What is True Total Hydration in sourdough baking?

True Total Hydration measures the total water in the entire dough matrix (including the water contributed by your starter) divided by the total flour weight. Conventional calculators ignore starter water, resulting in dough that is 2.7% to 3.0% wetter than intended.

Why does adding 20% starter increase hydration by ~3%?

A standard 100% hydration levain consists of 50% flour and 50% water. When you add 100g of levain to a recipe with 450g flour and 315g water (70% apparent hydration), the total flour becomes 500g and total water becomes 365g. 365 / 500 equals 73.0%—a full 3 percentage points higher.

What is Desired Dough Temperature (DDT) and why does it matter?

DDT is the target dough temperature right after mixing (typically 76°F / 24.4°C). Temperature governs yeast metabolism and enzymatic activity. Controlling water temperature ensures bulk fermentation finishes at the predicted time without under- or over-proofing.

How does ice substitution work when DDT calculates a temperature lower than tap water?

In hot kitchens, the required water temperature may fall below what your cold tap can deliver. By replacing a portion of water with crushed ice, the phase change absorbs 80 calories per gram of latent heat of fusion, cooling the dough without adding excess liquid.

Why does whole wheat flour absorb more water than bread flour?

Whole wheat flour retains the fibrous outer pericarp (bran) and germ. The insoluble fibers and pentosans in wheat bran act like micro-sponges, absorbing up to 200% of their own weight in water.

Privacy Policy | SourdoughCalc

1. Introduction

At SourdoughCalc (accessible from https://sourdoughcalc.app), one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document outlines the types of information that is collected and recorded by SourdoughCalc and how we use it.

If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us at privacy@sourdoughcalc.app.

2. Log Files & Analytics

SourdoughCalc follows standard procedure of using log files and client analytics. These files log visitors when they visit websites. The information collected includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks.

We may use tools such as Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Microsoft Clarity to analyze trends, understand how bakers interact with our hydration sliders and calculators, and optimize site speed. These analytics tools do not collect personally identifiable information (PII).

3. Cookies and Web Beacons

Like any modern website, SourdoughCalc may use cookies to store information including visitors' preferences and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and other preferences.

4. Google AdSense & Advertising Partners

Google is one of the third-party vendors on our site. It uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to sourdoughcalc.app and other sites on the internet.

Visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google Ad and Content Network Privacy Policy at the following URL: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads.

5. Amazon Associates Program Disclosure

SourdoughCalc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases of baking hardware (such as Lodge Dutch ovens, bannetons, and precision scales) at no additional cost to you.

6. CCPA & GDPR Rights

We respect your privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Visitors have the right to request that a business disclose what data it collects, request data erasure, and opt out of the sale of consumer personal data. We do not sell any personal data to third parties.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, you may contact us via email at privacy@sourdoughcalc.app or through our Contact Page.