Because sometimes your hands need a little backup.
I recently got a letter from a viewer (well – an email actually!) asking about the tool I used to carve the top of my Buccellata bread. That fancy little gadget is called a lame (pronounced lahm—rhymes with “calm,” not “flame”). It got me thinking: do people actually know the names of the weird and wonderful tools bakers use? Or do they just assume we MacGyver everything with a butter knife and a prayer?
So I figured it was time to bake up a blog post about some of the basic tools that make bread-baking easier, more fun, and just a touch more pretentious (in a good way).
1. The Lame
Let’s start with the tool that sparked the question: the bread lame.
This is essentially a handle that holds a razor blade—curved or straight—for scoring (aka slashing) dough before it heads into the oven. Scoring gives the dough a direction to puff in and also lets you flex your artistic muscles. Want your sourdough to look like it belongs in a gallery? The lame is your new best friend.
2. Dough Scraper
Next up is the humble dough scraper. Actually, it’s not that humble—it’s pretty essential.
There are two types: silicone and steel. Silicone scrapers are great for coaxing sticky dough out of bowls and off countertops without turning your kitchen into a war zone. Steel scrapers (sometimes called choppers) have a sharp edge and are used to cut raw dough into manageable pieces—like if you’re making rolls or splitting a batch into loaves. They also double as an excellent tool for pretending you’re on a cooking show.
3. Proofing Basket (with Liner)
A cloth-lined proofing basket—also known as a banneton if you want to impress your friends—helps shape your dough while it rises.
Dust the liner with flour, plop in your dough, cover it with the included cloth, and let it nap until it’s ready for the oven. The liner keeps things from sticking, and the basket gives your bread that charming artisan swirl pattern. It’s like a spa day for your dough.
4. Baguette Baking Tray
Ah, the controversial baguette tray.
Some purists will tell you this is cheating. Why? Because real baguettes are supposed to have a flat bottom, and these trays give them a gentle curve. But listen—I use them, and I have no regrets. They help the dough keep its shape, and your baguettes come out looking like they just flew in from Paris. Score the top with your trusty lame, and voilà: fancy French flair, no passport required.
5. Bench Brush (Bonus Tool!)
Here’s one you may not have thought of: a bench brush.
This handy tool is great for sweeping up flour from your work surface without launching a cloud into your lungs or your ceiling fan. Plus, it makes you feel a little like a bread wizard cleaning up your potion lab.
6. Digital Kitchen Scale (Another Bonus!)
If you’re still measuring flour by the cup, let’s talk.
A digital kitchen scale brings precision to your bakes, especially when working with hydration percentages or scaling recipes. It’s the secret to consistent results—and it spares you from the existential crisis of “is this really a level cup?”
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, all you really need to bake bread are your hands and a good attitude. But these tools? They make the process smoother, the results more beautiful, and your Instagram photos way more impressive.
So go ahead—gear up. Your bread deserves it.