Hydration × flour

75% Hydration Organic Bread Flour

Open crumb with distinct holes of varying sizes. Moist, chewy, glossy cell walls. The classic Tartine country-loaf target.

✓ Within Organic Bread Flour's workable range (6477%)

Is 75% hydration right for Organic Bread Flour?

Organic Bread Flour's workable hydration range is 6477%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.99× bread flour. At 75%, you are in the sweet spot — the dough will handle predictably and produce the crumb described above.

Absorption math for Organic Bread Flour at 75%

A recipe written for bread flour at 75% hydration, when substituted with 100% Organic Bread Flour, becomes 74% 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 75% hydration

The sweet spot for most hearth sourdough. Requires confident stretch-and-folds (3-4 sets). Wet hands essential for shaping. Cold retard improves handling and ear development during scoring.

Calculator pre-set to 75%

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
325 g
Salt
10 g
Levain @ 100%
100 g
Total dough
885 g
Effective hydration
75%
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 75% hydration guide →

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