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Calculator · Ch. 2 & 6

Dough temperature

The water temperature you need to land a target dough temperature.

All tools

Dough temperature sets how long fermentation takes. Learn about temperature and timelines.

Enter your room, flour and target dough temperatures (and friction) and this works out the water temperature to aim for.

It estimates a target mixing-water temperature from your inputs. It does not measure the resulting dough temperature or predict when fermentation will finish.

Inputs
°F
°F
°F
°F

Hand mixing ≈ 2–4°F (1–2°C); a stand mixer adds more.

Add starter temperature
Starter water temperature
°F
°F
Water temperature
86.0°F
Starting point — not a law

First approximation (book Ch. 4). Verify the starter's actual temperature after mixing and adjust next time.

Water temperature needed
90.0°F
Target sum (3 × target)
234.0°F
Sum of knowns
144.0°F
Verified principle

Verify the mixed dough and adjust your remembered numbers, not the dough (book Ch. 2).

Why this math · Ch. 2 & 6

neededWater = (multiplier × targetDoughTemp) − (room + flour + [starter] + friction)

Record this bakeRecording what you aimed for and what happened needs a free account.