Hydration × flour
70% Hydration All-Purpose Flour
Medium cells with some larger bubbles. Noticeable holes appearing. Chewy, moist, balanced.
✓ Within All-Purpose Flour's workable range (60–72%)
Is 70% hydration right for All-Purpose Flour?
All-Purpose Flour's workable hydration range is 60–72%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.97× bread flour. At 70%, you are in the sweet spot — the dough will handle predictably and produce the crumb described above.
Absorption math for All-Purpose Flour at 70%
A recipe written for bread flour at 70% hydration, when substituted with 100% All-Purpose Flour, becomes 68% effective hydration (because All-Purpose Flour absorbs 3% less water). Shorter autolyse (20-30 min) — longer autolyses over-soften the gluten. Fewer stretch-and-folds (2-3 sets) to avoid tearing the weaker gluten structure. Best for beginner hydration range 65-70%.
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
| All-Purpose 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 All-Purpose 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.
All-Purpose Flour at 70% — FAQ
How much water do I use for All-Purpose Flour at 70% hydration?
Multiply the flour weight by 0.7. For a 500 g batch of All-Purpose Flour that's 350 g water, plus about 10 g salt (2%). All-Purpose Flour absorbs 0.97× as much water as white bread flour, so it will feel a touch wetter than the 70% number suggests.
Is 70% hydration right for All-Purpose Flour?
Yes — All-Purpose Flour's workable range is 60–72%, 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 All-Purpose 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 All-Purpose 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% All-Purpose 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.