But we most commonly associate these fabulous fungi with leavened bread.
What Does Yeast Do in Baking?
Yeast is a single-celled organism that makes bread rise.
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Yeast cells feed on simple sugars, which in baking are provided by flour.
The busier the yeast cells, the faster the dough rises.
Baking kills the yeast and sets the structure of the loaf.
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Enzymes and compounds are other byproducts of this digestion, and these change the texture and flavor of bread.
What is Baker’s Yeast?
The baking yeast you buy at the store is all the same species,Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Its available in different formats, dry and fresh.
Commercial bakers yeast was first developed in the late 1800s.
It was fresh and had a short shelf life.
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During World War II, Americas Fleischmanns Yeast came out with the first active dry yeast.
Wild yeast the stuff that populates a sourdough starter is the opposite of commercial yeast.
How to store:Sealed active dry yeast keeps for about two years.
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Do you oughta proof it?No, actually!
you might now add active dry yeast straight to recipes without proofing it.
If you prefer to continue proofing it just to be safe, go right ahead!
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It wont hurt anything.
Common brands:SAF, Fleischmann’s, Red Star
When to use:Manyno-knead doughscall for instant yeast.
Its also often called for in sweet breads likepanettone.
Really, any time youd use active dry yeast, you’re free to use instant yeast.
How to store:Sealed instant yeast keeps about two years.
Once opened, instant yeast keeps four months in the refrigerator and six months in the freezer.
Substitutions:To use instant yeast instead of active dry, multiply the amount in the recipe by 0.75.
For example, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon active dry yeast, use 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast.
Also, instant yeast goes by many names, but they are all utterly interchangeable.
Professional bakers love using fresh yeast because its made from strains of yeast that are very active.
Fresh yeast is more hydrated, which helps it distribute better throughout dough.
How to store:Cake yeast has a short shelf life and needs to be refrigerated.
Buy it from a store with a good turnover and always check the best-before date.
you’ve got the option to refrigerate cake yeast for up to two weeks.
Should you proof it?Theres no need to proof fresh yeast, unless you suspect its expired.
One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (i.e.
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast) equals 0.6-ounce cube of fresh cake yeast.
Yeast FAQ
1.
Whats the difference between active dry yeast and instant yeast?
The main difference is the amount required to leaven bread.
Another, now outdated, difference is how you add these yeasts to doughs.
For decades, active dry yeastneeded to be proofedbefore adding it to dough.
Instant yeast was developed to add directly to doughs, without proofing.
Nowadays the main difference between the two is the amount of yeast you need for a recipe.
If youre using instant yeast, its a little less.
Is rapid-rise or quick-rise yeast the same as instant yeast?
you could swap one for the other.
These products all work the same way, though their coatings and particle size may vary.
How much yeast is in a packet?
One packet of yeast is 7 grams, or .25 ounces.
It measures out to 2 1/4 teaspoons.
My bread didnt rise.
Just like you, it thrives under certain conditions.
Adding liquid above 140 degrees will kill it.
It also doesnt like cold temperatures.
Sugar feeds yeast cells, but too much sugar can inhibit its growth.
For high-sugar, low-moisture loaves, use osmotolerant instant yeast likeSAF Gold.
(Osomotolerant just means yeast that can thrive in doughs that have high amounts of salt or sugar.)
Youll need to order it, though; its not widely available in stores.
What is nutritional yeast?
Its flaky like fish food and has been fortified with B vitamins.
It has a delightfully cheesy umami flavor and can be added to recipes.
What is brewer’s yeast?
It is a by-product of brewing beer.
Like nutritional yeast, its deactivated.
Its flavor is different, though; its bitter, and sometimes a little beery.
Dry yeast and fresh cake yeast used in baking are gluten free.
Other types of yeast may not be.
Yeast is a single-celled organism with no ability to feel pain.
Most vegans consider yeast to be vegan.
How do you proof yeast?
We have a quick take on this righthere.
How do you store yeast?
We recommend the freezer or fridge.
