Scrolling through your Instagram feed and wondering why other people’s sourdough loaves look so darn stunning? It’s not a filter, but an easy, gotta-try technique called bread scoring. Here’s a quick guide to the how’s and why’s of bread scoring, with plenty of beautiful inspiration to try in your own kitchen.
What Is Bread Scoring?
Bread scoring is the practice of slashing the surface of bread dough immediately before baking. Why? As bread bakes, it rises quickly and dramatically (bakers call this “oven spring”). The yeast is releasing carbon dioxide, and the water in the bread is rapidly evaporating. Robust oven spring is a good sign that you’ve got an open, airy crumb.
Scoring the bread lets bakers “guide” the oven spring, optimizing the rise and shape of the baked loaf. Scoring bread can be as simple as making a quick slice down the middle of a loaf, but advanced bakers often seize the opportunity to treat bread scoring as a way to decorate the blank slate of dough.
Are you kneading your bread the right way?
Easy, Beautiful Scoring Techniques
Ready to pop your homemade sourdough bread into the oven? Try these beginner’s scoring techniques from talented Instagrammers.
A simple slash down the middle creates an appealing, rustic loaf. Use a sharp knife and cut not-too-deep into the bread, at an angle. Make a smooth, confident cut.
A few curved slashes open into a leaf-like pattern.
Many small dashes result in a design that looks like grains of wheat.
Slashing a box shape gives the bread a dimensional rise, like a hat.
Psst: you can use scoring techniques on a yeasted bread like this crusty homemade loaf, as well as sourdough breads.
Advanced Scoring Techniques
Instagram is an amazing resource for bread art. These bakers use complex scoring techniques to create breads almost too pretty too eat.
Sarah Owens’s botanical designs show off her flavored loaves.
A pattern radiating from the center of a loaf has a cool web-like effect.
A pattern of leaves and vines can go as intricate as you like.
Dusting the bread with flour before making your cuts results in a gorgeous, stenciled look on the finished loaf.
And, of course, some bakers go all out and etch elaborate, portrait-worthy designs into their loaves.
Next time you bake a homemade loaf, give bread scoring a try. Even a few simple cuts can yield a loaf that’s a cut above the rest.
Our Best Homemade Bread Recipes
The Best BagelWho has time to make from-scratch bagels? You do, with this easy recipe! The chewy golden bagels offer a hint of honey and will win over even the pickiest eaters. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Psst! Make bread a breeze with these essential
bread-making tools.
The Best Banana BreadWhenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Need a refresher on bread baking? Check out our ultimate
bread baking guide for more tips and tricks.
The Best BiscuitsThe recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina
The Best BreadsticksPresent these delicious breadsticks alongside an Italian favorite like lasagna or spaghetti. They're an attractive and edible addition to the table setting! —Carol Wolfer, Lebanon, Oregon
The Best Brown BreadThis chewy, old-fashioned bread boasts a slightly sweet flavor that will transport you back to the old days. —Patricia Donnelly, Kings Landing, New Brunswick
The Best ChallahI use these shiny, beautiful loaves as the centerpiece of my spread. I love the taste of honey, but you can also add chocolate chips, cinnamon, orange zest or almonds. Leftover slices of this sweet challah recipe work well in bread pudding or for French toast. —Jennifer Newfield, Los Angeles, California
The Best CornbreadServing this moist cornbread to family and guests is a pleasure. Honey gives the bread a slightly sweet taste, and most people find it difficult to eat just one piece. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey
The Best Dinner RollsThese soft rolls are out of this world. The addition of oat makes them a little heartier than other dinner rolls. —Patricia Rutherford, Winchester, Illinois
The Best English MuffinsWhen I was growing up on a farm, my mom always seemed to be making homemade bread...nothing tasted so good! Now I like to make these simple yet delicious muffins for my own family. —Linda Rasmussen, Twin Falls, Idaho
The Best FlatbreadMy family loves this as a pizza crust. But with a touch of olive oil and fresh herbs it makes a lovely flatbread appetizer. —Sue Brown, West Bend, Wisconsin
The Best FocacciaMy family eats this flavorful bread as fast as I can make it. Sometimes I add different herbs, red onion or crumbled bacon. It's one of my best recipes!
—Mary Cass, Baltimore, Maryland
The Best French BreadThe first time I made this recipe my husband asked it if was homemade or store-bought. When he reached for a second piece, I knew I had a winning recipe. —Roseann Loker, Colon, Michigan. If you enjoyed this recipe, learn how to make
fougasse.
The Best Garlic BreadYou'll love the fresh garlic and herbs in this recipe. The mild goat cheese that’s sprinkled on top makes it extra rich and wonderful. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
The Best NaanChewy yeast-raised flat bread is a snap to make in a bread machine. Serve naan with your favorite Indian dish to soak up the curry and sauces. —Shannon Ventresca, Middleboro, Massachusetts
Don't miss our whole list of
easy bread machine recipes!
The Best No-Knead BreadHere's a very easy way to have homemade bread for dinner tonight. Don't worry if you're new to baking. Anyone who can stir can make this no knead bread a success! —Heather Chambers, Largo, Florida
The Best Potato BreadA tasty mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour and a small amount of mashed potatoes combine to give this golden bread its wonderful texture. The loaf is very moist and stays that way for days. —Sue Violette, Neillsville, Wisconsin
The Best Quick BreadNutmeg and cinnamon add spice to these flavorful loaves. The flecks of green zucchini and red cranberries give each slice a festive look that's just right for the holidays. —Alice Manzo, South Easton, Massachusetts. Looking for more recipes? Serve them
Rosca de Reyes, a bread eaten in Mexico and Central America just after Christmas.
The Best Rye BreadThis gorgeous rye bread has just a touch of sweetness and the perfect amount of caraway seeds. With a crusty top and firm texture, it holds up well to sandwiches, but a pat of butter will do the job, too. —Holly Wade, Harrisonburg, Virginia
The Best Soda BreadMy best friend, Rita, shared this irresistible Irish soda bread recipe. It bakes up high, with a golden brown top and a combination of sweet and savory flavors. —Jan Alfano, Prescott, Arizona
The Best SourdoughFor many years, I've been making 45 loaves of this bread for an annual Christmas bazaar, where we feed bread and soup to over 300 folks. — Beverley Whaley, Camano Island, Washington
The Best TortillaI usually have to double this flour tortilla recipe because we go through them so quickly. The homemade tortillas are so tender and chewy, you’ll never use store-bought again after learning how to make tortillas. —Kristin Van Dyken, Kennewick, Washington
The Best White BreadAnytime is the right time for a comforting slice of homemade bread. These loaves are especially nice since the crust stays so tender. This white bread recipe is my husband Nick's favorite. He makes most of the bread at our house. —Joanne Shew Chuk, St. Benedict, Saskatchewan
The Best Whole Wheat BreadI'm 12 years old and make this bread with my mother, who got the recipe from her mother. I usually prepare the dough, and my mom bakes it. —Freida Stutman, Fillmore, New York
The Best Yeast BreadMy stepmother gave me the recipe for a delicious yeast coffee cake shaped into pretty rings. When I make it for friends, they always ask for seconds. —June Gilliland, Hope, Indiana
Up Next: The Best Bread Recipes of 2023
