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High-Hydration Bread Vs Traditional Bread: What's The Actual Difference? By Cassie Womack Nov. 24, 2025 6:00 am EST

My fiancé's father bakes the most incredible bread. It's soft and supple with an open crumb, lightly chewy texture, and just-crisp-enough crust. But whenever I ask him for the recipe, he gets coy. "Oh, flour, water, yeast, salt," he'll say. It's infuriating. I could've guessed that! The ratios make all the difference — and he keeps his under wraps. Hydration, or the ratio of flour and water in bread, is one of the most important factors for bread-baking success. Understanding hydration can help you craft your own bread recipes — and help you understand how a dough will behave before you even start mixing the ingredients.

What is considered high-hy

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