At Welcome Home, we carry everything you need to create bakery-quality bread right at home from essential tools to specialty items that make the process smoother.
Whether you’re just getting started or refining your sourdough skills, here are some of our staff’s favorite bread-baking essentials:
Bread Pans
A great loaf starts with the right pan. The Pullman pan is a go-to for perfectly shaped sandwich bread, delivering a soft texture and thin, even crust every time.
If you’re aiming for that artisan-style loaf with a crispy crust, a Dutch oven is a must. These versatile pieces are ideal for trapping steam during baking, which helps develop that signature crust—especially for sourdough. Bonus: they’re just as useful for roasting and other kitchen tasks.
Preheat your Dutch Oven. This step is non-negotiable if you want great results. Place your Dutch oven in the oven while it preheats to 450°F (230°C), and let it heat up fully before adding your dough.
A hot pot gives your bread an immediate burst of heat—this is what helps it rise quickly in the oven, creating that beautiful “oven spring.” It also helps form a crisp, well-developed crust. Skipping this step often leads to flatter, denser loaves.
Pro tip from Megan, our resident bread baker: For an extra crispy sourdough crust, remove the lid of your Dutch oven during the last 10 minutes of baking. You’ll get a beautifully flaky crust without over-baking the inside.
Proofing Baskets
A proofing basket, or banneton, plays a key role in supporting dough during its final rise. While it’s not used for baking, it helps the dough hold its shape, preventing it from spreading out and encouraging it to rise upward, resulting in a taller, more structured loaf.
The basket creates surface tension on the dough, which contributes to a better crumb and proper oven expansion. Made from materials like cane or cloth, it also helps wick moisture from the dough’s surface, creating a slightly drier skin that improves scoring and crust development. Additionally, the classic spiral pattern on the finished loaf comes from the basket, giving it that signature artisanal look.
While not essential, a proofing basket makes the dough easier to manage, promotes better texture and appearance, and leads to bakery-quality results. If you don’t have one, you can use a bowl with a floured towel or a colander lined with cloth as a substitute.
Sourdough Starters
Not ready to create your own starter from scratch? No problem. A pre-made sourdough starter is a simple way to jump into baking. Just add it to a jar and watch it come to life.
Pro tips:
- Don’t forget to feed your starter! If you’re not baking daily, store it in the fridge and feed it every couple of weeks.
- If you bake often, daily feedings will keep your starter active and healthy.
- And according to Megan, every great starter deserves a great name.
Bread Lame
A bread lame is a specialized tool used for scoring (or slashing) bread dough just before baking. It typically consists of a handle with a razor blade or small, sharp knife attached to it.
Scoring gives the bread a controlled place to expand as it bakes. Without it, the loaf may split unpredictably. A single deep slash works perfectly for a rustic look, while smaller cuts can create more decorative patterns.
Bread baking is part science, part art, and entirely satisfying. With the right tools, and a little practice, you’ll be creating loaves that rival your favorite bakery. Stop by Welcome Home or click on the link - Bread Making – Welcome Home - to explore these staff favorites and get started on your bread-baking journey.
Have fun and happy baking!
By: Melissa McIntire - Welcome Home Chestertown Manager
