Hydration × flour

82% Hydration Italian Type 00 Flour

Classic ciabatta crumb — very irregular large holes, glossy interior, thin crackling crust. Maximum open-crumb for hearth shapes.

⚠ Outside Italian Type 00 Flour's typical range (5868%) — read below for handling

Is 82% hydration right for Italian Type 00 Flour?

Italian Type 00 Flour's workable hydration range is 5868%. Its absorption multiplier is 1.01× bread flour. 82% is above Italian Type 00 Flour's typical range. The dough will be slack and may not hold shape in a free-form hearth loaf. Either reduce hydration to 68%, or blend Italian Type 00 Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structural support.

Absorption math for Italian Type 00 Flour at 82%

A recipe written for bread flour at 82% hydration, when substituted with 100% Italian Type 00 Flour, becomes 83% effective hydration (because Italian Type 00 Flour absorbs 1% more water). Minimal autolyse (15-20 min) — fine grind hydrates quickly. For Neapolitan pizza: 60-62% hydration, 24-48h cold bulk, short proof, extreme heat bake. For bread: treat like AP or bread flour depending on protein spec.

Technique at 82% hydration

Dough is nearly batter-like. Hand-stretch on heavily floured surface; cut into rectangles with bench scraper. No shaping, no slashing. Bake on stone with initial steam.

Worked water math for a 500 g batch

Italian Type 00 Flour ingredient weights for 500 g flour at 82% hydration
Italian Type 00 Flour500 g (100%)
Water410 g (82%)
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 82% exactly.

What Italian Type 00 Flour gives you at 82%

At 82% hydration you can expect a very open, glossy, holey crumb — the signature of a high-hydration hearth loaf. A very wet dough: minimal handling wins. Use wet hands and a bench scraper, coil or stitch folds only, a strong pre-shape, and a well-floured couche or banneton — this hydration rewards a light, confident touch and punishes over-working.

Italian Type 00 Flour at 82% — FAQ

How much water do I use for Italian Type 00 Flour at 82% hydration?

Multiply the flour weight by 0.82. For a 500 g batch of Italian Type 00 Flour that's 410 g water, plus about 10 g salt (2%). Italian Type 00 Flour absorbs 1.01× as much water as white bread flour, so it behaves close to a straight bread-flour dough.

Is 82% hydration right for Italian Type 00 Flour?

82% is above Italian Type 00 Flour's usual 58–68% range — the dough will be slack and may spread. Reduce toward 68%, or blend Italian Type 00 Flour (40–60%) with bread flour for structure.

What crumb will Italian Type 00 Flour at 82% give me?

Expect a very open, glossy, holey crumb — the signature of a high-hydration hearth loaf. Classic ciabatta crumb — very irregular large holes, glossy interior, thin crackling crust. Maximum open-crumb for hearth shapes.

Is Italian Type 00 Flour at 82% beginner-friendly?

This hydration is rated advanced. A very wet dough: minimal handling wins. Use wet hands and a bench scraper, coil or stitch folds only, a strong pre-shape, and a well-floured couche or banneton — this hydration rewards a light, confident touch and punishes over-working.

Calculator pre-set to 82%

Weights below assume 100% Italian Type 00 Flour. For blends, use the main calculator on a recipe page.

Flour to add
450 g
Water to add
360 g
Salt
10 g
Levain @ 100%
100 g
Total dough
920 g
Effective hydration
82%
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: Molino Caputo — Type 00 flour specifications; Hamelman, Bread (3rd ed.); Robertson, Tartine Bread.