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 (6477%)

Is 70% hydration right for Organic Bread Flour?

Organic Bread Flour's workable hydration range is 6477%. 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.

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.

Open 70% hydration guide →

Sources: King Arthur Baking — Organic Bread Flour specs; Hamelman, Bread (3rd ed.); Robertson, Tartine Bread.