Sourdough bread starter list — the kit for your first loaf at home
Sourdough bread turns out very well at home with a few right tools; what you mostly need is patience and a scale precise to the gram. This list separates what you truly need to begin from what can be bought later, and with a room code you can sort out the shopping with relatives looking for a gift or friends who will bake with you. No sign-up needed.
In short
To start baking sourdough bread at home you need a glass jar, a kitchen scale precise to the gram, whole wheat and white flour, water and salt. A banneton or a basket with a cloth is used for proofing, a lidded Dutch oven for baking, a dough scraper for handling the dough and a lame for scoring. A thermometer can wait until later.
13 items go straight into your new room; delete what you don't need, add what's missing. No account needed.
What's on the list
General
- Glass jar1 liter, wide mouth
- Kitchen scaleprecise to 1 gram
- Large mixing bowlfor resting the dough
- Dough scraperfor shaping the dough
- Banneton (proofing basket)a basket and cloth works
- Dutch oven with lidoven-safe
- Bread lameor a very sharp razor blade
- Oven glovesthe pot gets very hot
- Thermometerbuy later
Pantry staples
- Whole wheat flourto start the starter
- White bread flourhigher protein
- Saltfine grain
Drinks
- Waterclean, room temperature
Tips
Starting a starter takes patience: if you see no clear activity in the first days, don't give up; within a week or two it usually bubbles and smells pleasantly sour.
Always weigh flour and water in grams; measuring by volume gives inconsistent results with sourdough.
Dough rises faster in a warm kitchen and slower in a cool one, so watch the dough's volume and look rather than the clock.
A lidded Dutch oven traps steam in the first minutes and helps the crust open properly; use oven gloves because the pot and lid get very hot.
How it works
1. Open your room
Tap the button and the items land in a fresh room. No account, no email, nothing to install.
2. Share the code
Send the room code or the link to the group; everyone's on the same list in seconds.
3. Finish it together
Who's buying what shows up instantly; bought items get ticked, so nobody buys the same thing twice.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you really need for sourdough?
A glass jar, a scale precise to the gram, a large bowl, flour, water, salt and a lidded oven-safe pot are enough. A banneton, dough scraper and lame make things easier, but for the first loaf a bowl lined with a cloth will do.
How long does a sourdough starter take to be ready?
Usually one to two weeks, depending on how warm your kitchen is. Once it's fed regularly, it's close to ready when it rises noticeably and is bubbly with a pleasantly sour smell.
What can you use instead of a banneton?
Line a clean basket or bowl with a thin cloth and dust the cloth generously with flour so the dough doesn't stick. This works well as a stand-in.
Can I change the list?
Of course. The ready-made list is just a starting point: delete, add, move items between categories.
Do I need an account?
No. A room code is all it takes — no email, password or signup.
How long is the list kept?
As long as you use it. A list is only deleted after a month without any activity; even opening the room resets the clock.
Can I install it on my phone?
Yes. With the room open, tap "Save Room" to add it to your home screen and open it with one tap.