A person reaching for bread in a banneton.
Here's Why You Can't Bake Perfect Bread Without A Banneton

NEWS

By CATHERINE NYORANI
Bannetons of various sizes on a table.
Also known as a proofing basket, a banneton maintains the shape of bread dough during the final proofing just before the actual baking, providing both support and aesthetics.
A closeup of bread dough in a banneton.
The wall of the basket offers support ensuring the dough rises upwards instead of outwards to create a beautiful loaf. You can use it to prep any type of dough.
A person holding a shaped bread dough beside bread dough in a banneton.
However, this basket is most critical for high-hydration types of dough since they are more slack and likely to flatten while proofing if they lack support.
A closeup of bread in bannetons.
The outer surface of the dough dries up slightly, making for a nice crispy crust. Additionally, the basket's ridges will create a beautiful artisan look on the dough's surface.