Proof & LoafAll guides
Gifts for Sourdough Bakers: The 2026 Holiday Gift Guide
Thoughtful, useful gifts for sourdough bakers, from small stocking stuffers to splurge-worthy upgrades.
Stocking stuffersSmall Gifts for Sourdough Bakers: Stocking Stuffers They’ll Use
Modest, useful gifts for sourdough bakers: lames, scrapers, thermometers, jars and a great beginner book.
Baking vesselThe Best Dutch Ovens for Sourdough (and the One Beginners Should Buy)
Combo cooker, enameled pot or bread cloche? How to choose the right vessel for your first sourdough loaves.
Beginner kitSourdough Starter Kit for Beginners: What You Actually Need
The short list of tools that make your first sourdough easier, and the things you can skip.
ScalesThe Best Kitchen Scales for Bread Baking
Why grams matter, what capacity you need, and four scales that work well for sourdough.
TemperatureProofing Boxes and Starter Warmers: Do You Need One?
Free ways to keep dough and starter warm, and when a Brod & Taylor proofer or Sourdough Home is worth it.
KnivesThe Best Bread Knives for Crusty Sourdough
A great bread knife doesn't have to be expensive. Four knives that slice crusty loaves cleanly.
Proofing basketsThe Best Banneton Proofing Baskets for Sourdough
Round or oval, lined or bare: how to choose a banneton, and the baskets independent testers liked best.
ScoringThe Best Bread Lames for Scoring Sourdough
Why scoring matters, what makes a good lame, and the picks America's Test Kitchen rated highest.
Baking surfacesBaking Steel vs. Stone vs. Dutch Oven for Sourdough
Which baking surface is best for your sourdough, how to add steam, and the steel, stone and peel testers recommend.
BooksThe Best Sourdough Bread Books, From First Loaf to Expert
Five widely recommended bread books for sourdough bakers, and which one to read first.
Small spacesSourdough Tools for Small Kitchens: Bake Great Bread in a Tiny Space
Space-saving sourdough gear that does double duty, stacks or folds flat, and what to skip in a small kitchen.
StorageThe Best Flour Storage Containers for Sourdough Bakers
Airtight canisters and bulk bins that keep flour fresh, bug-free and easy to scoop.
BudgetThe Best Budget Dutch Oven for Sourdough
Affordable cast iron and enameled pots that bake bakery-quality sourdough, and how to get the most from them.
StarterThe Best Sourdough Starter Jars (and What Makes One Good)
Straight sides, wide mouth, loose lid: how to choose a jar for your starter, and the jars bakers rely on.