Hydration × flour
70% Hydration Organic Bread Flour
Medium cells with some larger bubbles. Noticeable holes appearing. Chewy, moist, balanced.
✓ Within Organic Bread Flour's workable range (64–77%)
Is 70% hydration right for Organic Bread Flour?
Organic Bread Flour's workable hydration range is 64–77%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.99× bread flour. At 70%, you are in the sweet spot — the dough will handle predictably and produce the crumb described above.
Absorption math for Organic Bread Flour at 70%
A recipe written for bread flour at 70% hydration, when substituted with 100% Organic Bread Flour, becomes 69% effective hydration (because Organic Bread Flour absorbs 1% less water). Same as conventional bread flour but allow 2-3% more proofing time (slightly weaker gluten on some batches). Autolyse 45-60 min. 3-4 stretch-and-folds.
Technique at 70% hydration
Dough becomes visibly softer and stickier. Use wet hands or bench scraper. Starts requiring more careful handling to avoid degassing. Autolyse 45-60 min helps develop structure.
Worked water math for a 500 g batch
| Organic Bread Flour | 500 g (100%) |
| Water | 350 g (70%) |
| Salt | 10 g (2%) |
Add your levain on top of these weights; the calculator below subtracts the flour and water it already contributes so the bench numbers land at 70% exactly.
What Organic Bread Flour gives you at 70%
At 70% hydration you can expect an open, custardy crumb with irregular holes and good chew. A medium dough: three to four sets of stretch-and-folds in the first two hours build the structure, and a light dusting of flour is enough for shaping. It handles predictably.
Organic Bread Flour at 70% — FAQ
How much water do I use for Organic Bread Flour at 70% hydration?
Multiply the flour weight by 0.7. For a 500 g batch of Organic Bread Flour that's 350 g water, plus about 10 g salt (2%). Organic Bread Flour absorbs 0.99× as much water as white bread flour, so it behaves close to a straight bread-flour dough.
Is 70% hydration right for Organic Bread Flour?
Yes — Organic Bread Flour's workable range is 64–77%, and 70% sits inside it, so the dough handles predictably and gives an open, custardy crumb with irregular holes and good chew.
What crumb will Organic Bread Flour at 70% give me?
Expect an open, custardy crumb with irregular holes and good chew. Medium cells with some larger bubbles. Noticeable holes appearing. Chewy, moist, balanced.
Is Organic Bread Flour at 70% beginner-friendly?
This hydration is rated intermediate. A medium dough: three to four sets of stretch-and-folds in the first two hours build the structure, and a light dusting of flour is enough for shaping. It handles predictably.
Calculator pre-set to 70%
Weights below assume 100% Organic Bread Flour. For blends, use the main calculator on a recipe page.
- Flour to add
- 450 g
- Water to add
- 300 g
- Salt
- 10 g
- Levain @ 100%
- 100 g
- Total dough
- 860 g
- Effective hydration
- 70%
How the math works
Total water = flour × hydration %. Your levain contributes 50 g flour + 50 g water — both count toward the totals. You add only the remainder as fresh flour and water.
Salt % is computed on total flour weight, not final-dough flour.