A guide to bannetons, brotforms, and proofing baskets

Walk into any professional bread bakery and you’ll find sky-high stacks of bannetons somewhere, guaranteed. These baskets are staples for bread bakers, who use them to cradle dough as it proofs. But are they a necessary tool for a home bread baker? 

What is a banneton? When do you need to use one?

Bannetons and other proofing baskets (sometimes called brotforms), are used to hold shaped bread dough as it rises. They help the dough maintain its shape, which is particularly helpful if it’s a wet, high-hydration dough that, without the support of the basket, might otherwise flatten into a pancake. With the sides of the basket providing support, the dough will rise upwards, instead of outwards.

Using a flour-dusted basket, either with a liner or without, also allows you to more easily move dough without sticking or tearing (which can cause your dough to deflate and your bread to turn out flat). Once the dough is done proofing, it’s flipped out of the basket and onto the baking surface (or into the baking vessel) to be baked.

Sift Magazine

Are bannetons only for sourdough baking?

Not at all. They’re common for sourdough breads because these styles are typically baked as boules or bâtards, the loaf shapes that need a proofing basket for support as they undergo their final rise. But plenty of non-sourdough breads (“straight” breads) can be baked in this shape and thus need a proofing basket, such as this Artisan Hearth Bread.

What’s the difference between a banneton and brotform? What about other proofing baskets?

Both bannetons and brotforms are European proofing baskets meant for artisan-style bread-baking, and they can be used interchangeably. (The terms are sometimes used interchangeably too.) “Banneton” is the French name for such baskets, while “brotform” is German. They’re frequently made from cane, but some baskets are made of wood pulp, willow, and other materials. There are other types of proofing baskets that perform the same function, like our plastic proofing basket with ringed lines that mimic a basket’s coiled shape.

Maurizio Leo

What shape of banneton or brotform should I use?

It depends on the shape of bread you want to make, as the basket will determine the shape of the final loaf. 

You’ll typically find bannetons and brotforms in either a round or oval shape, and in a few different sizes. The round shape is for boules, or circular loaves. The oval shape is used to make a bâtard, or an elongated oblong loaf. If you typically bake your bread in a Dutch oven, a round banneton is the best choice, as the loaves fit into the pot’s circular shape. But having both is handy so you can make any shape of bread.

Photography by John Sherman; food styling by Liz Neily

How to use a banneton, brotform, or proofing basket 

First, prepare the banneton, brotform, or whatever proofing basket you’re using. If it has a cloth liner, add that to the basket. Lightly but thoroughly dust the basket (either the cloth lining or the basket itself, whatever surface the dough will be touching) with flour. Our Baking School recommends using a sifter so you get a nice even layer of flour. Shake out any excess.

Shape your dough to fit the basket: a boule for round proofing baskets and a bâtard for oval proofing baskets.

Place the dough in the basket with the seam side facing up. Cover the basket and allow the dough to proof according to the recipe’s instructions. A lot of bakers like to use a shower cap to cover their dough, as the elastic clings easily to the sides of the basket. A proper bowl cover is another great choice.

Once ready to bake, carefully invert the basket and turn out the dough.

Do I still need to flour a banneton or brotform if I use a liner?

Yes! Even if you have a cloth liner (which is typically used for bannetons), you’ll still want to dust it with a light layer of flour to prevent sticking.

Jennifer May

How do I prevent my dough from sticking to a banneton or brotform?

“Not sticking begins with shaping,” says King Arthur Baking Ambassador Martin Philip. “Gentle shaping helps prevent sticking due to the avoidance of rips or tears, which expose a sticky subsurface.”

Martin also recommends dusting your basket or banneton with a light but thorough layer of flour. Any flour will do, from all-purpose flour to bread flour to whole wheat flour. That said, many bread bakers like to choose a coarse flour that will create a more noticeable barrier between the dough and basket and won’t incorporate into the dough itself. Common choices include semolina flour or rice flour. In addition, “whole grain flours with their inclusion of bran do better to release dough from the proofing vessel than white flour,” notes Martin.

One nifty trick is to use a hairnet (yes, a hairnet!) to line your proofing basket for extra insurance. These hairnets are a good choice.

What should I do if my dough sticks to the banneton?

Despite your best precautions, your dough may still stick to your proofing basket, especially if it’s an extremely wet dough or if your basket is still fairly new and hasn’t built up a thin layer of flour to prevent sticking. (It’s happened to me, and it’s not fun.)

If this happens, Martin recommends a practice from his days in a professional bakery: Invert bannetons onto a sheet of parchment. Within a few minutes (five or so) the doughs will often slowly release, thanks to gravity.

For more fully adhered situations, bakers may gently try to release the loaves, working from the side, as gently as possible. “In this process, the loaves are often deflated,” notes Martin. “In that case, a little extra oven heat and a little less steam can help get the best result possible from your bake.”

Julia A. Reed

How to sub for a banneton or brotform if you don't have one

If you don’t have a banneton or brotform, a common substitute is a bowl lined with a flour-dusted lint-free kitchen towel. This will work in a pinch, but it doesn’t have the same benefits of a proper banneton or brotform. These baskets are just the right size and shape, and liners fit perfectly without a ton of overhang (which can make lining the bowl cumbersome). And note, this only works for round loaves, not ones that are oval-shaped. 

Bottom line: If you’re doing more than an occasional amount of bread baking, it’s worth having a proper proofing basket in your kitchen.

Photography by Kristin Teig; food styling by Liz Neily

How do I clean and maintain my banneton?

Your proofing basket doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Simply shake the excess flour out after each use. If a bit of dough has stuck to it, wait until it dries, then use a stiff brush to take it off. Keeping a little bit of flour helps the basket build up a lining, like seasoning a cast iron pan, that helps prevent future sticking down the line.

If your liner is separate from your basket, the same rules apply: Shake it out, don’t wash it. The liners can be stored in a zip-top bag in your freezer, which will prevent them from developing a musty smell.

If for some reason you need to clean your basket, use a stiff brush and warm water (no soap), and allow it to completely dry at room temperature.

If you’re ready to upgrade your baking, we offer several types of baskets: a round brotform, oval broform, and round proofing basket. 

Cover photo by Kristen Teig; food styling by Liz Neily.