Sourdough Tools I Actually Use (Beginner-Friendly)
If you’ve spent more than five minutes on sourdough TikTok or Instagram, it probably feels like you need a fully stocked bakery to make a decent loaf.
You don’t.
You don’t need twenty gadgets, specialty tools, or a drawer dedicated solely to sourdough things. You just need a few basics — most of which you probably already own — and a mindset of good enough is good enough.
These are the sourdough tools I actually use in my own kitchen as a beginner-friendly, scrunchy baker. No stress gadgets. No perfection required.
My Sourdough Tool Philosophy
My goal with sourdough is simple: Make reliably delicious bread that fits into real life. Not Instagram-perfect loaves. Not artisan bakery replicas. Just good bread, made at home, without turning it into a whole personality. Every tool on this list earns its place by being:
useful
easy to store
beginner-friendly
not wildly expensive
Starter Basics (You Probably Have These)
A Glass Jar
That’s it. That’s the tool.
Any clean glass jar works — mason jar, recycled jar, whatever you have. Your starter does not care if it’s aesthetic.
I keep mine in a simple jar with plenty of room to grow.
Loose-Fitting Lid or Cover
You don’t need anything fancy here. A loose lid, cloth cover, or even resting the lid on top works.
The goal is:
keep stuff out
let gas escape
Mixing + Measuring Tools
A Bowl
Any medium to large bowl works. Stainless steel, ceramic, glass — all fine. No sourdough-specific bowl required.
Wooden Spoon or Dough Whisk
I usually use a wooden spoon because:
it’s already in my drawer
it’s easy to clean
it doesn’t overthink things
A dough whisk is nice, but absolutely not required.
Kitchen Scale (Optional, But Helpful)
You can make sourdough without a scale — but if you bake often, it really does make things easier and more consistent.
I use mine for:
feeding starter
measuring flour and water
reducing recipe fails
Shaping + Baking Tools
Dutch Oven
This is the biggest “investment” on the list — and the one that makes the biggest difference.
A Dutch oven:
traps steam
helps with oven spring
creates a great crust
If you don’t have one, you can still bake sourdough using a baking sheet + steam tray. A Dutch oven just makes it easier.
Parchment Paper
Makes transferring dough simple and prevents sticking.
Bowl Scraper
This is a cheap little tool that I use all the time. I tend to use it more than a bench scraper because I like that it has a straight and round shape on either end. The round shape can help coax a bubbly dough out of a bowl.
Great for:
shaping dough
scraping counters
general kitchen cleanup
Nice-to-Have (But Truly Optional)
These are helpful — but not required — especially when you’re starting out.
Banneton (Proofing Basket)
This helps dough hold shape during the final rise. I didn’t use one at first (used a towel-lined bowl instead) and my bread was still delicious.
Lame or Razor Blade
For scoring the top of your loaf. You can also use a sharp knife or clip little slices with scissors.
No need to overcomplicate it.
Tools You Do NOT Need as a Beginner
Let’s normalize not buying everything.
You don’t need:
a stand mixer
a fermentation chamber
specialty sourdough containers
expensive proofing systems
If you already own these things, great. If not, you’re still fully capable of making good bread.
How These Tools Fit Into My Routine
If you’re new to sourdough, these tools support:
my beginner sourdough routine that fits a busy life
easy sourdough discard recipes (honestly the best part)
Everything works together — no single tool does the heavy lifting alone.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Scrunchy
Sourdough doesn’t need to be all or nothing.
It’s okay to:
use what you already have
upgrade slowly
ignore tools that don’t serve you
make “imperfect” bread that still tastes amazing
Your sourdough should fit your life, not the other way around.
