I’ve gone to the dark side: I started making sourdough several weeks ago. One of my oldest and dearest friends sent me her amazing starter several months ago, along with her foolproof instructions. This is something I’ve wanted to try for a while, but we traveled so much this summer that I didn’t have the time to feed and babysit a starter. Or so I thought. Turns out I was wrong. It’s actually not that much work, but the first batch did require me to be home for six days.
My family is hooked and now that I have a few loaves under my belt, I feel confident sharing my thoughts. First and foremost, it’s not as tricky as I thought. HOWEVER, it’s very much a “know your dough” process and now that I know how the dough should look and feel, I’m comfortable adding more flour or water or letting it rise longer. My first attempt, while tasty, was very dense. I sent pictures and consulted with my master sourdough friend, Paige, and followed her recommendations and adjustments (along with a cookbook) the second time. She stressed that I will come to recognize when the dough is perfectly hydrated and proofed. By the third round, I knew exactly what she meant. I’m sure I’ll have some flops, but for now I’m pleased with my progress.
I Made This!
Paige provided me with a list of essential items, which I was able to purchase on Amazon. I’ll share below. Thankfully, I already owned a Le Creuset Dutch oven. It was a wedding gift 18 years ago. They are NOT cheap, but they last a lifetime. If not Le Creuset, Lodge is also a great option and slightly more budget friendly. In addition to a large Dutch oven (preferably cast iron), the other necessary supplies are: a good digital scale, Weck jars, proofing set (comes with two bannetons, scraper and lame), glass mixing bowl, dough hook, King Arthur all purpose flower, good salt, parchment paper and filtered water. That’s it! That’s all you need. It’s really not as tricky as I feared. I worried I was annoying Paige with my incessant texts and Facetimes, so I purchased a sourdough cookbook after my first loaf. This is super helpful and perfectly answers my questions when I don’t want to harass Paige.
I’ll start with the cookbook. This came highly rated by Amazon shoppers and I have to agree. It’s easy to follow with photos and step by step instructions, plus a bevy of recipes. I love being able to supplement my notes from chatting with Paige with the author’s guidance. If you are ready to begin your sourdough journey, start here: https://amzn.to/41Lvwaz
Artisan Sourdough
The next crucial item: a digital scale. This is the link Paige sent me and I’ve had great luck with it. My kids tease me about my drug dealing paraphernalia, but it gets the job done. I guess if the sourdough doesn’t work out for me…https://amzn.to/47G0KUr
Food Scale
Paige told me to buy Weck jars for my starter, so that’s exactly what I did. The variety of lids that come with the jars are ideal for sourdough. I keep it covered with just a plastic lid when sitting out for active feedings, but switch to glass clamps with rubber seal when it’s in the fridge (when I won’t be baking for a week or so). This two pack is perfect. https://amzn.to/3JoirOi
Weck Tulip Jars
The dough can be sticky and difficult, so a sturdy dough whisk is indispensable. I’ve had success with this one: https://amzn.to/4mtKpqC
Dough Whisk
A nice proofing kit is also integral. I love that this Kook set comes with everything I didn’t even know I needed (such as a lame and a scraper). Just like with the jars, it’s nice having two. I think I’m to the point now where I can juggle two loaves at once! Get my exact set here: https://amzn.to/45QJQQG
Proofing Set
Warning: the lame is extremely sharp. I let Bodie score my most recent loaf and I watched him like a hawk.
Now for the one item that is needed for sourdough that is expensive: a Dutch oven. I have a kiwi green 7.25 quart Dutch oven that I use ALL THE TIME. Pasta, chili, soups, stews, pot roasts and now bread. I love it and it’s been a workhorse the entire duration of my marriage. I can safely say it is an investment piece, but you will not regret this purchase. The price varies by color on Amazon. Flame (bright orange) and Cerise (cherry red) are gorgeous and about $120 less than many others. The Artichaut and Peche are significantly more expensive, but they sure are pretty. Link to all of them here: https://amzn.to/4fLF0sp
Le Creuset Dutch Ovens
Paige uses a six quart Lodge Dutch oven. If I didn’t already have my Le Creuset, this is what I would buy. In fact, I would probably buy several. Look at these vibrant colors! They’re like Skittles for your stove! The reviews are fabulous and they’re under $100 (barely). https://amzn.to/45qWpmB
Lodge Dutch Ovens
I’m not going to link flour, mixing bowls or parchment paper because I am sure you all already own that. If not, you can grab at Publix or Wal Mart. I am, however, going to link finishing salt I love. Not all salt is created equal. Like olive oil. I’ve learned that these are areas worth splurging. Side note: my favorite olive oil is Brightland Awake and Alive duo (https://amzn.to/3Vc1HMI). But I digress. When sprinkling salt onto something rather than mixing it in, I prefer to use pretty sea salt flakes. These elevate my bread and make me feel like a fancy chef. It’s fabulous on bread, but also stunning on roasted asparagus and cherry tomatoes. I use this frequently. Impress your family here: https://amzn.to/41PoKAE.
Sea Salt
I *think* this covers all of the supplies you’ll need to make your own sourdough. Local friends, I’m happy to share some of my starter. On that note, you’re supposed to name your starter. Paige’s is named Betty White. Since mine is an offshoot of Betty, I’m sticking with the Golden Girls theme and calling mine Blanche Devereaux. I can’t wait to take Blanche out of the fridge tonight and feed her! She’s getting some action this weekend, just like her namesake.
It’s incredibly satisfying to go from this:
To this…
And give your loved ones something not loaded with preservatives and chemicals. If you have any questions, I am happy to help to the best of my ability. Happy baking!
UPDATED SUPPLIES 11/10/2025
I’ve got several more months of sourdough experience under my belt, and my list of “must haves” is longer. I still love everything I shared previously, but I’ve added an oval bread oven to my repertoire. I think the round artisan loaves are gorgeous, but the oval shape suits our needs better. The shape lends itself to better sandwiches, in my opinion. Krustic seems to have the best oval bread oven. You can order directly from Krustic here https://go.shopmy.us/p-30540383 or Amazon here https://amzn.to/47L066r. The price is the same, but sometimes the Krustic site has more colors. I got the sea salt color and she’s beautiful. The dome lid allows for better browning on the sides than a traditional Dutch oven. The lifting mat makes transferring your loaf incredibly easy.
Krustic Oval Dutch Oven
If you’re going to use an oval Dutch oven, you’re going to need an oval banneton. This set of two on Amazon is affordable and works well. I don’t see any difference in my various brands. Keep it easy and grab these: https://amzn.to/4qStSPx
Oval Banneton
I used the lame that came with my original proofing set (linked earlier in this post) my first several loaves and, not knowing any differently, I thought it was fine. But then I saw a friend’s stunning loaf of artisan bread and could comprehend how she created her gorgeous design using a lame like mine. That’s because she didn’t. This is the exact lame she uses. Now I notice that the sourdough accounts I follow on Instagram also feature lames like this. Skip the long handled type that comes with a set and get this: https://amzn.to/43kjOVp
Lame
I’ve had good results keeping my bread fresh in these bags. I simply use the sticker and place it in the bread drawer in my pantry. These are also convenient for gifting the bread. Stock up here: https://amzn.to/4qSkUSd
Bread Bags
I typically store my sourdough discard muffins and breads under a glass dome and leave it sitting on the counter. It’s pretty! My kids grab a muffin on their way out the door most weekday mornings. This is the exact dome with wood base I own and love. Any baker would love this.
Glass Dome
The best way to slice your beautiful bread is with a bread bow. I was having a tough time getting even slices with the round loaves until I got a bread bow. It’s essential for the big artisan loaves, but I use it for sandwich bread, too! It’s a game changer. And inexpensive! This is my exact bow: https://amzn.to/3WN1HUv
Bread Bow
I use an obscene amount of flour. To accommodate my bulk purchases, I found this 2.5 gallon glass jar with a snug lid. I love the simple design. This jar is pretty enough to leave sitting out on my counter and I was able to get rid of all of the messy paper flour bags in my pantry. Shop here: https://amzn.to/47OngsK
Flour Storage
Whether you’re shopping for a newbie or a seasoned baker, these sourdough essentials will be well loved. Happy baking!
