Sourdough. There's nothing like it. The rustic brown crust, so thick and chewy. The hole-pocked bread, so soft and thick. The signature flavour, so uniquely tangy. The health benefits even: easier to digest, less sugar, beneficial gut bacteria, and full of antioxidants.
Plus, there’s something incredibly rewarding about breaking into a homemade loaf that you’ve mixed, kneaded and baked yourself. If you've been curious to try but are not sure where to start, read our helpful guide.
Yes you can bake bakery-quality sourdough at home
Here's our handy guide to start your sourdough journey, with tips and helpful product ideas.
For Starters
The starter is a mix of flour and water that captures the natural yeasts and bacteria in the air, making each one a truly one-of-a-kind, local item! A beginner's kit cuts down on the guesswork and mistakes. Ours has everything you need to develop and maintain your own starter, including a temperature strip so you can monitor for optimal temperature, a cloth cap for breathability and bands to track feedings.
Sourdough Starter Fermentation Kit | All You Need to Succeed With Sourdough
Making It
There are so many recipes out there and every baker has their own preferred method. If you are on the hunt for a good recipe for beginners we love the photo-guided step-by-step instructions of this recipe from Sourdough Talk and this foolproof one from The Sourdough Lady.
All Rise
Once your loaf has been kneaded and proofed it needs a final rise. If you want that perfect floury ring pattern on the crispy golden crust, you'll need a natural rattan proofing basket. We stock baskets (with linen liners for easier removal) in four shapes and five sizes, made by Walfos, a company dedicated to making your culinary adventures effortless and enjoyable.
Natural Rattan Bread Proofing Basket With Linen Liner | Banneton for Artisan Bread at Home
Get the Score
Score your proofed dough before putting it in the oven. If you don't, the aesthetics and taste can be affected. Aesthetically, the bread will burst at the weakest point as it bakes. And taste-wise, the crust can harden prematurely and the crumb will be less open and uneven. If you control where the bread breaks open during the baking process, you'll have a better loaf.
Using a lame - sharper and more precise than a kitchen knife - to score lines. The trick is to be confident: a decisive cut will result in a cleaner edge. You can cut anything from straight lines to geometric patterns to intricate flowers. The only limit is your imagination! Our bread lame is easy to hold thanks to its wooden housing and stores away safely in a pouch.
Bread Lame Dough Scoring Tool for Baking – Wooden Handle, 5 Replaceable Blades
Ready, Set Bake!
When ready to bake, you can place your loaf on a baking tray or bake it in a Dutch oven.
A Dutch oven traps steam inside the pot which stops the crust on your sourdough forming too soon. This enables your dough to expand and spring up first, giving you that perfect soft and fluffy interior and a crispy, chewy crust. It also creates a more even bake so you avoid burnt or undercooked spots.
Preheat your oven with the Dutch oven inside for at least 30 minutes. (Most breads bake best somewhere between 230°C and 260°C. Go with what is best for your specific recipe and oven.) A reusable silicone baking sling has long handles, which makes it safe and easy to transfer dough in and out of Dutch ovens without getting burned.
Silicone Bread Sling for Dutch Oven | Reusable Baking Mat with Long Handles
Serving and Eating
Make sure you proudly show off your homemade loaf! Perhaps you already have the perfect serving tray, platter or basket. Ceramic, wood and bamboo would all look amazing, though my vote goes to a wooden serving board because it does double-duty: cut and serve from the one item. And the less washing up I have to do, the happier I am! Our beautiful wooden serving board has the most gorgeous natural wood grain and has ample room to include whatever spreads, pates, cheeses and meats you choose to accompany your perfectly cooked sourdough.
Wooden Serving Board with Handle | For Cheese, Bread, Charcuterie, Bread, Fruit
We hope this Beginners Guide to Sourdough has inspired you!
