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Dry Yeast: Active, Instant, or Something Else?

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Super tall wheat bread!
Let's be clear. Wheat Bread, we solved your issues! Rise on! :)

From a reader:

I had a question about your homemade wheat bread recipe. You say instant active dry yeast. Are you using just regular active dry yeast or the "rapid rise" kind?

Baking a good loaf of yeast bread can be so confusing at times, can't it? Ten years ago I would have told you that baking a loaf of bread was simple -- just throw in some flour, water, and a little yeast. It really is that simple, but it also goes a whole lot deeper!

Let's talk about yeasts. Dry yeasts. Active dry yeast. Instant active dry yeast. (And give me your opinions and wisdom in the comments section!)

My mom almost always used fresh cake yeast when I lived at home. She bought it in 1-pound blocks at a local bakery. (I think it cost $0.50 for a pound.) At home, she'd carefully cut it into portions and wrap each portion in waxed paper. The yeast portions then went into the freezer until needed, extending that 2-week shelf-life to a month or two or more.

As I got older, I was introduced to the convenience and affordability of buying dry yeast at bulk food stores. I didn't know much about the yeast I was using -- the white label simply said "dry yeast; 2.25 teaspoons equals 1 packet". We used it like we did the fresh -- "proofing" the yeast in some warm water before adding it to the bread.

When I got a bread machine, I started adding the yeast last, on top of the flour, like the instructions with the machine stated. It worked.

Later, someone asked me if I was using active dry yeast or instant active dry yeast. (Instant active dry yeast is in smaller particles and can be added right to the flour. I know this now.)

When I actually read the label on my yeast, I saw that I was using instant active dry yeast. So convenient, especially for using the bread machine's timer setting and throwing all of the ingredients in hours before it started kneading!

From another reader:

In your whole wheat bread recipe it calls for 2 tsp. of instant active dry yeast.  Can I just use active dry yeast and if so, would it be the same amount and do I still mix it in with the flour or dissolve it first?

A month ago I would have told you that active dry yeast is supposed to be dissolved in warm water before using. (And yes, the amounts are exactly the same.)

But, a few weeks ago I ran out of my instant active dry yeast that I had brought with us from Ohio. I trekked to Costco and brought home a big 2-pound package of Red Star dry yeast. (For about $4 -- a very good price!)

When I got home, I realized that I had just bought active dry yeast and not instant active dry yeast.

The first few times I used it, I "proofed" it in some warm water first (the water called for in the recipe). And then I thought, "Why not?" and I just threw it in on top of the flour in my bread machine.

And guess what! It worked! So. Now I'm really confused. I'm using active dry yeast, but it's working just like the instant active dry yeast for me. Oh well, good bread is good bread and I'm not complaining!

Dear readers, what has been your experience with the different types of dry yeast? What works? What doesn't? Do you have a favorite brand?

For more info about yeasts, there is a quick summary of them here and a detailed forum thread about them here. :)

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Comments

Submitted by Noah on Fri, 2009-03-06 01:08.

Costco it is!

I always just buy the big cheap bag at costco too. Never paid attention to what type it was. I usually can't even use the whole bag before it's out of much rising power (usually after 3-4 months if refrigerated).

Submitted by Mrs. Paradis on Fri, 2009-03-06 08:16.

Now I am curious

If I bought the yeast in a big bag(which is a great deal Ladies)how can I preserve it longer?Is there any way besides the fridge for 3-4 months?How about the freezer or would that be doing the same thing?

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2009-03-06 08:01.

Freezer shelf life

Huh? I keep my instant yeast in freezer. It is still good after three years. I sometimes kills it by adding tad too hot liquid. Nope, I don't make bread that often. In fact I'm considering Zoji bread maker so I'd make a loaf once to twice weekly instead of once to twice annually.

Submitted by ShannonLynn on Fri, 2009-03-06 08:07.
ShannonLynn's picture

I have a jar of yeast I keep

I have a jar of yeast I keep in my frig and a big bag I keep in the freezer. I just refill my jar in the frig with the bag from the freezer and I've never had a problem. I've kept the stuff in the freezer for many months and have never had a problem.

Submitted by Mrs. Paradis on Fri, 2009-03-06 08:16.

Great

Thanks ShannonLynn

Submitted by Big Mama on Fri, 2009-03-06 08:31.

yeast in the freezer

I also put my one pound bag of yeast into the freezer. It has lasted me 14 months and still performs just as it should. I will use the tip of putting an amount in a jar to keep in the fridge. That will save me time. I use Fleischmann’s yeast. That is the brand that our local Sam’s has carried. It is also called active dry yeast. I guess I never really gave that part much thought. I always proof the yeast to make sure it is going to work. It is no fun expecting pizza dough or hot bread fresh from the oven and I have killed the yeast and it is just a big lump of dough that has not risen.
Thanks Tammy and everyone else for all the wonderful information I can use from here.
DeDe

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2009-03-06 09:14.

Costco Yeast and Seed additions to bread

I also use the Costco yeast - although here on Long Island, it costs more than $4! I freeze my yeast, no need to defrost before using. Freezing allowed the yeast to last well over a year as I gradually used it up.

Another note: I also make whole wheat breads and always throw in a couple of tablespoons of raw wheat germ, raw sesame seeds, raw sunflower seeds, and some flax seeds. Makes the bread really tasty. Especially when toasted. Yes, it adds to the cost, but the benefits in a healthy product are wonderful. We purchase these seeds from our co-op and keep them frozen until needed.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2009-03-06 09:58.

What's the difference

I've always used the regular active dry yeast in my bread machine by dumping it on top of the flower, never dissolving in water first. Guess I never realized that would be needed. I haven't ever thought about it, but I also wonder what, actually, is the difference between active dry and instant active dry yeast.

Submitted by mama on Fri, 2009-03-06 16:36.
mama's picture

I use dry instant yeast and

I use dry instant yeast and it seems to do the trick.
Tereza

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2009-03-06 17:19.

costco

Totally unrelated, but you are near a Business Costco, which has tons of great kitchen stuff. You might want to check it out but beware the hours are different.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2009-03-06 18:42.

I use the same stuff from Costco

And I put half in the freezer and half in the cabinet. I use it in the bread machine all the time throwing it in last like they tell you to. I read a pizza making site sometimes (these are true pizza aficiandos!) and they seem to prefer the instant yeast - not sure why, as I haven't explored it since I don't keep that kind of yeast.

Michele in No. VA

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2009-03-07 01:42.

Yeast is Yeast is Yeast

The reason why they both work is that they are the same thing. The 'instant' is just smaller particles of yeast so it has a higher surface area and will react faster. That's the only difference. I use regular yeast because its what my local store sells in the 2lb bag and I am too frugal to spend more for faster acting yeast.

An easy way to think of it is the silica gel pellets you can add to garden mixes and the same gel in paper diaper. (Gross analogy, I know.) They are the same thing, and equal amounts will absorb the same amount of water. Still, the disposable diapers have a very fine ground gel to instantly absorb all the wonders that great them, while the larger pellets you put in the garden are slower to absorb the water.

The Chem Geek aka Rebecca

Submitted by Abutton on Sun, 2009-03-08 21:54.

I've always used plain

I've always used plain active dry yeast no matter what the recipe called for and I've never had a problem with it. :)

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2009-03-15 00:30.

baking school

This is belated but I'm in baking school and we had a whole class devoted to yeast. Anyway, instant (or "rapid rise")dry yeast you can just throw in the flour, active dry you're supposed to proof. Most commercial bakers actually prefer instant yeast because it's a little more efficient than active dry yeast. Active dry yeast has more "dud" cells in it than instant dry yeast so it yields a worse rise than instant. Of course, fresh yeast you get a better flavor but you also have a limited shelf life.

If you can get away without proofing active dry yeast, then go on ahead. I always suggest proofing it though, to get a better rise and flavor.

Remember, above all else, add the salt AFTER you add the and mix the yeast! Salt hinders yeast development and you don't get a good rise.

Submitted by Tammy on Wed, 2009-03-18 16:35.
Tammy's picture

Dry yeasts

Thanks for sharing from your baking school knowledge! :)

When I use the bread machine to knead my dough (which is almost always) I add the yeast last, so it goes in after the salt. Never had a problem with that though! :)

Submitted by Tammy on Tue, 2009-07-14 23:15.
Tammy's picture

Where to find dry yeast at Costco

Anonymous asked:

I've just recently started baking ALOT more and also am a newbie to Costco. I was super excited to find a 2lb compressed yeast block for $5?? I think, but then come to find out...it's the wrong kind. Darn it.

I can't for the life of me, find the dry yeast at Costco. That store kind of drives me crazy trying to find things! I also can't find whole wheat flour, oats, dates, and black browns. Does anyone know if they even sell those there?

My response:

Costco should sell active dry yeast, which is what I use in my baking. A 2-pound block at our store is under $4. It's in the row with the spices.

I haven't found whole wheat flour at Costco; our Costco has all-purpose flour and bread flour in 25 and 50-pound bags. That's in the baking/sugar/dry beans/rice aisle, I believe.

Rolled oats are only in a 9-pound box, and sold near the cold cereals.

I haven't looked for dates, and have never heard of black browns!

There is the "normal" Costco store, where we usually go, and also the "Business Costco" which is more of a restaurant supply store. I've only been there once due to the hours and transportation to get there, but they carry a different food selection.

One thing I noticed was that they carried 25-pound bags of dried black beans, which is something our regular Costco doesn't carry. So if you have both kinds of Costcos in your area, it could be worth checking at both! :)

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