Bread Lame vs Razor Blade: Which Scoring Tool Do You Need?

When I wrote my scoring guide, several readers asked: do I really need a bread lame, or can I just use a razor blade from the hardware store? The short answer is that both work, but they serve slightly different purposes. Here is the breakdown.

The Bread Lame

A bread lame (pronounced "lahm") is a handle that holds a razor blade, usually at a slight curve. The curve is the key feature. When the blade is flexed, it creates a cut that goes under the surface of the dough at an angle rather than straight down. This angled cut is what produces an "ear" on your bread, that raised flap of crust that opens dramatically during baking.

Lames are comfortable to hold, consistent in their angle, and make the primary score on a boule or batard very easy. If you bake one or two loaves a week and mainly do simple scoring patterns, a lame is probably all you need.

The Straight Razor Blade

A bare razor blade (or one held in a straight handle without flex) cuts vertically into the dough. This produces clean, precise lines that are ideal for decorative scoring patterns like wheat stalks, leaves, or geometric designs. Straight cuts do not produce the same dramatic ear that a curved lame does, but they give you much more control for intricate work.

Which Should You Buy First?

Start with a curved lame. The primary score is more important than decorative patterns, and a good ear is one of the most satisfying things in bread baking. Lames cost between five and fifteen dollars and come with replaceable blades. Replace the blade every four to five bakes, or whenever it starts dragging instead of gliding through the dough.

If you eventually want to try decorative scoring, add a straight holder or just grip a fresh razor blade carefully with a folded piece of tape on the back edge. There is no need to spend money on specialty tools until you know you enjoy the artistic side of bread baking. But you should absolutely invest in a basic lame from day one. It makes a real difference in your results.