Sourdough Calculator

- May 12, 2025
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Calculate ingredient amounts for your perfect sourdough loaf based on hydration level, starter percentage, and total dough weight.

Recipe Parameters

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Advanced Options

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About Sourdough Baking

Sourdough bread is made through a natural fermentation process using wild yeast and beneficial bacteria. The key to great sourdough lies in understanding hydration, fermentation, and proper technique.

Understanding Key Terms
  • Hydration: The ratio of water to flour by weight, expressed as a percentage.
  • Starter Percentage: The amount of sourdough starter relative to the total flour weight.
  • Starter Hydration: The ratio of water to flour in your sourdough starter (typically 100%).
  • Autolyse: Resting period after mixing flour and water, before adding starter and salt.
  • Bulk Fermentation: The first fermentation period after mixing all ingredients.
Tips for Sourdough Success
  • Use a scale for accurate measurements - baking is chemistry!
  • Higher hydration (75%+) creates a more open crumb but is harder to handle.
  • Starter should be active and at peak when added to the dough.
  • Temperature greatly affects fermentation time - warmer = faster.
  • Proper shaping and tension is key to good oven spring.
  • For best results, bake in a Dutch oven or with steam.

What is the Sourdough Calculator?

The Sourdough Calculator is a handy tool for bakers who want to perfect their sourdough bread. It helps you figure out the right amounts of ingredients based on your preferences. You can set details like hydration level and starter percentage. This makes baking sourdough more accessible for everyone, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned baker.

How Does It Work?

Using the Sourdough Calculator is simple. You enter your desired total dough weight, hydration level, and starter percentage. You can also adjust the hydration of your starter and add a second type of flour if you like. The calculator then does the math for you, providing precise measurements for flour, water, starter, and salt. It takes the guesswork out of baking, ensuring you get consistent results every time.

Understanding Key Ingredients

When baking sourdough, several key terms are essential to know. Here are a few important ones:

  • Hydration: The ratio of water to flour.
  • Starter Percentage: How much sourdough starter you use compared to total flour.
  • Salt Percentage: The amount of salt in the dough.

Knowing these terms can help you make informed decisions about your baking.

Customising Your Recipe

The Sourdough Calculator allows for recipe customisation. You can select your primary flour type, such as bread flour or whole wheat. There’s also an option to add a second flour type and adjust its percentage. This flexibility enables you to experiment with different flavours and textures in your sourdough bread. Personalising your sourdough recipe can lead to delightful discoveries.

Benefits of Using the Calculator

The Sourdough Calculator offers numerous benefits that can enhance your baking experience:

  • Saves time by calculating ingredient amounts quickly.
  • Reduces the chance of errors in your measurements.
  • Helps you achieve the desired bread texture and flavour.

Overall, it makes sourdough baking easier and more enjoyable.

Getting the Best Results

For the best results with your sourdough, a few tips can be quite helpful. Always make sure your sourdough starter is active and bubbly before using it. Pay close attention to the temperature of your dough, as warmer environments can speed up fermentation. Finally, practice proper shaping techniques to ensure a good rise in the oven. These small details can make a big difference in your final loaf.

Learning More About Sourdough

The Sourdough Calculator isn't just for measurements; it also helps you understand the baking process. You can learn about important steps like bulk fermentation and autolyse. This knowledge makes for better baking, as you'll know why certain techniques matter. Understanding the Science behind sourdough can improve your skills and results.

Join the Sourdough Community

Baking sourdough is fun, but it can also be a social activity. Many bakers share tips and experiences online. Joining a community can give you access to new recipes and advice from fellow enthusiasts. Whether through social media or local baking groups, connecting with others can enrich your baking journey and encourage you to try new things.