What W strength flour should I use for pizza?

W strength measures flour's resistance to deformation. For Neapolitan pizza with a short ferment (6-8h): W220-260. For long cold fermentation (24-72h): W280-350. For pan pizza or focaccia: W170-220. Higher W flours absorb more water and hold their structure during longer fermentation. Browse the Pandough flour database to compare 250+ flours by W strength.

Artisan Bread

Q: How to calculate pizza dough hydration?

Hydration is the ratio of water to flour, expressed as a percentage. For example, 65% hydration means 650g water per 1000g flour. Higher hydration (68-80%) creates lighter, airier dough but is harder to handle. Lower hydration (55-62%) is easier to work with but produces a denser crumb. The Pandough calculator shows flour-specific hydration curves from community testing data.

Q: How much yeast for cold fermentation?

Cold fermentation (4-6°C) uses significantly less yeast than room temperature rises. For a 24-hour cold ferment, use about 0.1-0.3% fresh yeast (1-3g per 1000g flour). For 48-72 hours, reduce to 0.05-0.1%. The Pandough calculator uses a Q10 fermentation model — yeast activity halves for every 10°C temperature drop — to automatically calculate the exact amount for any time and temperature combination.

Q: How do I calculate water temperature for dough?

Use the Factor of 3 method: Water Temperature = (Desired Dough Temp × 3) − Room Temperature − Flour Temperature − Friction Factor. Friction varies by mixing method: hand kneading (3°C), spiral mixer (5°C), stand mixer (8°C), Thermomix (12°C). The Pandough calculator handles this automatically based on your selected mixing method.

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Hydration

68%

Hydration exceeds flour capacity. Expect a slack, sticky dough; consider a stronger flour or lowering water.

Ball count

Ball weight

Artisan Bread Dough Calculator

Calculate artisan sourdough or yeasted bread dough with professional-grade precision. Supports a wide range of hydrations and fermentation profiles, from quick same-day bakes to 72-hour cold retards. The calculator classifies loaf size and adjusts baking temperature recommendations.

Hydration: 65-78% · Fermentation: 4-72h depending on method · Recommended flour: W250-350 (strong bread flour)

What this calculator does: Sourdough and commercial yeast support, Loaf size classification (small, medium, large), Multi-stage fermentation scheduling (bulk + cold + final), Biga and poolish pre-ferment options.

Supported recipes: Neapolitan Pizza, Classic Pizza, Pan Pizza, Focaccia, Baguette, Artisan Bread

How to calculate pizza dough hydration? Hydration is the ratio of water to flour as a percentage. 65% hydration = 650g water per 1000g flour. Higher hydration (68-80%) creates lighter, airier dough but is harder to handle. Use our calculator with flour-specific hydration curves to find the optimal range for your flour. How much yeast for cold fermentation? Cold fermentation (4-6°C) needs far less yeast than room temperature. For 24h: 0.1-0.3% fresh yeast. For 48-72h: 0.05-0.1%. The calculator uses a Q10 model — fermentation rate halves for every 10°C drop — so it auto-adjusts yeast for any time and temperature combination. What is baker's percentage? Baker's percentage expresses each ingredient as a percentage of total flour weight (flour = 100%). With 1000g flour and 650g water, water is 65%. This makes recipes infinitely scalable — change the flour weight and every other ingredient scales proportionally. What is W strength and why does it matter? W measures flour's resistance to deformation (alveograph test). Higher W flours absorb more water and tolerate longer fermentation. Neapolitan pizza: W220-260. Long cold ferment: W280-350. Focaccia: W170-220. The calculator adjusts hydration ranges and yeast calculations based on your flour's W strength. What is a poolish and when should I use one? A poolish is a pre-ferment made with equal parts flour and water (100% hydration) plus a tiny amount of yeast, fermented 8-16 hours before mixing. It adds complex flavor, better oven spring, and improved crumb structure. The calculator tracks poolish maturity from young, developing, peak, to overripe. How do I calculate water temperature for dough? The Factor of 3 method: Water temp = (Desired dough temp x 3) - Room temp - Flour temp - Friction factor. Friction varies by mixer type: hand (3°C), spiral (5°C), stand mixer (8°C), Thermomix (12°C). The calculator handles this automatically.

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