Bread Hydration Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Hydration Percentage (HP) is:

$HP = \left( \frac{W_w}{W_f} \right) \times 100$

Where:

$HP$ is the hydration percentage (%)
$W_w$ is the weight of the water (grams)
$W_f$ is the weight of the flour (grams)

Bread Hydration Definition

Bread hydration refers to the ratio of water to flour in a bread recipe, expressed as a percentage. It is a critical factor in bread baking as it impacts the dough’s consistency, the bread’s texture, and the crust’s quality. Higher hydration results in a more open crumb and a thinner, crisper crust, while lower hydration leads to a denser crumb and a thicker crust. For instance, a dough with a hydration level of 65% means there is 65g of water for every 100g of flour.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Weight of Water (W_w) = 650 grams
Weight of Flour (W_f) = 1000 grams

Using the formula to calculate the Hydration Percentage (HP):

$HP = \left( \frac{650}{1000} \right) \times 100 = 65$

The Hydration Percentage (HP) is 65%.