Pre-ferment Integration
How Pre-ferment Integration Works
Baker’s Friend makes it simple to add pre-ferments like poolish, biga, levain, and pâte fermentée to any recipe without throwing off your dough balance. Just choose your pre-ferment type, set the hydration and percentage of total flour, and the app automatically adjusts your main dough formula to keep final hydration and ratios accurate. For poolish and biga, Baker’s Friend even calculates the precise yeast amount and fermentation time needed, so you get the flavor and texture you’re after without guesswork. Whether you’re chasing a subtle sweetness, a rich depth of flavor, or a more open crumb, pre-ferment integration keeps the math out of your way and the results in your hands.
Why Pre-ferments Matter for Bakers
Pre-ferments are one of the most powerful tools in a baker’s arsenal. By fermenting a portion of the flour and water ahead of time — with or without yeast — they develop complex flavors, improve dough strength, and enhance shelf life. A poolish can add a mild sweetness and a tender crumb, while a biga brings a nutty depth and firmer structure. Levain offers a tangy, aromatic complexity, and pâte fermentée enriches flavor while improving extensibility.
But precision is key — too much or too little pre-ferment, or the wrong hydration or fermentation time, can throw off your dough’s balance. Accurate pre-ferment use ensures consistent flavor development, predictable fermentation, and repeatable results. With Baker’s Friend, you can integrate pre-ferments into your recipes with confidence, knowing every ratio and timing is calculated for success.