Calculation Tables for Nancy Silverton's 145% White Starter

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Here are 3 calculation tables for Nancy Silverton's 145% White Starter from her book "Breads from the La Brea Bakery."

I created these for anyone who wants to convert one of Nancy's formulas to baker's percentages. It's no more difficult than any other conversion until you realize her starter is a 145% hydration that's refreshed as 52.21% starter : 28.32% water : 19.47% flour.

Using these tables, you can determine the amount (in grams) of flour and water required when one of her recipes, like the Olive Bread, calls for 12 1/2 ounces of white starter.

As an example, let's make 12 1/2 ounces of white starter amount in 3 builds.

Find the 3-BUILD TABLE (the last table). Then find 12 1/2 ounces in the leftmost column. Then just follow the instructions from left to right.

To make 12 1/2 ounces in 3 builds, the first build is 50:27:19 (all grams) of starter:water:flour. The second build is 97:52:36 (where 97 is the total starter from build 1). The third build is 185:100:69 (where 185 is the total starter from build 2). This builds a total of 354 grams of 145% white starter. 354 grams = 12 1/2 ounces.

Note. Nancy's mother starter is also 145%. If your mother culture is not, you'll have to convert.

FILES.

Here's the Excel spreadsheet containing all three build tables.

Here are PDF files for each build.

Here are image (.png) files:

TABLES.


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.tableizer-table th {padding: 10px; background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;}


1-STAGE BUILD
  BUILD 1/1
WHITE STARTER NEEDED [ounces]?WHITE STARTER NEEDED [grams]?MOTHER STARTER [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]
1/473.72.01.4
1/2147.44.02.8
3/42111.16.04.1
1 2814.88.05.5
1 1/43518.510.06.9
1 1/24322.212.08.3
1 3/45025.914.19.7
2 57301611
2 1/464331812
2 1/271372014
2 3/478412215
3 85442417
3 1/492482618
3 1/299522819
3 3/4106563021
4 113593222
4 1/4120633423
4 1/2128673625
4 3/4135703826
5 142744028
5 1/4149784229
5 1/2156814430
5 3/4163854632
6 170894833
6 1/4177935034
6 1/2184965236
6 3/41911005437
7 1981045639
7 1/42061075840
7 1/22131116041
7 3/42201156243
8 2271186444
8 1/42341226646
8 1/22411266847
8 3/42481307048
9 2551337250
9 1/42621377451
9 1/22691417652
9 3/42761447854
10 2831488055
10 1/42911528257
10 1/22981558458
10 3/43051598659
11 3121638861
11 1/43191679062
11 1/23261709263
11 3/43331749465
12 3401789666
12 1/43471819868
12 1/235418510069
12 3/436118910270
13 36919210472
13 1/437619610673
13 1/238320010875
13 3/439020411076
14 39720711277
14 1/440421111479
14 1/241121511680
14 3/441821811881
15 42522212083
15 1/443222612284
15 1/243922912486
15 3/444723312687
16 45423712888
16 1/446124113090
16 1/246824413291
16 3/447524813492
17 48225213694
17 1/448925513895
17 1/249625914197
17 3/450326314398
18 51026614599
18 1/4517270147101
18 1/2524274149102
18 3/4532278151103
19 539281153105
19 1/4546285155106
19 1/2553289157108
19 3/4560292159109
20 567296161110
20 1/4574300163112
20 1/2581303165113
20 3/4588307167115
21 595311169116
21 1/4602315171117
21 1/2610318173119
21 3/4617322175120
22 624326177121
22 1/4631329179123
22 1/2638333181124
22 3/4645337183126
23 652340185127
23 1/4659344187128
23 1/2666348189130
23 3/4673352191131
24 680355193132
24 1/4687359195134
24 1/2695363197135
24 3/4702366199137
25 709370201138
25 1/4716374203139
25 1/2723377205141
25 3/4730381207142
26 737385209144
26 1/4744389211145
26 1/2751392213146
26 3/4758396215148
27 765400217149
27 1/4773403219150
27 1/2780407221152
27 3/4787411223153
28 794414225155
28 1/4801418227156
28 1/2808422229157
28 3/4815426231159
29 822429233160
29 1/4829433235161
29 1/2836437237163
29 3/4843440239164
30 850444241166
30 1/4858448243167
30 1/2865451245168
30 3/4872455247170
31 879459249171
31 1/4886463251172
31 1/2893466253174
31 3/4900470255175
32 907474257177
32 1/4914477259178
32 1/2921481261179
32 3/4928485263181
33 936488265182
33 1/4943492267184
33 1/2950496269185
33 3/4957500271186
34 964503273188
34 1/4971507275189
34 1/2978511277190
34 3/4985514279192
35 992518281193
35 1/4999522283195
35 1/21006525285196
35 3/41013529287197
36 1021533289199
36 1/41028537291200
36 1/21035540293201
36 3/41042544295203
37 1049548297204
37 1/41056551299206
37 1/21063555301207
37 3/41070559303208
38 1077562305210
38 1/41084566307211
38 1/21091570309213
38 3/41099574311214
39 1106577313215
39 1/41113581315217
39 1/21120585317218
39 3/41127588319219
40 1134592321221
40 1/41141596323222
40 1/21148599325224
40 3/41155603327225
41 1162607329226
41 1/41169611331228
41 1/21177614333229
41 3/41184618335230
42 1191622337232
42 1/41198625339233
42 1/21205629341235
42 3/41212633343236
43 1219636345237
43 1/41226640347239
43 1/21233644349240
43 3/41240648351241
44 1247651353243
44 1/41254655355244
44 1/21262659357246
44 3/41269662359247
45 1276666361248
45 1/41283670363250
45 1/21290673365251
45 3/41297677367253
46 1304681369254
46 1/41311685371255
46 1/21318688373257
46 3/41325692375258
47 1332696377259
47 1/41340699379261
47 1/21347703381262
47 3/41354707383264
48 1361710385265


 




2-STAGE BUILD
  BUILD 1/2BUILD 2/2
WHITE STARTER NEEDED [ounces]?WHITE STARTER NEEDED [grams]?MOTHER STARTER [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]ALL OF BUILD 1/2 [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]
1/471.91.00.73.72.01.4
1/2143.92.11.47.44.02.8
3/4215.83.12.211.16.04.1
1 287.74.22.914.88.05.5
1 1/4359.75.23.618.510.06.9
1 1/24311.66.34.322.212.08.3
1 3/45013.57.35.025.914.19.7
2 571586301611
2 1/4641796331812
2 1/27119107372014
2 3/47821128412215
3 8523139442417
3 1/49225149482618
3 1/299271510522819
3 3/4106291611563021
4 113311712593222
4 1/4120331812633423
4 1/2128351913673625
4 3/4135372014703826
5 142392114744028
5 1/4149412215784229
5 1/2156432316814430
5 3/4163442417854632
6 170462517894833
6 1/4177482618935034
6 1/2184502719965236
6 3/41915228191005437
7 1985429201045639
7 1/42065630211075840
7 1/22135831221116041
7 3/42206032221156243
8 2276234231186444
8 1/42346435241226646
8 1/22416636241266847
8 3/42486837251307048
9 2557038261337250
9 1/42627139271377451
9 1/22697340271417652
9 3/42767541281447854
10 2837742291488055
10 1/42917943301528257
10 1/22988144301558458
10 3/43058345311598659
11 3128546321638861
11 1/43198747321679062
11 1/23268948331709263
11 3/43339149341749465
12 3409350351789666
12 1/43479551351819868
12 1/235497523618510069
12 3/436199533718910270
13 369100543719210472
13 1/4376102563819610673
13 1/2383104573920010875
13 3/4390106584020411076
14 397108594020711277
14 1/4404110604121111479
14 1/2411112614221511680
14 3/4418114624321811881
15 425116634322212083
15 1/4432118644422612284
15 1/2439120654522912486
15 3/4447122664523312687
16 454124674623712888
16 1/4461126684724113090
16 1/2468128694824413291
16 3/4475129704824813492
17 482131714925213694
17 1/4489133725025513895
17 1/2496135735025914197
17 3/4503137745126314398
18 510139755226614599
18 1/45171417653270147101
18 1/25241437853274149102
18 3/45321457954278151103
19 5391478055281153105
19 1/45461498155285155106
19 1/25531518256289157108
19 3/45601538357292159109
20 5671558458296161110
20 1/45741568558300163112
20 1/25811588659303165113
20 3/45881608760307167115
21 5951628861311169116
21 1/46021648961315171117
21 1/26101669062318173119
21 3/46171689163322175120
22 6241709263326177121
22 1/46311729364329179123
22 1/26381749465333181124
22 3/46451769566337183126
23 6521789666340185127
23 1/46591809767344187128
23 1/26661829968348189130
23 3/467318410068352191131
24 68018510169355193132
24 1/468718710270359195134
24 1/269518910371363197135
24 3/470219110471366199137
25 70919310572370201138
25 1/471619510673374203139
25 1/272319710773377205141
25 3/473019910874381207142
26 73720110975385209144
26 1/474420311076389211145
26 1/275120511176392213146
26 3/475820711277396215148
27 76520911378400217149
27 1/477321111479403219150
27 1/278021311579407221152
27 3/478721411680411223153
28 79421611781414225155
28 1/480121811881418227156
28 1/280822011982422229157
28 3/481522212183426231159
29 82222412284429233160
29 1/482922612384433235161
29 1/283622812485437237163
29 3/484323012586440239164
30 85023212686444241166
30 1/485823412787448243167
30 1/286523612888451245168
30 3/487223812989455247170
31 87924013089459249171
31 1/488624113190463251172
31 1/289324313291466253174
31 3/490024513391470255175
32 90724713492474257177
32 1/491424913593477259178
32 1/292125113694481261179
32 3/492825313794485263181
33 93625513895488265182
33 1/494325713996492267184
33 1/295025914097496269185
33 3/495726114197500271186
34 96426314398503273188
34 1/497126514499507275189
34 1/297826714599511277190
34 3/4985269146100514279192
35 992270147101518281193
35 1/4999272148102522283195
35 1/21006274149102525285196
35 3/41013276150103529287197
36 1021278151104533289199
36 1/41028280152104537291200
36 1/21035282153105540293201
36 3/41042284154106544295203
37 1049286155107548297204
37 1/41056288156107551299206
37 1/21063290157108555301207
37 3/41070292158109559303208
38 1077294159110562305210
38 1/41084296160110566307211
38 1/21091298161111570309213
38 3/41099299162112574311214
39 1106301163112577313215
39 1/41113303165113581315217
39 1/21120305166114585317218
39 3/41127307167115588319219
40 1134309168115592321221
40 1/41141311169116596323222
40 1/21148313170117599325224
40 3/41155315171117603327225
41 1162317172118607329226
41 1/41169319173119611331228
41 1/21177321174120614333229
41 3/41184323175120618335230
42 1191325176121622337232
42 1/41198326177122625339233
42 1/21205328178122629341235
42 3/41212330179123633343236
43 1219332180124636345237
43 1/41226334181125640347239
43 1/21233336182125644349240
43 3/41240338183126648351241
44 1247340184127651353243
44 1/41254342185128655355244
44 1/21262344187128659357246
44 3/41269346188129662359247
45 1276348189130666361248
45 1/41283350190130670363250
45 1/21290352191131673365251
45 3/41297354192132677367253
46 1304355193133681369254
46 1/41311357194133685371255
46 1/21318359195134688373257
46 3/41325361196135692375258
47 1332363197135696377259
47 1/41340365198136699379261
47 1/21347367199137703381262
47 3/41354369200138707383264
48 1361371201138710385265


 




3-STAGE BUILD
  BUILD 1/3BUILD 2/3BUILD 3/3
WHITE STARTER NEEDED [ounces]?WHITE STARTER NEEDED [grams]?MOTHER STARTER [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]ALL OF BUILD 1/3 [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]ALL OF BUILD 2/3 [g]+ WATER [g]+ FLOUR [g]
1/471.00.50.41.91.00.73.72.01.4
1/2142.01.10.83.92.11.47.44.02.8
3/4213.01.61.15.83.12.211.16.04.1
1 284.02.21.57.74.22.914.88.05.5
1 1/4355.02.71.99.75.23.618.510.06.9
1 1/2436.13.32.311.66.34.322.212.08.3
1 3/4507.13.82.613.57.35.025.914.19.7
2 578431586301611
2 1/4649531796331812
2 1/271105419107372014
2 3/478116421128412215
3 85127523139442417
3 1/492137525149482618
3 1/2991485271510522819
3 3/41061586291611563021
4 1131696311712593222
4 1/41201796331812633423
4 1/212818107351913673625
4 3/413519107372014703826
5 14220118392114744028
5 1/414921118412215784229
5 1/215622128432316814430
5 3/416323139442417854632
6 17024139462517894833
6 1/417725149482618935034
6 1/2184261410502719965236
6 3/41912715105228191005437
7 1982815115429201045639
7 1/42062916115630211075840
7 1/22133016115831221116041
7 3/42203117126032221156243
8 2273218126234231186444
8 1/42343318126435241226646
8 1/22413419136636241266847
8 3/42483519136837251307048
9 2553620147038261337250
9 1/42623720147139271377451
9 1/22693821147340271417652
9 3/42763921157541281447854
10 2834022157742291488055
10 1/42914122157943301528257
10 1/22984223168144301558458
10 3/43054324168345311598659
11 3124424178546321638861
11 1/43194525178747321679062
11 1/23264625178948331709263
11 3/43334726189149341749465
12 3404826189350351789666
12 1/43474927189551351819868
12 1/235450271997523618510069
12 3/436151281999533718910270
13 369522820100543719210472
13 1/4376532920102563819610673
13 1/2383543020104573920010875
13 3/4390553021106584020411076
14 397563121108594020711277
14 1/4404573121110604121111479
14 1/2411593222112614221511680
14 3/4418603222114624321811881
15 425613323116634322212083
15 1/4432623323118644422612284
15 1/2439633423120654522912486
15 3/4447643424122664523312687
16 454653524124674623712888
16 1/4461663624126684724113090
16 1/2468673625128694824413291
16 3/4475683725129704824813492
17 482693726131714925213694
17 1/4489703826133725025513895
17 1/2496713826135735025914197
17 3/4503723927137745126314398
18 510733927139755226614599
18 1/45177440271417653270147101
18 1/25247540281437853274149102
18 3/45327641281457954278151103
19 5397742291478055281153105
19 1/45467842291498155285155106
19 1/25537943291518256289157108
19 3/45608043301538357292159109
20 5678144301558458296161110
20 1/45748244301568558300163112
20 1/25818345311588659303165113
20 3/45888445311608760307167115
21 5958546321628861311169116
21 1/46028647321648961315171117
21 1/26108747321669062318173119
21 3/46178848331689163322175120
22 6248948331709263326177121
22 1/46319049331729364329179123
22 1/26389149341749465333181124
22 3/46459250341769566337183126
23 6529350351789666340185127
23 1/46599451351809767344187128
23 1/26669551351829968348189130
23 3/467396523618410068352191131
24 68097533618510169355193132
24 1/468798533618710270359195134
24 1/269599543718910371363197135
24 3/4702100543719110471366199137
25 709101553819310572370201138
25 1/4716102553819510673374203139
25 1/2723103563819710773377205141
25 3/4730104563919910874381207142
26 737105573920110975385209144
26 1/4744106573920311076389211145
26 1/2751107584020511176392213146
26 3/4758108594020711277396215148
27 765109594120911378400217149
27 1/4773110604121111479403219150
27 1/2780111604121311579407221152
27 3/4787112614221411680411223153
28 794113614221611781414225155
28 1/4801114624321811881418227156
28 1/2808115624322011982422229157
28 3/4815116634322212183426231159
29 822117634422412284429233160
29 1/4829118644422612384433235161
29 1/2836119654422812485437237163
29 3/4843120654523012586440239164
30 850121664523212686444241166
30 1/4858122664623412787448243167
30 1/2865123674623612888451245168
30 3/4872124674623812989455247170
31 879125684724013089459249171
31 1/4886126684724113190463251172
31 1/2893127694724313291466253174
31 3/4900128694824513391470255175
32 907129704824713492474257177
32 1/4914130714924913593477259178
32 1/2921131714925113694481261179
32 3/4928132724925313794485263181
33 936133725025513895488265182
33 1/4943134735025713996492267184
33 1/2950135735025914097496269185
33 3/4957136745126114197500271186
34 964137745126314398503273188
34 1/4971138755226514499507275189
34 1/2978139765226714599511277190
34 3/49851407652269146100514279192
35 9921417753270147101518281193
35 1/49991427753272148102522283195
35 1/210061437853274149102525285196
35 3/410131447854276150103529287197
36 10211457954278151104533289199
36 1/410281467955280152104537291200
36 1/210351478055282153105540293201
36 3/410421488055284154106544295203
37 10491498156286155107548297204
37 1/410561508256288156107551299206
37 1/210631518256290157108555301207
37 3/410701528357292158109559303208
38 10771538357294159110562305210
38 1/410841548458296160110566307211
38 1/210911558458298161111570309213
38 3/410991568558299162112574311214
39 11061578559301163112577313215
39 1/411131588659303165113581315217
39 1/211201598659305166114585317218
39 3/411271608760307167115588319219
40 11341618860309168115592321221
40 1/411411628861311169116596323222
40 1/211481638961313170117599325224
40 3/411551648961315171117603327225
41 11621659062317172118607329226
41 1/411691669062319173119611331228
41 1/211771679162321174120614333229
41 3/411841689163323175120618335230
42 11911699263325176121622337232
42 1/411981709264326177122625339233
42 1/212051719364328178122629341235
42 3/412121729464330179123633343236
43 12191739465332180124636345237
43 1/412261749565334181125640347239
43 1/212331769565336182125644349240
43 3/412401779666338183126648351241
44 12471789666340184127651353243
44 1/412541799767342185128655355244
44 1/212621809767344187128659357246
44 3/412691819867346188129662359247
45 12761829868348189130666361248
45 1/412831839968350190130670363250
45 1/2129018410068352191131673365251
45 3/4129718510069354192132677367253
46 130418610169355193133681369254
46 1/4131118710170357194133685371255
46 1/2131818810270359195134688373257
46 3/4132518910270361196135692375258
47 133219010371363197135696377259
47 1/4134019110371365198136699379261
47 1/2134719210471367199137703381262
47 3/4135419310572369200138707383264
48 136119410572371201138710385265
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Those look like a lot to digest but it didn't take me very long at all to realize how they work- This will be a great reference for me to use with Silverton's book!  This is exactly how I was going at her recipes, i.e., look at the amount of starter called for and work backwards to figure out feedings that will give me the right flour/water and activity level. 

Thank you so much for sharing these with us, and for taking the time to figure out what on earth that book was talking about when it says "match". 

Toast

In reply to by FlourChild

Thanks for having a look.

It might be more useful to others if I go through the book and post build instructions for each bread of the 32 breads that call for white starter. Maybe something to save for one of those days when I dare drink more than 1 cup of coffee.

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I didn't pay much attention to the 100% v. 145% before. I'd just mix up the starter until it "looked right" (and I don't think I ever made it at 145%) and used it in her formulas, and they came out great. I'd often note how stiff the doughs were (one of them broke my Kitchenaid), which was probably because I wasn't honoring the 145%. Had I done so, I might still have that mixer (which I loved before I broke it (and am now firmly in the camp of Kitchenaid's are @#$%!)) :)

The only reason I'm paying attention now is because I'm trying to convert (some of) her formulas to baker's percentages (and I want to get them as close to the real formula as possible before I post any variations on them.)

Any chance you can tell me the hydration of silvertons Levain Batard recipe? I am grtting 100% for an answer and that doesnt make sense! I'm confused, maybe i'm doing it wrong? Help?

wendy

My not answer your question. He has been absent for a while :-(  He was the inspiration for the original 6 sided star Chacon  and helped me figure out how to fold it as a an altamura.  Hopefully he will come back some day.

Actually I made a mistake and found what I did wrong. BUT, my real question is about using her levain starter in place of her sourdough starter.  This is what she writes in her book after giving levain instructions(paraphrased): "At this point you have an active leaven that could be used to make several breads in this book. If you prefer this method keep in mind that you'll need to add extra water to each recipe-enough to match the amount of water from the liquid starter called for in a recipe". 

It just doesn't make sense to me.  If I trade out the liquid starter for the levain, (in particular for olive bread recipe in her book) and then add 1 1/2 cups more water (to equal liquid starter) It's WAY over hydrated.  Do you have a better explaination?   I have a hard time with math...obviously.

Wendy

 

is that the 145% liquid starter called for in the recipe has more water in it than the levain you are going to substitute for it.  An an example a liquid starter of say 100 g flour and 145 g of water called for in a recipe, if replaced with a100% hydration levain, would only have 100g of water for the 200 g of flour - so you would be short 45 g of water with this substitution;  She just wants to remind you that if you use a 100 % hydration starter ( or some other percent other than 145% called for in the recipe) you need to add 45 g of water to the dough water  or your mix would be too dry by 45 g - not shot a cup and half of water.  She is just looking to keep the total hydration the same regardless of the hydration of the levain used - liquid or stiffer.