Yeast is an important ingredient in making bread. It helps the dough rise and gives bread its yummy flavor and texture. Different kinds of yeast work in special ways to help create the perfect loaf.
Active Dry Yeast: This is the kind you usually find in your kitchen. It comes as tiny dried pieces that need to be activated first. You typically use one packet (which is about 2.25 teaspoons or 7 grams) for every 4 cups of flour. It lasts around 2 years, but you can keep it longer if you put it in the fridge.
Instant Yeast: This yeast is similar to active dry yeast but is ground into smaller pieces. You can mix it straight in with your dry ingredients. It is a bit stronger than active dry yeast, so you need slightly less. One teaspoon of instant yeast is about the same as one teaspoon of active dry yeast.
Fresh Yeast (Cake Yeast): This type is used more by professional bakers. It is moist and can spoil quickly, so it needs to be used sooner. Fresh yeast is very strong, so you only need about half an ounce to one ounce for 4 cups of flour.
Sourdough Starter: This is different because it's made from natural wild yeast and bacteria found in the air. Creating a sourdough starter can take a few days, and you have to take good care of it. Sourdough bread has its own unique taste and is usually denser.
Fermentation is what happens when yeast eats the sugars in the flour. It produces carbon dioxide and alcohol, which helps the dough rise. Here’s how long it usually takes:
Active Dry Yeast: Needs about 5 to 10 minutes in warm water (around 100-110°F) to get going.
Instant Yeast: Works quicker; the dough can double in size in about 1 to 2 hours.
Sourdough: Takes longer since the starter and the dough need more time, often over 6 hours.
The type of yeast you use can change how your bread turns out in terms of texture, size, and flavor. Bread made with:
Active or Instant Yeast is lighter and bakes faster.
Sourdough Starter adds a tangy taste and chewy texture. Sourdough also keeps moisture in better because of its acidity.
In short, the kind of yeast you choose makes a big difference in how your bread rises, tastes, and feels. This is why picking the right yeast is so important for great bread baking!
Yeast is an important ingredient in making bread. It helps the dough rise and gives bread its yummy flavor and texture. Different kinds of yeast work in special ways to help create the perfect loaf.
Active Dry Yeast: This is the kind you usually find in your kitchen. It comes as tiny dried pieces that need to be activated first. You typically use one packet (which is about 2.25 teaspoons or 7 grams) for every 4 cups of flour. It lasts around 2 years, but you can keep it longer if you put it in the fridge.
Instant Yeast: This yeast is similar to active dry yeast but is ground into smaller pieces. You can mix it straight in with your dry ingredients. It is a bit stronger than active dry yeast, so you need slightly less. One teaspoon of instant yeast is about the same as one teaspoon of active dry yeast.
Fresh Yeast (Cake Yeast): This type is used more by professional bakers. It is moist and can spoil quickly, so it needs to be used sooner. Fresh yeast is very strong, so you only need about half an ounce to one ounce for 4 cups of flour.
Sourdough Starter: This is different because it's made from natural wild yeast and bacteria found in the air. Creating a sourdough starter can take a few days, and you have to take good care of it. Sourdough bread has its own unique taste and is usually denser.
Fermentation is what happens when yeast eats the sugars in the flour. It produces carbon dioxide and alcohol, which helps the dough rise. Here’s how long it usually takes:
Active Dry Yeast: Needs about 5 to 10 minutes in warm water (around 100-110°F) to get going.
Instant Yeast: Works quicker; the dough can double in size in about 1 to 2 hours.
Sourdough: Takes longer since the starter and the dough need more time, often over 6 hours.
The type of yeast you use can change how your bread turns out in terms of texture, size, and flavor. Bread made with:
Active or Instant Yeast is lighter and bakes faster.
Sourdough Starter adds a tangy taste and chewy texture. Sourdough also keeps moisture in better because of its acidity.
In short, the kind of yeast you choose makes a big difference in how your bread rises, tastes, and feels. This is why picking the right yeast is so important for great bread baking!