Even though different kinds of yeast require different amounts of water, most people assume that all yeast needs the same amount of liquid. However, while all yeasts require some degree of hydration, not all yeasts are created equal.
Some yeast strains tolerate high sugar levels, making them ideal for cakes, pies, and doughnuts. Others thrive in low-sugar environments, making them perfect for breads and bagels.
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⬇️ Table of Contents
What Is Yeast?
Yeast is a living organism. It needs food and water to thrive. There are two primary forms: brewer's yeast and baker's yeast. Brewer's yeast is used primarily in brewing beer, and baker's yeast is used in baking.
How Does Yeast Work?
Yeast works by serving as one of the leavening agents used in baking. This process is called leavening because it causes bread to rise. Leavening agents are needed to make bread rise. They do this by producing gases that cause the bread to expand. Without leaveners, the rising effect wouldn't happen.
The purpose of any leavening agent is to produce the gas necessary to make bread rise. When you bake bread, the yeast feeds on the dough's added sugar and expels carbon dioxide into the air.
Bread has a distinctive texture because carbon dioxide gas is trapped inside as the dough rises. Without the carbon dioxide, there'd be no rise in activation.
What is Baker's Yeast?
The life cycle of baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is slightly different from most fungi. Like mold, strains of yeast are eukaryotic microorganisms, meaning they contain organelles within their cytoplasm — mitochondria and ribosomes, for example.
Unlike molds, yeasts do not form hyphae or filamentous structures. Instead, they grow as individual cells, and some species develop into multicellular colonies. Yeast cells are typically classified according to their shape: unicellular, pseudohyphal, dimorphic, and true hypha.
Yeast is an egg-shaped, single-celled fungus that is only visible under a microscope. It takes about 20 million,000,000 (20 billion) yeast cells to make up one gram of dry weight. This makes it the most abundant organism on Earth. There are approximately ten times as many living organisms on Earth as stars in our galaxy.
When we bake bread, yeast breaks down sugar molecules into simple carbohydrates such as glucose and fructose. These compounds are fermented, releasing carbon dioxide, causing the dough to expand and become lighter. As the dough rises, it becomes less dense and airy, allowing the gases to escape. This process is called leavening.
Types of Yeast
Fresh Yeast
Fresh yeast is sold in compressed, cake, or bulk form. Compressed yeast is packaged in foil pouches; cake yeast is usually wrapped in plastic. Both types are available in supermarkets and online.
The shelf life of compressed yeast is about three months; cake yeast is good for up to six months. Once opened, both types of yeast should be stored in the refrigerator. For best quality, use within a few weeks of opening.
To make sure you have fresh yeast, check the expiration date printed on the package. You can also test the yeast by dissolving one teaspoon of yeast in a pint of lukewarm water. If the mixture foams, the yeast is still viable. However, if there is no reaction, discard it.
Instant Yeast
- Tip: Take note of the expiration date and manufacturer date. This will help you purchase the freshest yeast available.
Instant yeast is the most widely available type of commercial yeast. Because it requires no additional steps beyond mixing with warm water, it is ideal for baking recipes that don't call for rising overnight. In addition, because it doesn't require a long fermentation period, it is suitable for recipes baked within hours of being mixed.
The term "instant" refers to instant yeast requiring no pre-dissolution step in recipes. Instantly, you're ready to add the yeast to the dough. It is thought that instant yeast is less active than regular yeast because it doesn't dissolve like regular yeast. But there are differences between the two forms of yeast.
Regular yeast is sold in granules or flakes that must be dissolved into water before being added to a recipe. Once dissolved, the yeast becomes activated and starts working.
Because instant yeast is less stable than regular yeast, it must be kept refrigerated, typically in a sealed plastic bag. However, if left out too long, it loses some of its activity. To prevent this, store instant yeast in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh.
Active Yeast/Active Dry Yeast
Yeast vs. Active Yeast - What's the Difference?
Active dry yeast gets dissolved in warm water before being added to recipes. Once activated, active dry yeast will stay in the pantry for up to one month.
- Active dry yeast is usually sold in small envelopes or large jars once opened.
- Instant yeast can be found in grocery stores in a box or canister.
You don't need to activate instant yeast before using it; therefore, you can just add it directly into any recipe, including breads.
Liquid Yeast
Yeast has been around since ancient times, and it's one of those things that you just take for granted. And what exactly does liquid yeast do?
Liquid yeast is essentially a slurry of live yeast, flour (or other carbs), and water, similar to a sourdough starter or bread starter. As long as fresh carbohydrates (usually flour) are added on a regular base, the organisms will continue living and replicating.
Powder Yeast
The production of yeast powder involves growing a strain of yeast in molasses derived from sugar cane or beets, treating the molasses with heat to inhibit the development of the yeast, and then drying the yeast's spores.
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Flake Yeast
This yeast is made the same way the powder yeast is made. The key difference is the finishing process, where the yeast is not milled down to a fine powder yet is left in larger flake pieces.
Osmotolerant Yeast
If you've ever baked a sticky bun or pulled apart a loaf of dense, chewy bread, chances are you've experienced instant or active dry yeast. These types of yeast work great for most recipes because they allow bakers to skip rising times and make quick breads. But what happens if you want something different? What if you want to bake a light, fluffy cake? Or maybe even a doughnut?
While there are many options, finding a reliable source of osmotolerant yeasts can be tricky. You might find some at your local grocery store, but they aren't usually labeled as such. And while you could buy a box of instant or active dry yeast, those won't do the trick either. They'll still produce breads that taste good, but they won't give you the same light texture as yeast that tolerates higher levels of sugar.
Top-Fermenting Yeast
Top-fermenting yeast is a type of yeast that is often used in the brewing of beer. During fermentation, the yeast will rise to the top of the fermenter during the brewing process. Top-fermenting yeast is known for producing beers with a fruity or spicy flavor.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Top-Fermenting Yeast?
Top-fermenting yeast is known for producing beers with a fruity or spicy flavor. This yeast produces a beer with a higher alcohol content than bottom-fermenting yeast. In addition, top-fermenting yeast is more likely to produce off-flavors in the beer.
Bottom-Fermenting Yeast
Bottom-fermenting yeast is a type of yeast that is often used in the brewing of beer. This yeast settles at the bottom of the container during the fermenting process.
What Are The Benefits of Using Bottom-Fermenting Yeast?
Bottom-fermenting yeast is known for producing beers with a clean, crisp flavor. This yeast also produces a beer with a lower alcohol content than top-fermenting yeast. In addition, bottom-fermenting yeast is less likely to produce off-flavors in the beer.
Yeast FAQs
What is Proofing Yeast?
Proofing yeast is a step in many recipes where you want the yeast to activate quickly. This is usually done by dissolving the contents of the packet into warm milk or water with sugar added. After about five to ten minutes, the mixture should start bubbling up, indicating that the yeast is activated. If it doesn't bubble up, toss the yeast and try again.
However, proofing yeast is mostly a thing of the past. Modern active dry or instant yeast works fine without this step because the manufacturer already activates the yeast during manufacturing.
What Is The Best Yeast For Bread?
Each type of yeast has its own unique properties when used for making bread. The best yeast for bread will depend on the specific recipe you're using and your preferences. Common types of yeast for bread baking are active dry yeast, instant yeast, and bread machine yeast. Each type of yeast has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the right one for your needs.
Do I Refrigerate or Freeze Dry Yeast After Opening?
Whether you buy dry yeast in bulk or just one small packet, it's important to know how long you have to use it once you open the package. If you don't follow proper storage guidelines, you could end up wasting money.
Here are some tips on storing dry yeast properly:
- Store dry yeast in an airtight container in a cool place away from heat sources such as radiators and ovens.
- Place the container in a dark spot where there is no direct sunlight. This prevents the formation of mold.
- Don't store dry yeast near foods like butter, cheese, milk, eggs, meat, fish, seafood, or coffee. These products contain ingredients that help break down the cell walls in yeasts.
- Keep the temperature around 40 degrees F or below.
- When ready to use dry yeast, let it come to room temperature. Then mix it into your dough recipe.
Is Yeast Naturally Gluten-Free?
The quick answer is no. All yeast is not gluten-free. Bakers' yeast and active dry yeast are both naturally gluten-free. However, some people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity can tolerate small amounts of yeast in their diet. This is because the yeast does not contain any gluten itself. Instead, it feeds on sugar and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
If you are following a gluten-free diet, check the labels of any yeast products you purchase. Some products may be processed in facilities that also process wheat, rye, and barley. Cross-contamination with gluten can occur if these products are not processed in dedicated facilities.
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Anonymous says
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