Hydration × flour
75% Hydration Emmer Flour (Farro)
Open crumb with distinct holes of varying sizes. Moist, chewy, glossy cell walls. The classic Tartine country-loaf target.
✓ Within Emmer Flour (Farro)'s workable range (65–75%)
Is 75% hydration right for Emmer Flour (Farro)?
Emmer Flour (Farro)'s workable hydration range is 65–75%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.95× bread flour. At 75%, you are in the sweet spot — the dough will handle predictably and produce the crumb described above.
Absorption math for Emmer Flour (Farro) at 75%
A recipe written for bread flour at 75% hydration, when substituted with 100% Emmer Flour (Farro), becomes 71% effective hydration (because Emmer Flour (Farro) absorbs 5% less water). Medium autolyse (30-45 min). 2-3 gentle stretch-and-folds. Moderately extended bulk (similar to bread flour). Emmer tolerates retarded proofing well. Pair with 20-30% bread flour for structure support in free-form hearth loaves.
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% Emmer Flour (Farro). 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.