Changing the hydration during the feedings (e.g. Detmolder method)
Hi all
New here. Long time lurker but first time poster.
So many of my questions has been answered here, but there still remains some.
I know that the simple way of converting a starter is to just add new water and flour at the desired hydration, but
when you change several times with every feeding, the hydration gets all messed up... in my head.
So the question is actually, does anyone count in the water level from last feeding to be included in the next?
Since english is not my native language, I think an example is the best way to illustrate, so I made this (rather
primitive) Demold table:
Ratio Old water New Water Old Flour New Flour Total Dough Hydration
Starter 1:1:1 2 2 4 100%
Feeding 1 1:3:2 2 10 2 6 20 150%
Feeding 2 1:3:5 12 48 8 92 160 60%
Feeding 3 1:1:1 60 100 100 60 320 100%
As shown, I calculate the amount of "old" water/flour and only add as much "new" as the ratio state.
In my opinion it seem important espacially with the Demolders method, since it jumps up and down in
hydration like it does. But is this the normal way to do it? Are there any problems by doing it this way
rather than just all it all together without taking in to consideration the water and flour in the previeous feed?
Just add up all the total amount water in the mix at the time and divide by the total amount of flour in the mix at the time.
Happy baking
I dont understand how dividing total water with total flour should solve the issue whether to include the previous
water/flour. Im new to all this sourdough theori, so please bear with me.
Could you give an example based on the table above?
from the previous feeding then you include the flour and water in it added to the next feeding amount for both to get total water divided by total flour to get the hydration after the 2nd feeding, If you toss hlf the first feeding before doing the 2nd feeding then you cut the flour and water of the first feeding in half befoe adding the 2nd feeding amount,
What ever the total amount of water and flour is in the mix at the time determines the hydration - no matter how many times you feed it.
hope this helps
No I dont throw anything away.
So if I understand you correct, you count the same way as shown in the table. In other words you take in account
what the prevoius feed has of water and flour and compensate to get the right hydration.
ratio s:w:f parenthesis showing where the figures are coming from...
Ratio Old water New Water Old Flour New Flour Total Dough Hydration
Starter 1:1:1 2 2 4 100%
Feeding 1 1:3:2 2 12 (4x3) 2 8 (4x2) 24 140% (14/10 x 100)
Feeding 2 1:3:5 14 (2+12) 72 (24x3) 10 (2+8) 120 (24x5) 216 66% (86/130 x 100)
Feeding 3 1:1:1 86 (14+72) 216 (216x1) 130 (10+120) 216 (216x1) 648 87% (302/346 x 100)
These number make more sense to me.
From what I see, you do not compensate for the amount of the water and flour from the previous feed but
add the new amount according to the ratio. That is why you also get the different hydrations than me.
and use the ratios given. I am doing what you said to do. The total amount of starter (total dough) becomes "1" in the following ratio.
I corrected your numbers. The ratios did not add up so I changed the amounts to match the ratios.
If you would rather change the ratios to fit your numbers, I can do that too.
Ohh ok, I understand now. My "slow" english is catching up :)