The Breadth of a Loaf

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Knead to Know

It's common when learning something new and expansive to have a lot o questions along the way. This is the how and why section to help make sense of all the seemingly complex details of bread making. Rest assured you will stretch and grow just as does your bread dough, and before you know it, you will know all you knead to know. Please note that the information you find here is generally true for all bread, sourdough or otherwise, and for all starters that are more liquid than solid in nature, not just the recipes you find on this site.

The most required piece of equipment is a one quart (4 cup) mason jar and lid; you can use a standard jar but I recommend a wide mouth jar for ease of use. The standard two piece lid that comes with the jar will work to start but will eventually need to be replaced as they are not intended for long term use.

Below you will find a list of the tools and equipment I recommend you have on hand for the recipes on this site. In addition I have included a couple of optional items seperately that, while not neccessary, I found made my process easier and was worth giving up a little extra space in my sink. I highly recommend getting tools you may need from dollar, second hand or thrift stores as they usually have measuring cups, spoons, mixing bowls and pans of good condition in abundance for a fraction of the cost of new.

water_drop Give your mixing bowl and other tools a nice long soak in cool water before cleaning,
dried on dough is much like dried cement and is to be avoided at all cost!

List of necessary kitchen tools:

  • 1 - 4 cup (1 quart) mason jar and lid
  • 1 - skinny rubber mixing spatula
  • 1 - 4 cup (1 quart) mixing bowl
  • 1 - rubber mixing spatula
  • 1 - 10 cup (2.5 quart) mixing bowl
  • 1 - 9"x13" pan/sheet pan
  • 1 - 1 cup liquid measuring cup
  • 1 - standard loaf pan
  • 1 - 4 cup (1 quart) liquid measuring cup
  • 1 - set hot pads or oven mitts
  • 1 - set of measuring spoons
  • 1 - bread knife (serrated)
  • 1 - set dry measuring cups
  • 1 - sharp kitchen knife (unserrated)
  • 1 - box plastic wrap
  • 1 - cooling rack
  • 1 - box plastic bread loaf bags
  • 1 - cutting board

Additional tools for larger batches:

  • 2 - additional loaf pans
  • 1 - 16cp (4quart) mixing bowl
  • 1 - 18"x13" (half sheet) pan
  • 1 - 24cp (6 quart) mixing bowl
  • 1 - 2 cup liquid mesuring cup
  • 1 - large rubber mixing spatula

Recommended but optional:

  • 1 - kitchen thermometer
  • 1 - oven thermometer
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