Dough Temperature (Desired) Calculator

Work out dough temperature (desired) instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Dough Temperature (Desired) Calculator

The desired dough temperature method sets water temperature as three times the target dough temperature, less flour temperature, room temperature and the mixer's friction factor. Friction is determined empirically for each mixer and dough — typically 5-10 degrees for a spiral mixer and up to 15-20 for intensive mixing.

Formula

Desired dough temperature

Water temperature = 3 x desired dough temperature - flour temperature - room temperature - friction factor

Worked example

With the default values below, Dough Temperature (Desired) Calculator returns Required Water Temperature of 22.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Desired Dough Temperatureminimum 0 degrees C: 25 degrees C
Flour Temperatureminimum -10 degrees C: 21 degrees C
Room Temperatureminimum -10 degrees C: 24 degrees C
Mixer Friction Factorminimum 0 degrees C: 8 degrees C

Results

Required Water Temperature: 22.00
Total Temperature Factor: 75.0
Friction Contribution: 8.00
Water Temperature Guidance: Tap water adjustment sufficient

Step by step

1Values used
2Desired dough temperature
3Required Water Temperature= 22.00
4Total Temperature Factor= 75.0
5Friction Contribution= 8.00
6Water Temperature Guidance= Tap water adjustment sufficient

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the friction factor found?

Mix a dough with known flour, room and water temperatures, measure the finished dough temperature, then friction = 3 x dough temp - flour - room - water. Repeat and average.

What if a preferment is used?

Use a four-factor version: multiply the desired temperature by four and also subtract the preferment temperature. The number of temperature inputs must match the multiplier.