Working calculators
Bread Dough Hydration CalculatorCalculate baker's percentage and total weight for any recipe. Sourdough Starter Feed CalculatorThe right starter-to-flour-to-water ratio by climate and feeding schedule.Plain note about money: Some product links are affiliate (eBay Partner Network). Small commission on purchases. Doesn't change your price. The math comes from real hands-on time, not marketing.
Gear actually worth buying
Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.
Dutch oven (cast iron)The single most important tool for high-rise home loaves. Lodge or Le Creuset — both work, price gap is real.
Banneton proofing basketRattan bannetons wick moisture and leave the flour ring pattern. 9-inch round handles 500g loaves.
Bread lame (scoring tool)A good lame makes clean scores that control where the loaf opens. Straight vs curved blade depends on your style.
Bench scraperDivides dough, cleans the counter, shapes boules. One of the cheapest tools that actually earns its drawer space.
Instant-read thermometerInternal temp is the honest way to know bread is done. 205-210°F at the center — no guessing.
Guides
GuideThe case against the banneton (and the bowl that does the same job)The cane proofing basket is the first 'real baker' purchase everyone makes. It is also the most replaceable thing in your kit, and pretending otherwise is ho…GuideThe sourdough discard guilt complex, and why you should just throw it awayThe internet has convinced a generation of bakers that throwing away starter is a moral failure. It is not. The guilt is costing you more than the flour ever…