The perfect starter pack if you want to: I want to start baking sourdough bread
Primary Gear
High-protein unbleached bread flour. The foundation of great sourdough — you need the protein for proper gluten development.
Why: All-purpose flour makes mediocre bread. Bread flour has 12-13% protein which gives you the chewy, open crumb structure that makes sourdough special.
Essential Accessory
Cast iron Dutch oven that traps steam during baking. This is what gives artisan bread its crackly crust and dramatic ear.
Why: Professional bakeries use steam-injected ovens. At home, a Dutch oven does the same thing. It's the single most important piece of equipment after flour and a starter.
Must-Read Book
The best bread baking book for beginners and beyond. Clear instructions, beautiful photography, and a sourdough starter guide.
Why: Ken Forkish explains the WHY behind every step. Once you understand the science, you stop following recipes and start baking intuitively. This book is a masterclass.
Pro Tip
Precision scale for measuring flour, water, and salt by weight. Baking by volume (cups) is wildly inaccurate.
Why: Professional bakers never use cups — they weigh everything. 500g flour is always 500g. "1 cup flour" can vary by 30%. A scale makes you consistent immediately.
Quality of Life
Rattan proofing baskets that shape your dough and create those beautiful spiral flour patterns on the crust.
Why: You can proof in a bowl with a towel, but bannetons give you those Instagram-worthy ring patterns and help the dough hold its shape. Form and function.
The Fun One
Razor-sharp scoring blade on a handle for slashing your loaves. This is what creates the dramatic "ear" on artisan bread.
Why: Scoring isn't just decorative — it controls where the bread expands during baking. A confident slash at the right angle gives you that professional bakery look.