Hydration × flour

75% Hydration Einkorn Flour

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

⚠ Outside Einkorn Flour's typical range (5565%) — read below for handling

Is 75% hydration right for Einkorn Flour?

Einkorn Flour's workable hydration range is 5565%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.88× bread flour. 75% is above Einkorn Flour's typical range. The dough will be slack and may not hold shape in a free-form hearth loaf. Either reduce hydration to 65%, or blend Einkorn Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structural support.

Absorption math for Einkorn Flour at 75%

A recipe written for bread flour at 75% hydration, when substituted with 100% Einkorn Flour, becomes 66% effective hydration (because Einkorn Flour absorbs 12% less water). NO autolyse (gluten breaks down). Mix everything at once. Minimal folding (1-2 gentle folds). Shorter bulk (30-40% less time vs bread flour). Shape wet hands, handle minimally. Expect a slightly dense, tender crumb — not open or airy.

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.

Worked water math for a 500 g batch

Einkorn Flour ingredient weights for 500 g flour at 75% hydration
Einkorn Flour500 g (100%)
Water375 g (75%)
Salt10 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 75% exactly.

What Einkorn Flour gives you at 75%

At 75% hydration you can expect an open, custardy crumb with irregular holes and good chew. A slack, sticky dough: work with wet hands, use coil folds rather than aggressive stretches, give a full bench rest after pre-shaping, and shape decisively — hesitation lets it spread.

Einkorn Flour at 75% — FAQ

How much water do I use for Einkorn Flour at 75% hydration?

Multiply the flour weight by 0.75. For a 500 g batch of Einkorn Flour that's 375 g water, plus about 10 g salt (2%). Einkorn Flour absorbs 0.88× as much water as white bread flour, so it will feel a touch wetter than the 75% number suggests.

Is 75% hydration right for Einkorn Flour?

75% is above Einkorn Flour's usual 55–65% range — the dough will be slack and may spread. Reduce toward 65%, or blend Einkorn Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structure.

What crumb will Einkorn Flour at 75% give me?

Expect an open, custardy crumb with irregular holes and good chew. Open crumb with distinct holes of varying sizes. Moist, chewy, glossy cell walls. The classic Tartine country-loaf target.

Is Einkorn Flour at 75% beginner-friendly?

This hydration is rated intermediate. A slack, sticky dough: work with wet hands, use coil folds rather than aggressive stretches, give a full bench rest after pre-shaping, and shape decisively — hesitation lets it spread.

Calculator pre-set to 75%

Weights below assume 100% Einkorn 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: Jovial Foods — Einkorn Flour specifications; Hamelman, Bread (3rd ed.); Robertson, Tartine Bread.