Bread Making: Meet the Yeast

This post may contain affiliate links which means I get commissions for purchases. Sponsored posts will always be clearly disclosed. Privacy Policy

Yeast are tiny one-celled fungi. There are both benevolent and obnoxious strains. One can find yeast commercially for brewing, as a nutritional supplement, and for baking. In bread making, yeast digests sugars and creates carbon dioxide. The structure of the dough traps the gas, giving yeast bread its loft and softness. Too little yeast will result in dense, heavy loaves, while too much may overwhelm the structure of the dough and cause it to either collapse in on itself or create large pockets or bubbles. I am sure we have all encountered commercial loaves of bread with gaping holes.

There are several options when buying dry yeast:

Active dry yeast is good for longer storage, but is less tolerant to thermal-shock. In other words, you need to be absolutely sure the warm water or milk used in the recipe is not over 122°F or 50°C. This form should also be added to a liquid before mixing into the dough, as the live cells are typically encapsulated and protected by dead cells.

Instant dry yeast is more perishable than active, but contains a higher percentage of live cells. It may be added directly to the dough. However, a small amount should always be tested to ensure it is viable.

Rapid rise yeast is a form of instant yeast developed to reduce rising time. It is believed to produce less flavorful product, but it is useful in some bread machine recipes.

When reading recipes, remember that one (1) packet of yeast is equivalent to 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast.

a spoonful of dry yeast above a white bowl of dried yeast sitting on a wooden cutting board

In my experience, our local grocery store only carries yeast in tiny packets or jars. Neither option is particularly frugal. Stores such as Sam’s Club or some restaurant supply stores will sell yeast in two-pound packages for approximately the cost of 3 small packets. Dry yeast should last at least six months in the freezer. If you divide it before storage, it may last over a year, but that shelf life is not guaranteed. Testing the yeast to be sure it is still viable is always important.

If you are starting out on your bread baking journey, don’t make bulk yeast your very first purchase. Wait until you’ve had several successes before committing to the large bag, as no one needs a constant reminder of a failed project each time they open the freezer. Allow frozen yeast to come to room temperature before using.

The other option when purchasing yeast is to buy it fresh. It may be found in cakes and is sold under the names: fresh yeast, cake yeast, baker’s compressed yeast, or wet yeast. This is often stocked at health food or restaurant supply stores and is highly perishable.

When substituting in recipes that call for dry yeast, remember one small cake of fresh or compressed yeast is 0.6 oz and is equivalent to 2 1/4 teaspoons of dry yeast.

To test yeast for viability, add a pinch to a weak solution of warm sugar water. The yeast should make tiny bubbles that produce a creamy foam.

Yeast growth is encouraged by the sugar in the dough and is kept in check by adding salt. If your home is cool or drafty, create a warm place for rising by heating your oven to 200°F and then turning it off. Placing a shallow dish of water on the lower rack will help keep the humidity optimal. Additionally, the dough may be covered by a damp towel.

Some recipes call for bread to rise once, and others are allowed a second. Recipes calling for a second rise typically have a stronger yeast flavor.

Finally, remember that nutritional or brewer’s yeast is not the same as yeast for baking or brewing; it is dead and will not produce the gas necessary for rising.

Sharing is caring!

5 thoughts on “Bread Making: Meet the Yeast”

  1. I echo the don’t buy too much yeast idea (for exactly the same reason). Fresh home-made bread tastes so much better but it takes time to make. When you first start out, it can be so much fun that you overstock. Remember that if you buy the supplies at a bulk store, you also paid less and you’re not losing as much when you have to throw it out. Nothing is of less use in baking than dead yeast.

    Reply
  2. I am SO bookmarking this page! It’s about time someone explained the great mystery that is yeast. Every time I think about attempting homemade bread, I get scared of my yeast and change my mind…

    Thanks for the valuable info, and thanks for visiting me over at Makeshift Mama! 🙂

    Reply
  3. I did a yeast test this weekend because of a failed batch of pizza dough. It turns out that I’d forgotten you have to use LUKEWARM water in the bread machine – oops! Second batch turned out perfectly.

    Here’s the “recipe” for the test suggested by the bread machine book:

    1 cup of lukewarm water
    1 tbsp of sugar
    2 tsp of yeast

    Dissolve sugar in water. Sprinkle yeast on top (it will sink) and put somewhere warm (I used the oven) for 10 minutes. You should get a good layer of foam on the water and a strong yeast smell.

    This seems to use a up lot of yeast just for testing, but I figured that if the yeast was expired, I wouldn’t be wasting it, anyway. I just wanted to point out that the foaming doesn’t start right away.

    Reply
  4. I’m rather careless about what kind of yeast I have and how long it’s been in the freezer. I just grab a bag at whatever bulk food section I happen to be close to (a lot of stores in my area have bulk food) and throw it in the freezer. I make bread about 1-2 times/month and have been doing that for about 6 years. I don’t *think* I’ve ever had a batch fail due to misused yeast (other reasons, yes).
    I especially appreciated the definitions of the different kinds of yeast. Haven’t come across that information before at all! Thanks, Heather.

    Reply
  5. This is great. I’m so intimidated by using yeast. But with this information, maybe I’ll be a little more daring! After all, there’s NOTHING like fresh baked breads. YUM.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.