The Best Proofing Baskets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

If you’ve started baking sourdough bread at home, you’ve probably noticed the term “banneton” or “brotform” come up in instructions when it’s time for the final proof, after shaping your dough and just before baking. These are simply proofing baskets, typically handmade from rattan or wicker and conveniently lined with removable fabric. The banneton bread baskets act as a support for your dough while it’s building up gasses, helping to maintain the shape you’ve worked it into and making it easier to transport your dough to the final baking vessel without deflating it.

We rose bread dough in multiple popular bannetons to determine which belong on our list. We assessed all of them on their quality, the material, the performance, the size, and the traits of included items.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

SUGUS HOUSE 9-Inch Round Banneton at Amazon

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Best Oval:

Bulka Oval Banneton Bread Proofing Basket at Amazon

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Best for Large Loaves:

Vollum 2-Pound Round Bread Proofing Basket at Amazon

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Best Two-Piece Set:

SUGUS HOUSE 9.8-Inch Round Set of 2 Bannetons at Amazon

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Best Kit:

TNELTUEB Bread Proofing Basket Set at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Emile Henry Bread Baker’s Dream Set at Williams-Sonoma

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Best Washable:

BreadX Round Proofing Banneton Bowl at Amazon

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Amazon

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What We Like

Good size for a variety of breads
Includes a liner and silicone scraper
Reasonable price

What We Don't Like

Rattan may splinter with use

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.

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 with a card that congratulated us on winning it, which was a nice extra since scrapers are always handy to have.

Price at time of publish: $14

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

Amazon

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What We Like

Made from sustainable spruce pulp
Creates better crust
Easy release
Durable

What We Don’t Like

Need to dry before storing
A bit pricey

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.

Price at time of publish: $42

Unbaked bread loaf being taken out of Bulka Oval Banneton — The Spruce Eats / Renu Dhar

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

4.4

Vollum-2-pound-round-bread-proofing-basket

Amazon

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What We Like

Makes handling large doughs easier
Well-made with no loose fibers
Budget-friendly

What We Don't Like

Doesn't include a liner
Product photos are misleading

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 and 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.

Price at time of publish: $19

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

4.5

Sugus-house-98-inch-round-set-of-2-bannetons

Amazon

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What We Like

Great for multiple loaves
Average size for medium to medium-large loaves
Reasonably priced for a set of 2 baskets

What We Don't Like

One of the liners didn’t fit well

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. 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 dealbreaker, but something to be mindful of.

Price at time of publish: $27

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

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4.2

Amazon

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What We Like

Great kit for novice bread bakers
Includes two basket shapes
Includes a lame and metal dough scraper

What We Don't Like

Dimensions might be smaller than expected

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.

Price at time of publish: $46

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

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4.8

Emile Henry Bread Baker's Dream 4-Piece Set

Williams Sonoma

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What We Like

Ceramic baker in two color choices
Solid walnut lame and matching dough whisk
Large capacity banneton and baker

What We Don't Like

Proofing basket doesn't include liner

You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for good bread-baking tools. But if you want a bread-making set to make professional-looking boules, the Williams Sonoma Bread Baker’s Dream Set has the banneton and Dutch oven-style clay pot you need to make it a reality.

The main attraction here is the Emile Henry Bread Pot, made of Burgundian clay and designed with a lid to trap steam inside the pot—an essential step for high-rising breads with perfectly bubbly and crunchy crusts.

Additionally, the 11-inch rattan brotform will accommodate a variety of doughs. The walnut and brass-finished straight-edge lame will make a great addition to any kitchen, ensuring sharp and crisp scoring. It also comes with a coordinating dough whisk to help bring your dough together in style.

We tested both the very large basket and the bread pot, but we couldn’t test them together, since the basket is so much larger than the pot. It easily handled the 2-pound loaf we baked, and it could have handled even more dough. The pot worked well for bread and could double as a casserole, too. Altogether, it’s a quality kit that any bread baker would love, even if they won’t use all the pieces together.

Price at time of publish: $250

Williams Sonoma Bread Baker's Dream Set — The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 4 inches | Dough Capacity: 2 pounds or more | Additional Items: Emile Henry Bread Pot (Dutch oven), French-style bread lame with razor blades, and a walnut and brass-finished dough whisk

Amazon

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What We Like

Ribbed impression mimics natural fiber baskets
Dishwasher-safe
Multi-purpose bowl when not baking bread

What We Don't Like

Slightly different preparation than traditional basket

One of the biggest concerns that many people have when using natural fiber proofing baskets is that they aren't meant to be cleaned. Over time, the natural fibers of traditional bannetons will pick up odors and potentially dried-on flour and dough from the proofing process. While natural fiber baskets can be kept tidy with care and regular upkeep, some people would understandably still rather use a basket that can be washed and sanitized. This is especially true in households that are concerned about the potential for mold, pests, and bugs.

BreadX has designed a proofing bowl made of dishwasher-safe plastic to mimic a traditional proofing bowl, circular indentations and all. The BreadX bowl is shaped like a traditional 10-inch banneton, which can accommodate both smaller and larger loaves.

For those who are making the switch from a natural fiber proofing basket to a plastic bread bowl, you'll notice that the smooth texture of the bowl changes the preparation some. Instead of flouring it with dry flour, the manufacturer suggests lightly spritzing it with water and sprinkling it with rice flour to avoid sticking. Since it's plastic, you could feasibly also grease the bowl, or even use a basket liner which you can replace after several uses. Several videos have been made by the manufacturer to show you the most effective way to prepare the bowl for proofing.

As of this writing, the BreadX proofing bowl is only available in a round shape, although the seller has noted that an oval version of the bowl is currently in production.

Price at time of publish: $38

Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 3.5 inches | Dough Capacity: 2 pounds

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Final Verdict

If you have to choose just one proofing basket, you’d better make it the Sugus House 9-inch Round Banneton for its reasonable size and price, as well as its smooth finish and cloth liner. If you’re looking for some room to experiment, the TNELTUEB Bread Proofing Basket Set will give you the variety you need to express your creativity at a reasonable price.

ill-fitting BetterJonny liner and proofing basket — The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

How We Tested

We sent most of the proofing baskets on this roundup to our seasoned home tester, who tried each out with a fresh batch of bread dough ready for its final rise. Each was rated on material, quality, the included items, size, performance, and overall value. Our tester then offered additional insights on each proofing basket’s strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, another experienced home tester added her favorite oval option after months of frequent use.

How We Test Products

Other Options We Tested

BetterJonny 9-Inch Rectangle Banneton: We previously included this as an option for a rectangular proofing basket, except our tester realized this is more of an oval shape. Our tester didn’t feel this was as well-made as other proofing baskets, with many loose fibers found inside and a liner made of rough cloth (though that texture didn’t affect the final loaf). It was also on the smaller side and wouldn’t be able to hold more than a 1-pound loaf.

What to Look for When Buying a Proofing Basket

Size

Proofing basket sizes can be confusing, since some list the dimensions and others indicate the weight of the loaf it can accommodate. While a larger basket can be used for a smaller loaf, it’s best to choose a basket that is a good fit for the loaves that are baked most often. A good rule of thumb is an 8-inch round or oval banneton should accommodate 1 pound of bread dough. A 10-inch round should be able to handle 2 pounds of bread dough, while a 10-inch oval will work for 1.65 pounds.

Shape

Round baskets are the most common to create the classic boule, but other shapes are available as well. With a little creativity, a round basket can be used for oval loaves, but considering the affordability of proofing baskets as well as the many sets available, it may be easier to have multiple shapes and sizes of baskets to fit the loaves that will be baked.

Liner

Many baskets come with a linen liner that fits the basket, but it’s also possible to buy the baskets alone. If you prefer rustic loaves with lines from the basket, a liner isn’t necessary, so you can eliminate it and save the cost. In a pinch, a lint-free kitchen towel can be used in place of a linen liner. If a basket does come with a liner, there should be elastic to keep it in place during the proofing, and while most just need a simple brush-off afterward, you can gently hand-wash them with cold water.

Baked bred after it rose in Williams Sonoma proofing basket — The Spruce Eats / Donna Curie

FAQs

What is a bread proofing basket?

When baking artisan breads, and particularly sourdough breads, a proofing basket, also known as a banneton or brotform, is often used for the final rise before the bread is baked. Made from wicker, cane, rattan, or other porous materials, the basket lets the surface of the bread dry out just enough for that style of bread.

Do bread proofing baskets need any preparations?

Before using a new proofing basket without a basket liner, you'll want to take a few simple steps to prepare it to ensure the dough doesn't stick. With a spray bottle, spray a light mist of water inside the basket and let it absorb for a minute. Then thoroughly cover the inside of the basket with flour, making sure to tap into the cracks between the rattan pieces. Once completely covered, tap out excess flour that doesn't stick and let it dry. You'll lightly flour the basket again before each use.

Is a bread proofing basket necessary?

No. There are plenty of breads that don’t require a basket for rising. However, if you’re looking for the attractive spiral pattern you often see on rustic loaves, you’ll need a proofing basket.

Proofing_Baskets_TNELTUEB_02 — The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

How do you care for bread proofing baskets and liners?

Since proofing baskets are made from natural, porous materials, they should be kept dry so no mold develops. After proofing, they’re likely to be slightly damp, so they should be left to dry completely before storage, particularly if they will be stored in an enclosed space.

Many also come with a liner which will give your bread a smooth skin. After several uses, you might begin to notice your proofing basket liner becoming caked with flour or picking up an unpleasant odor. This is completely normal with repeated use, and it’s perfectly fine to clean the basket liner occasionally. You should always hand-wash and air-dry the liner to avoid shrinking it. Rinse and wash the liner in warm water with a detergent or dish soap. After it has completely dried, it’s all set for more use.

How do you clean a proofing basket?

Many bakers simply shake out the excess flour before storing their baskets, letting the leftover flour act like a “seasoning” for the basket. A soft pastry brush works well to clean out excess flour, if desired. However, if wet dough has stuck to the basket or there’s excess flour that has gotten crusty, the baskets can be gently hand-washed with plain water. They shouldn’t be scrubbed hard, lest the natural fibers begin to fray. After washing, they should be dried thoroughly before storage. The linen liners should also be washed by hand without soap, and left to air-dry before storing.

Bread that rose in the Vollum proofing basket — The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

How do you keep bread from sticking to a bread proofing basket?

Whether a basket is used alone or with a linen liner, flour is used to keep the dough from sticking to the basket. Bakers all have their favorite kind of flour to use, and it may also depend on the type of bread being baked. While rye flour can be used, white rice flour is also quite popular since it retains its pristine white color on the bread, it’s very nonstick, and it adds no flavor that could be a distraction.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Jenny Kellerhals has been a professional pastry chef in NYC for over a decade, developing an appreciation of professional-grade and high-quality home baking equipment through rigorous use. Her New York apartment kitchen cabinets are tiny, so only the most reliable equipment makes the cut.

Donna Currie, who tested and updated this roundup, specializes in product reviews and recipes and is the author of the cookbook “Make Ahead Bread." Her search for the best cooking and baking gadgets is never-ending.

Renu Dhar is a personal chef and culinary instructor who's been on a mission to perfect her bread-making. She updated this list with a better oval basket.

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Additional reporting by

Renu Dhar