Better sourdough, one fix at a time
Plain-English troubleshooting for the problems home bakers actually hit, plus straightforward advice on the gear that's worth buying (and what isn't).
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Gear Guide
Best Banneton for Beginners: How to Choose a Proofing Basket
How to pick your first banneton: size, shape, material and liners explained, plus how to prep it, stop dough sticking and keep it clean.
Gear Guide
Best Bread Lame: How to Choose a Scoring Tool for Sourdough
Curved or straight, fixed or replaceable blades, wooden handle or magnetic: how to choose a bread lame, how to score well, and how to stay safe.
Ingredients
Best Flour for Sourdough: Bread, All-Purpose, Whole Wheat and Rye Compared
How protein, whole grains and milling affect sourdough, which flour to use for your starter and your loaves, and how King Arthur and other brands fit in.
Gear Guide
Best Scale for Sourdough: How to Choose a Digital Kitchen Scale
Why sourdough needs a scale, which features matter (capacity, precision, tare, size), when to add a precision pocket scale, and how to use baker's percentages.
Gear Comparison
Challenger Bread Pan vs Lodge Combo Cooker: Which Should You Buy?
A side-by-side look at the Challenger Bread Pan and the Lodge Combo Cooker for sourdough: shape, capacity, loading, weight, versatility and who each one suits.
Gear Guide
Sourdough Proofing Box vs Oven-Light Proofing: Is a Proofer Worth It?
How a sourdough proofing box works, how it compares with the oven-light trick and other DIY warm spots, and who actually benefits from buying one like the Brod & Taylor.
Getting Started
Sourdough Starter Kit: What You Actually Need (and What You Can Skip)
Build a sourdough starter kit that works: the essential tools, the nice-to-haves, what to skip, and how to decide between a ready-made kit and building your own.
Troubleshooting
Why Is My Sourdough Dense? 9 Causes and How to Fix Each One
Dense, gummy or tight sourdough usually comes down to starter strength, fermentation, shaping or baking. Learn to diagnose your loaf and fix it.
Troubleshooting
Sourdough Starter Not Rising? A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Why your sourdough starter isn't rising, from new-starter lulls to cold kitchens, flour, water and feeding ratios, with clear fixes for each.
Gear Guide
Best Dutch Oven for Sourdough: How to Choose (Budget to Premium)
What makes a Dutch oven good for sourdough, the key features to compare, and the types of bakers each style suits, from budget cast iron to bread pans.