Embarking on the sourdough journey is fun and exciting, and with just a few essentials, you’ll be on your way to creating beautiful, homemade bread with ease. Let’s go over the must-haves that will set you up for sourdough success!

1. An Active Starter: Your starter is the heart and soul of your sourdough. This living mixture of flour and water is what gives sourdough its signature rise and flavor. You can either create your own starter (patience required!) or source one from a friend or reputable seller.
2. Water: Believe it or not, the type of water you use matters. Go for filtered or well water to avoid the chlorine and chemicals in tap water, which can inhibit your starter’s natural fermentation process.
3. Bread Flour: Bread flour is ideal for its higher protein content, which gives structure to your loaf. Experimenting with other flours is fun, but bread flour is the reliable base you want to start with.
4. Salt: A pinch of salt not only enhances flavor but also strengthens the gluten structure in your dough, as well as helps slow down bulk fermentation. Fine sea salt or kosher salt works best, but in a bind regular iodized salt can work too.
5. Mixing Bowl: You’ll need a sturdy bowl for mixing and rising your dough. Clear glass bowls are great options for easy handling and also allow you to see your dough’s rise during the fermentation process.
6. Dutch Oven or Bread Dome: These are perfect for creating the steam environment sourdough needs for a golden, crispy crust. If you don’t have one, don’t worry! Plenty of bakers use other baking dishes, or even open-bake, for great results.
7. Parchment Paper or Silicone Bread Sling: For easy transfer to the hot baking vessel, parchment paper or a reusable silicone sling is a game-changer, ensuring your dough doesn’t stick to the surface.
8. Kitchen Scale: Accuracy is key in sourdough, and a kitchen scale that measures in grams will help you achieve consistent results. Measuring by weight, rather than volume, gives you the precision sourdough baking requires.
9. Bread Lame: This tool lets you score your bread with ease, helping control the expansion of your loaf during baking. A lame (or a sharp knife) gives your sourdough its signature look.
10. Baking Thermometer: A thermometer helps you ensure your loaf is baked to perfection. Look for an internal temperature around 200°F (93°C) for a fully baked sourdough with a perfect crumb.
11. A Positive Attitude: Finally, bring along a good dose of patience and curiosity. Sourdough is as much about the process as it is the final loaf, so embrace each step and remember that every bake, even the messy ones, helps you learn and improve.

With these essentials on hand, you’re all set to dive into the world of sourdough baking. So gather your ingredients, ready your tools, and let’s make some bread magic!

Links to my favorite products for sourdough: https://amzn.to/3UricVv (for around ~$100 you can get everything you need to get started)

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