Room temperature
Measure the temperature where you are mixing. This represents the temperature of the equipment and surroundings.
DMG Final dough temperature calculator
Start fermentation at the right temperature
Calculate the water temperature needed to reach your desired dough temperature before fermentation begins.
Worked example
- Desired dough
- 26°C
- Room
- 24°C
- Flour
- 24°C
- Starter
- 24°C
- Hand mixing
- 0°C friction
Water temperature
32°C
Before you mix
Work backwards from your target
Final dough temperature influences how quickly your sourdough ferments. Enter the temperature of your room, flour and starter, then choose how you will mix. The calculator works out the water temperature needed to bring the dough close to your target.
Measure each ingredient shortly before mixing. Small changes in your kitchen and ingredients can make a meaningful difference to the result.
Final dough temperature
Calculate your water temperature
Recommended water temperature
Warm water
Use this as your starting water temperature, then measure the dough immediately after mixing.
Your calculation
(26 × 4) − 24 − 24 − 24 − 0 = 32°C
Check the result
If your measured final dough temperature differs from your target, note the difference and adjust the friction factor for your next bake.
Using the calculator
What each temperature means
Flour and starter
Measure them separately just before mixing. Starter taken from a warm spot or flour stored somewhere cool may differ from the room.
Friction factor
Mixing creates heat. Hand mixing starts at 0°C. For a mixer running for 8 minutes, use 15°C and refine it from your own results.
Final check
Measure the dough immediately after mixing. This tells you whether the calculated water temperature brought the dough to your target.
A useful tool
Measure, rather than guess
We use an instant-read digital thermometer because it takes the guesswork out of temperature checks and provides an accurate reading in one second. It is a useful addition to sourdough baking and can also be used for bread, roasts, barbecuing and other everyday cooking.
Build the recipe first
Need the ingredient weights?
Use our Baker’s Calculator to build a sourdough recipe from your preferred flour weight and hydration, or check the true hydration of an existing recipe.