We Tested the Best Proofing Baskets for the Perfect Homemade Loaf

Best Overall

SUGUS HOUSE 9-Inch Round Banneton

Orig. $21 $10 at Amazon

Highly rated and economically priced, the Sugus House 9-inch Round Banneton is the essential proofing basket for home or bakery use. This round proofing basket is made of rattan and domes smoothly to the base of the basket, molding your bread to a perfect spherical shape. The 9-inch size is appropriate for most home baking projects and average-sized "boule" loaves of bread. 

The additional cloth liner makes the dough less likely to stick to the basket after proofing and easier to clean after use. It’s recommended to flour the basket to keep the dough from sticking to the bowl. After use, brush the remaining flour out of the crevices of the basket with a dry brush. You want to build up a light coating on the inside of the bowl or liner after multiple uses, so washing is discouraged. Some reviewers noted that tossing the linen liner in the washing machine resulted in shrinkage, so perhaps a gentle spot-clean is the better way to go.

We tested this with a 1-pound loaf of bread, although it could have accommodated a larger loaf. The dough rose beautifully with easy-to-score skin and didn’t stick to the basket. Our test banneton came with a free silicone bread scraper, which was a nice extra since scrapers are always handy to have.

Dimensions: 9.06 x 9.06 x 3.15 inches | Dough Capacity: Up to 1.5 pounds | Additional Items: Cloth liner

Best Oval

Bulka Oval Banneton Bread Proofing Basket

$39 at Amazon

The Bulka bread-proofing banneton makes baking high-hydration sourdough bread so much easier. We love that there is no extra liner to fuss around with and, after the first few uses, the need to flour the banneton itself also decreases. The wood absorbs some moisture from the dough, which makes the outside of the proofed dough a bit drier. This does help the dough slide out easily after proofing and it’s easier to score. The walls of the Bulka banneton are thicker to help keep the dough temperature consistent during final proof. The 1.65 pounds (750 grams) size is good for a standard-sized loaf and it also works for making smaller loaves of bread.

After using the basket to proof dough, it does need to be cleaned off with a brush and left to air dry before storing to avoid mold formation. The manufacturer recommends leaving them in the residual heat of the oven (between 210 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit) to dry quickly. We’ve found leaving it in the sunniest corner of the kitchen works well too. Before using it for the first time, it will need a bit of brushing to remove wood particles attached to it.

Dimensions: 12.8 x 5.3 x 2.4 inches | Dough Capacity: Up to 1.65 pounds | Additional Items: Not applicable

Best for Large Loaves

Vollum 2-Pound Round Bread Proofing Basket

$19 at Amazon Orig. $22 $19 at Walmart View on Bakedeco.com

There are few things as impressive as a massive loaf of miche (a large slow-fermented loaf of sourdough), flour-dusted and carved with intricate designs and logos. Typically high in hydration, extra-large loaves of bread are heavy and can use as much support as they can get while proofing.

When a large loaf of bread is on the menu, this basket can handle it. The stated capacity is 2 pounds, which we made in testing, but it could have handled a bit more with no problem. Since this didn’t include a liner, we checked the interior carefully, looking for stray fibers, and found it smooth, clean, and ready to hold our bread. We loved the look of the spiral pattern on the finished bread, but for bakers who prefer a smooth appearance, this is also available with a liner for a slightly higher price.

The photos we saw of this basket made it appear taller and deeper than usual, but it was more of a traditional wide, low-slung shape.

Dimensions: 10.25 x 10.25 x 3 inches | Dough Capacity: 2 pounds | Additional Items: Not applicable

Best Two-Piece Set

SUGUS HOUSE 9.8-Inch Round Set of 2 Bannetons

Orig. $27 $20 at Amazon

Why have just one basket when you can have two? Loaves of bread are often made at least two at a time, so it’s a reasonable choice to buy a set of two round bannetons. Slightly larger than the many 9-inch standalone proofing baskets, the 9.8-inch baskets accommodate a wider range of bread sizes and more than 1.5 pounds of dough per basket. The price of this 2-piece banneton set is comparable to the cost of purchasing two individual proofing baskets around the same size—making this set a fantastic addition to your bread-baking repertoire.

During our testing, this performed almost as well as the 9-inch version, our "best overall". The dough rose perfectly and was easy to score before baking. There were some unexpected differences from our other Sugus House pick, though. First, our test set included one liner that didn’t fit the basket as well as the other. It was still useable, but a little disappointing. It also included a different style of scraper, this one being hard plastic. Neither was a deal-breaker, but something to be mindful of.

Dimensions: 9.84 x 9.84 x 3.35 inches | Dough Capacity: Up to 1.5 pounds (per basket) | Additional Items: Two cloth liners, plastic scraper

Best Kit

TNELTUEB Bread Proofing Basket Set

$24 at Amazon

Sometimes you want a round loaf; other times, an oval country loaf. With this rattan banneton set, you can have both loaf shapes—plus a handy metal dough scraper for shaping and lifting your dough and a lame for scoring your dough just before baking. Both proofing baskets come equipped with fabric liners for easy cleaning and years of use. The classic lame comes with five additional blades and a blade cover for safe storage. 

We tested both baskets using a single batch of dough with a 2-pound yield (one pound for each basket). The round basket lived up to expectations, creating a great space for your dough to rise. We did notice that there were rough edges in the oval basket. If you use the liner, that shouldn’t be an issue, but if you don’t, you’ll have to keep an eye out for loose fibers. These also could have made slightly larger loaves. Our baskets were slightly smaller than the expected dimensions, which can happen with handmade products.

Dimensions: 9.6 x 6 x 3 inches, 9.6 x 9.6 x 3 inches | Dough Capacity: Up to 2 pounds (per basket) | Additional Items: Two linen liners, one metal dough scraper, one scoring lame, five blades, one blade cover

Best Tall

Saint Germain Bakery 10-Inch Premium Oval Banneton

$11 at Amazon View on Stgermain.co

Oval bannetons are used most often for Italian loaves and “country-style” loaves that are typically longer than they are wide, with one large steam vent scored lengthwise down the center. They're also popular with fruit- and seed-stuffed dough. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference, but if you’re looking to make bread that’s more uniform down the length of the loaf, the 10-inch oval proofing basket is the place to start.

The Saint Germain banneton is crafted to be completely smooth inside without splinters or staples to snag on your dough. As with many proofing baskets, this included a linen liner for smooth proofing and release. During our testing, we did find a few loose fibers on the proofing basket, but they were easily removed before the first bake. The tall sides made this great for fitting any standard-sized loaf you could want, and the liner fit the basket like a glove and didn't create any odd crease marks on the final loaf. While we did see the loose fibers, the overall quality is very high and we felt this should last you through many loaves.

Basket Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 4 inches | Dough Capacity: 1.65 pounds | Additional Items: Linen liner