While I am working on reviving my sourdough starter, I would like to write about some basic equipment you might need on your sourdough bread making journey. Some of the products, like baking stone (or as it some times called pizza stone) may already be in your arsenal. About other equipment, like proofing baskets and clay bakers, you might be reading for the first time. Neither of the products bellow is indispensable in sourdough bread making. My first ever loaf of bread was baked in an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch Wilton bread pan. However, none of the bread pans will give you the same yummy crust as you get baking your bread in a clay baker or even on a baking stone.
Jars For Storing Sourdough Starter
One thing you should never do when it comes to storing your sourdough starer, is to place it in a metal container or pot- it will most certainly kill your starter. I find glass jars to be the best to store the sourdough starter. You can also use any plastic containers at hand. I prefer glass jars over the plastic containers for my sourdough starter because of I find them much easier to clean.
Clay Bakers vs Baking (Pizza) Stones
Generally both baking stones and clay bakers, when used for baking bread get preheated and as a result redistribute the heat more evenly and some times with more intensity. This in turn results in those yummy crusts that ordinary bread pans will never achieve. The difference of course is that baking stone can be used for other things besides bread. If unsure, I would definitely recommend to go with a baking stone instead of clay baker. With time, you can eventually and clay bakers to your “arsenal” as well. You can find variety of baking stones at Amazon.com, and probably at your local baking supplies stores as well. I would go for a size that covers an entire rack in your oven.
Clay Bakers
While clay bakers can be also use for roasting meat, you probably would want to reserve one or two to be used exclusively for baking bread. Clay bakers come in variety of sizes and shapes. If possible I would recommend to match them to the sizes and shapes of your proofing baskets.
Bread Proofing Baskets
You can get away easy without the proofing baskets. Most of the time, I let my dough rise in a bowl or on the wooden board – depending on the recipe. The proofing baskets do come very handy when you bake your bread in clay bakers. Many recipes will ask you to preheat your baker as high temperature as 500° F – transferring the dough into your clay baker is much easier and safer!
Come back soon to see whether or not I was able to revive(re-boost) my sourdough starter.
