I too thought little of using a basket. But then my son bought two for me for my birthday. Boy, what an aid to the baker. I use the well-dusted basket bare -- but use the liner to cover the top while in the fridge, like a shower-cap. Besides the rather funky circles it leaves once it's inverted, I discovered that these basket rings aid in gently allowing the dough to rise in a measured way that alternates between firm and loose -- befitting the rattan wall structure -- and thereby increasing the sourdough's hole sizes substantially. Shame I can't show a picture. I would.

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