Flour Power: 7 Must-Have Tools for Your Bread Baking Journey

Whether you're already a seasoned bread maker or just starting your bread baking journey, having the right tools is essential for serving up heavenly loaves of happiness! From sourdough to focaccia to quick breads and so much more, bread making has never been more popular due to the resurgence of homesteading across the U.S. and an intentional consumption of real, non-processed foods with healthy and pure ingredients.

You may have seen some of these handy tools on your social media feeds or within local shops, but maybe you didn't know what they do or if you even needed them. So, whether your desire is to dive in from the start or advance your basic skills, don't miss these key bread making tools to help you along the way.

1. Sourdough Starter

If sourdough bread making is your mission, you'll want to find a dry or wet starter to begin the process. A dehydrated sourdough starter has a long, stable shelf life and is ready to be rehydrated, fed, and mixed into your favorite baked goods. A wet starter is ready to feed, and it will quickly become your own, adapting itself to your own region and climate. Try our Sourdough Starter or the complete Breadtopia Sourdough Starter Kit.

2. Starter Jar

A starter jar keeps contaminants out but lets air in, while also allowing you to mark your starter's growth level after feeds. The size of your starter jar is all dependent on how many loaves of bread you desire to make on a regular basis. If you're only making a single loaf here and there, a small starter jar (about the size of a Mason jar) is all you need. If you plan on cranking out lots of loaves, you might want to consider some larger, gallon-sized jars to let your starter grow. Check out the Breadtopia Sourdough Starter Jar or the KneadAce PRO 34 oz Sourdough Starter Jar.

3. Danish Dough Whisk

Essentially the magic wand of bread baking (because it looks like one), a Danish dough whisk can save the day (and your stand mixer) when it comes to stirring your bread dough. This whisk is designed to mix together dough ingredients by hand before you start kneading. With a smaller surface area than a wooden spoon, the shape of this handy mixing tool allows it to effortlessly cut through clumped-up ingredients, without sticky dough clinging to it. We carry several styles, including this classic Danish Dough Whisk and the Handcrafted Walnut Wood Danish Dough Whisk.

4. Large Mixing Bowl or Tub

A good sized mixing bowl (or even a dough tub) is a must for preparing your bread dough, and you can find them in a variety of sizes and styles, from stainless steel to stoneware. Your dough needs a couple of quick, easy folds within the hour after you mix it in order to develop strength for rising, so a larger sized mixing bowl that measures about 12 inches in diameter and 5 to 6 inches high will allow you to put the folds in the dough quickly and easily without having to remove it. You can cover your bowls with plastic wrap, dough proofing lids, fabric bowl covers, or even another bowl of the same size, turned upside down. For a stoneware option that's as beautiful as it is functional, Mason Cash mixing bowls are a favorite for bread dough. Their wide, stable Size 12 bowls give dough plenty of room to breathe, like the Mason Cash Cream Color Mix Bowl, Size 12 and the Mason Cash Black Color Mix Bowl, Size 12.

5. Bread Lame

Ever wonder how some bread loaves get those beautifully carved designs on top? Well, a bread lame (pronounced LAHM, meaning "blade" in French) helps create the magic. Though some bakers use a simple razor blade, a bread lame extends that blade onto a longer handle to help protect your fingers from cuts while scoring beautiful designs into your bread dough. Scoring your dough not only makes it look pretty when baked, but it also helps control the expansion of the loaf as it bakes. Take a look at our Bread Lame or the Compact Cherrywood Lame Bread Scoring Tool.

6. Bench Scraper

A bench scraper, sometimes called a flat dough cutter, is a versatile tool for preparing and shaping dough. Some bench scrapers even come with measuring lines, which can help with measuring while cutting. These handy tools can also make your surfaces much easier to wipe down with soap and water during clean-up. Shop our Bench Scraper or the Stainless Steel Dough Scraper with Hard Wood Handle.

7. Banneton Basket

Also referred to as bread proofing baskets, bannetons come in different sizes and shapes, depending on the desired shape of your loaf. The most common is a round basket, but you'll also find oval, sandwich, and baguette shaped baskets. Bannetons will last a lifetime, and linen lined baskets are the most popular to help ensure that your dough is smooth when you flip it out. If you choose to use your basket with a liner, it is recommended to coat it with rice flour. However, if you prefer your loaves to showcase the spiral or parallel lines from the banneton, you will want to use it unlined. Browse our Round Banneton Bread Proofing Basket and Oval Proofing Basket.

8. Dutch Oven

Baking your bread loaves in a preheated enameled cast iron Dutch oven will give you a crusty, artisan-style loaf that looks like it came out of a professional bakery. These come in various styles, but the most common are traditional round Dutch ovens. Another popular Dutch oven style is oval-shaped with a dome-style lid for capturing the perfect amount of steam for crackling crust, rich color, and full volume for bâtards, boules, and baguettes. You can also use a high quality non-stick or cast iron open pan if your desire is for a sandwich style loaf that rises over the edge of the pan. Explore the Lexi Home 2.8qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven or the Alva Cast Enamel Oval Dutch Oven.

9. Bread Knife

There's nothing like a quality bread knife. As thick, dense breads can be harder to slice, a bread knife with a more saw-like, toothy serration will help you more easily slice through your glutenous goodies. Among your options would be a straight, traditional style bread knife with a sharp, scalloped edge that cuts through bread without crushing, tearing, or leaving crumbs. A second option is a bread knife with an offset handle to keep hands up and away from cutting surfaces, also with a scalloped blade for easily cutting through thicker breads without tearing or pulling. A third option that is growing in popularity is called a bread bow knife, as it closely resembles a violin bow with its design. Perfect for slicing thick breads and bagels, a bread bow features a double-ground and serrated stainless steel saw blade and a wood handle. Check out the Hammer Stahl Bread Knife, the Offset Bread Knife, or the Wooden Bread Bow Knife.

10. Cutting Board

The right cutting board can make bread slicing a breeze, and there are many options to choose from when it comes to cutting board materials. So, which is best, wood, polyethylene, or something else? You can never go wrong with a natural wood cutting board, but something new that's rising in popularity is a paper composite board made famous by Epicurean USA. With a natural look and texture from its layers of paper composite material that is 100% manufactured in the USA, using materials locally sourced in the USA, Epicurean boards are durable, knife friendly, and dishwasher safe. Shop the Epicurean All-in-One Cutting Board in Natural or in Nutmeg.

Ready to Stock Up?

If you're missing any of the above-mentioned tools, you can find them all locally at Gather Kitchen Mercantile on the downtown square in Columbia, Tennessee! At Gather, you'll even find a variety of bread-related accessories like bread bins, aprons, cookbooks, oven thermometers, scales, and so much more. Visit Gather in person at 23 Public Square or shop online.