Hydration × flour

78% Hydration Khorasan (Kamut) Flour

Noticeably open, shiny crumb. Irregular medium-to-large holes. Glossy cell walls. Moist texture.

⚠ Outside Khorasan (Kamut) Flour's typical range (6070%) — read below for handling

Is 78% hydration right for Khorasan (Kamut) Flour?

Khorasan (Kamut) Flour's workable hydration range is 6070%. Its absorption multiplier is 0.97× bread flour. 78% is above Khorasan (Kamut) Flour's typical range. The dough will be slack and may not hold shape in a free-form hearth loaf. Either reduce hydration to 70%, or blend Khorasan (Kamut) Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structural support.

Absorption math for Khorasan (Kamut) Flour at 78%

A recipe written for bread flour at 78% hydration, when substituted with 100% Khorasan (Kamut) Flour, becomes 76% effective hydration (because Khorasan (Kamut) Flour absorbs 3% less water). Medium autolyse (30-45 min). 3 stretch-and-folds max. Similar handling to emmer. Pairs beautifully with whole wheat at 50/50 ratio for depth without density.

Technique at 78% hydration

Upper range of 'standard' hearth hydration. Benefits from high-extraction flour which tolerates the hydration. Use coil folds instead of stretch-and-folds to build structure without deflating. Cold retard mandatory.

Worked water math for a 500 g batch

Khorasan (Kamut) Flour ingredient weights for 500 g flour at 78% hydration
Khorasan (Kamut) Flour500 g (100%)
Water390 g (78%)
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 78% exactly.

What Khorasan (Kamut) Flour gives you at 78%

At 78% hydration you can expect a very open, glossy, holey crumb — the signature of a high-hydration hearth loaf. 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.

Khorasan (Kamut) Flour at 78% — FAQ

How much water do I use for Khorasan (Kamut) Flour at 78% hydration?

Multiply the flour weight by 0.78. For a 500 g batch of Khorasan (Kamut) Flour that's 390 g water, plus about 10 g salt (2%). Khorasan (Kamut) Flour absorbs 0.97× as much water as white bread flour, so it will feel a touch wetter than the 78% number suggests.

Is 78% hydration right for Khorasan (Kamut) Flour?

78% is above Khorasan (Kamut) Flour's usual 60–70% range — the dough will be slack and may spread. Reduce toward 70%, or blend Khorasan (Kamut) Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structure.

What crumb will Khorasan (Kamut) Flour at 78% give me?

Expect a very open, glossy, holey crumb — the signature of a high-hydration hearth loaf. Noticeably open, shiny crumb. Irregular medium-to-large holes. Glossy cell walls. Moist texture.

Is Khorasan (Kamut) Flour at 78% 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 78%

Weights below assume 100% Khorasan (Kamut) Flour. For blends, use the main calculator on a recipe page.

Flour to add
450 g
Water to add
340 g
Salt
10 g
Levain @ 100%
100 g
Total dough
900 g
Effective hydration
78%
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 80% hydration guide →

Sources: Kamut International — Khorasan wheat specifications; Hamelman, Bread (3rd ed.); Robertson, Tartine Bread.