The invention relates to a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by polymerization of a reaction mixture comprising at least one hydrophilic monomer and, if appropriate, at least one crosslinker in a reactor, which comprises admixing the reaction mixture with at least one first portion of a particulate additive before the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 40% of the overall residence time in the reactor and with at least one second portion of a particulate additive when the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 45% or more of the overall residence time in the reactor, the additive being selected from water-absorbing resin powders, fillers and mixtures thereof, the total solids content of monomer and additive being in the range from 30% to 60% by weight, the amount of additive being in the range from 5% to 50% by weight, based on the monomers, and the weight ratio of the first portion to the second portion of the additive being in the range from 10:1 to 1:5. The resin powder is recycled fine-sized material for example. Not only the residual monomer content, specifically the residual crosslinker content, but also the level of extractables in the water-absorbing resin are reduced by the method of addition described. A high fraction of additives can be incorporated without the properties of the water-absorbing resin obtained being adversely affected. The additives enter a sufficiently firm bond with the resin, so that no excessive dusting occurs on exposure to mechanical stress.