New to sourdough and wondering if you need to buy loads of equipment?
The short answer: no — not at first.
This guide breaks down the essential sourdough tools vs the stuff that’s nice to have but not required. It’s written for beginners and based on what we actually use.
✅ Save money
✅ Skip the clutter
✅ Start baking now
What You Do Need to Bake Sourdough Bread
These are the basics — no sourdough without them.
1. Sourdough Starter
This is your natural yeast. Without a live starter, your bread won’t rise.
👉 Buy our ready-to-use sourdough starter here – no waiting 7 days to grow your own.
2. Kitchen Scales
Sourdough is all about ratios. You need to weigh your flour, water, starter, and salt.
Cup measurements aren’t reliable for this.
Look for: digital scales that measure in grams
3. Mixing Bowl
Any large bowl will do. Plastic, glass, metal — doesn’t matter.
4. Jar for Your Starter
A clean glass jar with a loose lid or cloth cover. You’ll use this to feed and store your starter.
5. Tea Towel or Cloth
Used to cover the bowl while dough ferments, or line a bowl for proofing.
6. Baking Tray or Dutch Oven
You need something to bake in. A heavy baking tray works, but a Dutch oven gives the best results — especially for steam and crust.
✅ Want it all in one box?
Check out our Sourdough Starter Kit — it includes a live culture, flour, jar, cloth, scraper, and instructions.
Tools That Are Nice (But Not Essential)
If you enjoy baking, these tools can make life easier — but they’re not required to start.
1. Dough Scraper
Helps lift sticky dough, divide it, or clean your worktop.
We include one in our sourdough starter kits and gift sets — it’s a cheap, useful tool.
2. Proofing Basket (Banneton)
Gives your dough structure and helps it keep shape.
A bowl lined with a floured cloth works just as well for beginners.
3. Lame or Sharp Blade
Used to score the dough before baking. A razor blade or sharp knife does the job too.
4. Thermometer
Useful if you’re baking a lot. Helps track dough temp or oven accuracy — but not essential at the start.
5. Bench Knife / Dough Cutter
Good for shaping or cutting dough into portions. Handy, but optional.
FAQs
Do I need a stand mixer to make sourdough?
No — most bakers use the stretch-and-fold method. You mix by hand. No kneading needed.
Do I need a starter from a bakery?
Nope. You can buy a live, reliable one here or grow your own.
What if I don’t have a proofing basket?
Use any bowl lined with a clean, floured tea towel.
Final Thoughts
Sourdough baking doesn’t require a fancy setup. Start with the basics:
- A good sourdough starter
- A bowl – plastic or glass
- A tray or Dutch oven
- A few simple tools for breadmaking
Once you get into it, you’ll figure out what extras are worth it for your style.
Need a no-fuss starter set? Take a look at our all-in-one baking kits — designed to get you baking straight away.
A good way to learn
Focus on repeatability before optimisation. Use one straightforward recipe, keep notes on temperature and timings, and change only one thing on the next bake. You will learn faster from three comparable loaves than from three completely different methods.