A Simple Calculation

If you've ever struggled with high dough temperatures—especially in warm climates or during summer—you’re not alone. Controlling final dough temperature is critical for proper fermentation, gluten development, and overall dough performance.

One effective solution?

Replacing part of the added water with ice.

Using ice in dough mixing is a practical method to prevent overheating, especially when working with stronger flours that require longer mixing times or higher energy inputs.

But how do you determine the right amount of ice to use?

Let’s break it down.

The Science Behind Ice Cooling

Water has a specific heat capacity of 4.186 J/g°C, meaning it requires energy to change temperature.

Ice, on the other hand, has an added cooling effect because it absorbs heat not only to warm up but also to melt.

This means that ice is at least four times more effective at cooling dough than cold water alone, making it an efficient solution for temperature control.

The Simple Ice Calculation Formula

To determine how much ice you need to replace part of your water, use this formula:

Where:

• Wi = Weight of ice (kg)

• Ww = Total water required in the recipe (kg)

• Tt = Temperature of tap water (°C)

• Tr = Desired final water temperature (°C)

• 334.6 = Latent heat of ice (J/g)

• 4.186 = Specific heat of water (J/g°C)

Example Calculation

Let’s say your dough recipe requires 40 kg of water. The tap water temperature is 20°C, but you need the water at 10°C to achieve your target dough temperature.

Using the formula:

So, replace 4.4 kg of the 40 kg of water with ice, meaning you add 35.6 kg of tap water and 4.4 kg of ice to achieve the desired temperature.

Practical Considerations

1. Use Crushed Ice – It disperses faster and cools more efficiently than ice cubes.

2. Impact on Dough Hydration – Since ice takes time to melt, a large amount of ice could slightly delay ingredient hydration. However, for most applications, this impact is minimal.

3. Ensure Ice Supply – If you regularly use ice in dough making, check that your ice-making machine can keep up with demand.

Thanks for reading✨📚

GRAINAR