Submitted by Doc Tracy on December 19, 2009 - 1:52am

Confused about the math-


Ok, so I'm pretty good at math. I had to get by to get through graduate and medical school. But, I'm seeing recipes with 448.5% of total ingredients? How does that work? Also, how do you figure out the hydration of your starter? What is the difference between a levain and starter as far as the percentage in hydration? Can I convert a starter to a levain? How do I figure the amount of water/ flour used by my starter or levain when making a recipe if the recipe is not properly done with percentages?

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Baker's math is different

Goes by total flour weight.  Total flour weight is 100%   Everything else compares to that and is a % of that weight.  So an ingredient that also has 100% would be the same weight as the flour.   Twisted I know but makes dough comparisons easier.  One just has to know how much flour will be used.

A lavain, is it specific?  To me a lavain and a starter are the same just different names. 

Hydration:  Take the water weight and divide by the flour weight  and multiply by 100 to get %    (Ex.  100g water / 200g flour = .5  x 100 = 50%   

Anytime you want to know the hydration, just divide the water weight by the flour weight and convert to %.  If you are using cups....they will have to be converted to weight first. 

Mini   :)

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Baker's percentage and starter

So, when you feed your starter you should always weigh your flour and water and that is your percent hydration? For instance, 500gms flour, 500gms water is a 100% hydration starter?

If you do that weekly than that is always a 100% starter? How do you account for the starter that you add back? I guess since that is already at 100% it doesn't change the ratio no matter how much you use.

I found the blog for Susan and that was very helpful for the rest of the BP math.

Thanks, Mini!

Tracy

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You got it!

Glad to be of help.

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Susans blog

Hello, This was helpful to me also, could someone paste the link to susan's Blog I would like to read it. Thank you May we all have a blessed holiday!

Will

It's in three parts

Here's part one.

Enjoy!

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Thank you

That was clear and easy to understand even for a boob like me. I am off the do my morning chores, before the little lady gets back from the hair dresser. All I have to do is go to the import store & get 2lbs of coffee. Then I can bake something.

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