Temperature is a key component to maintaining a healthy sourdough starter, affecting both the flavor and overall structure of your loaves. However, it’s easier said than done to stay on top of daily changes: A fluctuating room temperature or too cold fridge often forces bakers to adjust ratios and frequencies when feeding to keep their starter alive. Enter Brod and Taylor’s Sourdough Home, the compact storage system designed with adjustable heating and cooling so you can keep your starter at the perfect temperature. Featuring degree by degree set points from 41–122 degrees Fahrenheit, the Sourdough home can fit a single quart jar or two smaller jars seamlessly. Simply set your temperature and feed your starter on your own schedule. More advanced bakers can even adjust the temperature when desired to play around with flavor profile, aroma and texture.

This nifty box creates a perfect proofing environment every time—and we all know consistency is key when it comes to getting a good rise on your loaf. It keeps an optimal 60-80% humidity level thanks to the included water plate and allows you to set a perfect proofing temperature (we recommend 85 degrees Fahrenheit) through the heated base plate—plus the structure keeps out any drafts or other environmental factors that would cause change. The proofer is large enough to accommodate several hand-shaped loaves, though when you’re finished using it, it folds completely flat for stress-free storage. And the additional accessory shelf creates even more room inside if you need it. We found that wheat loaves (which can be fickle) rose quicker and more consistently in the proofer, and it also worked wonders to revive a dormant sourdough starter.

Here’s our problem with proofing: You can never fully control the environment. Your kitchen on a hot and humid summer day might be okay for high-moisture breads, but leave others dense and squat. And if it’s too hot, then you run the risk of the dough rising too fast and not having enough time to develop flavor. But a chilly air-conditioned kitchen will extend the proofing time significantly, as yeast divides and grows much slower in cold temps. That’s why we love this unique dough riser—it takes the guesswork and the risk out of the proofing process. Our kitchen team was incredibly impressed with how perfectly the dough turned out each time. We made loaves with and without using the Raisenne and the loaf made with the tool came out a half inch taller and a half inch wider. It’s compatible with any dough that needs to be leavened and is especially great for low-yeast and whole-grain breads that have longer rest times. Simply place the thin disk under your bowl or pan of choice, plug it in and let the heating circuits do the rest. It heats to an ideal 85 degrees, which is the optimal temperature to let your loaf grow at a consistent pace without sacrificing flavor for speed.

The typical bread knife tears its way through loaves and mashes tomatoes to pulp. So we spent months re-engineering the bread knife from the ground up, testing competitors’ knives to learn what we wanted and discarding what we didn’t. The result, the *Milk Street Tri-Edge Bread Knife*, perfectly handles it all, slicing easily through any style of bread, delicate pastries, overstuffed sandwiches and tough tomatoes. It's also the perfect knife for difficult tasks, like chopping nuts and chocolate, handling dried fruit, and cutting up large blocks of butter.

For easy, spill-free pouring, these smartly designed silicone measuring cups are just the thing. The flexible material allows you to squeeze the cup and create a spout anywhere on its rim, adjusting as you pour. So whether you need precision pouring for runny liquids—like a thin stream of oil when emulsifying aioli—or a wider lip to quickly pour thick batters, the Flex-It Measuring Cups will work perfectly. Plus, the food-grade silicone can be used in the microwave and is heat-resistant up to 490 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also dishwasher-safe: We found that even after we left the cups sitting overnight with turmeric and chili, the silicone was easy to clean and didn't have any residual smells or stains. Choose between a three-piece set with 1-cup, 2-cup and 4-cup sizes, a set of 2-ounce measuring cups, or buy the largest cup on its own—it's large enough to mix up your favorite pancake batter without dirtying a bowl!

Handmade in Liverpool, England, since the 1920s, this jack-of-all trades measuring cup is lightweight and ergonomically designed for any cook. Equipped with American and English cups, imperial, metric, pints and fluid measurements, it’s especially useful for following family recipes or those in older cookbooks with different measurements. We appreciate that this cup also factors in extra measurements for couscous, bulgur wheat and Arborio rice for additional ease. You might never have to take out a scale or look up a conversion again.

With three unique blade edges, this smartly-designed serrated knife combines the function of two knives in one—slicing through any and all loaves with ease. The blade is 9 inches, so long enough to cut the largest loaf cleanly without sawing back and forth. And the tapered blade features a gently curved belly to facilitate clean slicing. A 2-inch section of wide wave serrations located closer to the tip of the knife dives in and saws through a crunchy, rustic outer crust, while the smaller teeth cleanly slice through the inner crumb. It’s also ideal for delicate foods like soft sandwich breads and juicy tomatoes. The knife features a small length of straight blade at the tip to pierce through tough crusts, tomato skins or melon rinds. Plus, the handle is specifically designed for a comfortable grip, with a slight curve to it.

Handcrafted in Portugal with local all-natural materials, this set of three beautiful measuring cups aren’t merely functional. The white speckled glaze and unique, timeless design complement any kitchen decor and make them attractive enough to leave out stacked on the shelf. Each of the three cups (1 cup, ½ cup, ⅓ cup) have a small handle and spout to help with pouring measured ingredients, and their durable construction means they can go easily from oven to microwave to freezer and dishwasher.

This compact set includes three bench scrapers to take care of every type of task: A dough cutter—which features a sharp stainless steel blade that’ll slice through even the stickiest doughs—a sturdy plastic spreader for making smooth layers of cake frosting or transporting ingredients from cutting board to bowl and a soft rounded scraper that’s perfect for sneaking into nooks and crannies. The stainless steel blade of the dough cutter is precise not only in its slicing, but also in its portioning—the ruler markings etched along the blade help cut uniform dinner rolls and more. The spreader has a beveled edge that can sneak cleanly under any ingredient, while the curved scraper boasts a sturdy yet flexible construction that easily wipes the sides of a bowl clean. Plus, each has an ergonomic handle and incredibly sturdy construction—even the smallest silicone scraper has a stainless steel core. Plus, they tuck together seamlessly for easy kitchen storage.

Made from stunning European hardwood by a family-run company in Slovenia, this clever Bread Box takes up little space on the counter and keeps your loaf fresher for longer. Designed to fend off moisture and pests, bread boxes are one of the best ways to make a loaf last, but they’re often a bulky eyesore in the kitchen. Breka’s, however, is equipped with a fold-down removable lid that doubles as a cutting board, which has deep grooves to catch crumbs and makes serving easy. Its well-designed construction is as useful as it is beautiful.

Handmade in Liverpool, England, since the 1920s, this jack-of-all trades measuring cup is lightweight and ergonomically designed for any cook. Equipped with American and English cups, imperial, metric, pints and fluid measurements, it’s especially useful for following family recipes or those in older cookbooks with different measurements. Plus, the indigo and ivory palette has a vintage aesthetic we love. You might never have to take out a scale or look up a conversion again.

This ultra-finely ground, high protein flour from Cortez Milling Co. in Southwest Colorado is perfect for making soft, tender, chewy tortillas and flat bread. They use red winter wheat purchased from local dryland farmers, whose higher gluten content makes dough that is pliable and resists tearing. This softer, more finely ground flour is neutral in flavor, a touch sweet with no bitterness. We also love that Blue Bird flour is bagged in 5-pound muslin cotton bags with the iconic blue bird print on the front, which can be repurposed in a number of fun ways.

Here’s our problem with proofing: You can never fully control the environment. Your kitchen on a hot and humid summer day might be okay for high-moisture breads, but leave others dense and squat. And if it’s too hot, then you run the risk of the dough rising too fast and not having enough time to develop flavor. But a chilly air-conditioned kitchen will extend the proofing time significantly, as yeast divides and grows much slower in cold temps. That’s why we love this unique dough riser—it takes the guesswork and the risk out of the proofing process. Our kitchen team was incredibly impressed with how perfectly the dough turned out each time. We made loaves with and without using the Raisenne and the loaf made with the tool came out a half inch taller and a half inch wider. It’s compatible with any dough that needs to be leavened and is especially great for low-yeast and whole-grain breads that have longer rest times. Simply place the thin disk under your bowl or pan of choice, plug it in and let the heating circuits do the rest. It heats to an ideal 85 degrees, which is the optimal temperature to let your loaf grow at a consistent pace without sacrificing flavor for speed.