated list will help you bake better bread.

Must-Haves:

These are the go-to tools and ingredients we recommend for baking consistently excellent sourdough bread:

Ingredients:

Active Sourdough Starter: The heart of every sourdough loaf.
Flour: Use bread flour for a lighter texture, or a blend of bread flour and whole grain flour for a heartier flavor and more complex crumb.
Bottled or Filtered Water for Starter Feeding: The Chlorine or chloramine in tap water can inhibit the natural yeast and bacteria in your starter.
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor, develops gluten, and regulates fermentation.

Tools:

Digital Scale: Precision is essential; baking by weight ensures accuracy.
Mixing Bowl: For mixing or resting your dough.
Proofing Box/Basket (Banneton): Supports dough in final proofing stage, helps to maintain its shape.
Challenger Bread Pan or Dutch Oven: Crucial for trapping steam, even heat distribution, and essential for achieving crispy crust.
Bench & Dough Scrapers: For shaping, handling, and dividing.
Bread Lame: To score the dough before baking, for controlled bread expansion or decorative patterns.
Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and ensures smooth transfers.
Oven Gloves: For safety during baking, oven gloves offer improved dexterity and heat protection.
Starter Jars: Glass or plastic containers with room for growth and activity tracking.

Nice-to-Haves:

While not essential, these tools can improve your sourdough journey:

Food Thermometer: Monitor dough temperature for better fermentation control.
Bowl Scraper: Helps clean bowls efficiently with minimal waste.
Tea Towels: For covering dough or lining proofing baskets.
Serrated Bread Knife: A clean, even slice makes all the difference.
Danish Dough Whisk: Excellent for initial mixing.

Tips & Tricks

It’s important to understand starters, and the role they play as the leavening agent in bread. A healthy starter is your first step to becoming a sourdough master. We’re here to help you understand everything you need to know about creating, maintaining and storing starters while on your sourdough journey. Learn more about Sourdough Starter Basics.

The Ultimate Bread Pan®

Discover the Challenger Bread Pan and fall in love with its perfectly placed handles (large enough for your oven mitts), its thick cast iron construction that ensures steady high heat, a tightly sealed environment for optimal steam creation, and its versatile design that accommodates numerous bread shapes and sizes.