The #1 ingredient I’m asked about! If you don’t have a local source, Azure is the best place I’ve found to get whole wheat berries of all varieties. Buy in large or small quantities.
Sourdough
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Bench Knife
While you don’t need a bench knife for making sourdough, it makes the process easier, especially for higher-hydration doughs. Plus this one is handcrafted and makes you feel like a sourdough rockstar.
Grain Mill
While fresh-milled flour is NOT necessary to make amazing sour dough bread, it sure is a nice bonus. If you’ve been thinking about grinding your own flour, I can’t recommend this mill enough. I’ve been using it for years.
Bread Lame
This tool is definitely not necessary, but it works so much better than a knife for scoring I thought I’d add it to my list. (This particular one includes a protective leather cover and extra blades too.)
Proofing Basket
A proofing basket will keep your sourdough dough the right size and shape during the final rise before baking. This awesome set includes a dough scraper and a proofing basket with liner. But proofing baskets aren’t required. In a pinch, you can line a 9-inch bowl or colander with a tea towel that you’ve generously dusted with flour.
Dough Scraper
This handy little tool will help you scrape the dough out of your bowl without ruining those precious air bubbles in the dough. But you definitely don’t need a dough scraper; you can use a stiff spatula instead.
Dutch Oven (Enamel Cast Iron )
While you do not need a dutch oven to make sourdough bread, using one results in an amazingly crisp crust and decadently soft insides. I personally use enamel cast iron dutch ovens, but just plain ole cast iron is great too.
Sourdough Starter
While you can absolutely make your own sourdough starter, if you’d rather purchase one, I recommend this one. You’ll have a healthy jar of bacteria and yeast in no time that boosts the nutritional content of your bread, not to mention how it will add that incredible flavor!
Gluten-free Sourdough Starter
While I have never made gluten-free sourdough, so many of you have asked me for help in this area, I was elated to find this option to recommend!
