What Size Proofing Basket or Banneton Do I Need?

 

Short answer: the proofing basket or banneton weight is the dough weight - all the ingredients including the flour and the water added together.

 

We show all our proofing baskets or bannetons with a weight in the name, for example, our popular 1kg / 2.2lb Round Cane Banneton or Proofing Basket. What does this weight mean?

It gives an idea of the amount of bread dough that the basket can handle - much in the way a 2lb cake tins is designed for 2lb of cake batter.

 

How do I work out the dough weight?

So, if you are making a 500g loaf, you will add all the ingredients together for the dough weight - this may be as simple as adding the flour and water. For a 500g loaf yeasted this will be something close to 300g flour and 200g water, 300+200 = 500, so a 500g banneton or basket.

Similarly, if you are making a larger loaf with something like 500g flour you will have around 350g water (again, for a yeast based recipe). Add all the ingredients to get to the dough weight and you have 500+350=850g. 

 

But wait, what if there isn't an exact proofing basket for my dough weight, what do I do?

The weights, as for cake tins, are good approximations. The baskets don't much mind if there is a little less or a little more than the guide weight, and of course doughs vary quite a bit: a light, fluffy white loaf will rise more than a denser one with lots of wholemeal or especially rye flour in the dough.

So,

165g basket is good for around 130-200g dough.

250g basket is good for around 200-300g dough.

500g basket is good for around 400-600g dough. 

750g basket is good for around 600-800g dough.

1kg basket is good for around 800-1100g dough.

1.5kg basket is good for around 1300-1700g dough.

2kg basket is good for around 1800-2200g dough.