How do I test yeast and is it still good or fresh? Find out easily with this quick and simple 10 minute test!
Here’s a question I often ask myself: “Is my yeast still good?!”. Yeast is a living thing, and the bread and buter of your baking recipes so you always want to ensure it’s good before using it, else your recipe won’t work. I’ve been baking for over 10 years, and the truth is that unless you test your yeast, you won’t know. Fortunately, it is very easy to test yeast in just 10 minutes, and will make all your baking projects that much easier. I realised that if I’m asking this, maybe many of you are too. Here’s how to check if your yeast is still good.
Yeast is a leavening product that is alive and that you add to your dough to make it rise. In this post, I’ll be referring to instant yeast and active dry yeast. Yeast needs the correct environment to properly grow and multiply, thus helping your dough to expand and create beautiful baked products. This environment (known as a sympathetic environment) refers to the temperature of its surroundings such as your kitchen, the temperature of the liquid it’s in, and the food (sugar or starch) that you add to the dough to make it rise as it bakes.
Active dry yeast is a dormant form of yeast made up of live yeast cells surrounded by dead cells. Its granules are large, and as the name suggests you need to “activate” your dry yeast. When using active dry yeast, the yeast will need to be dissolved in some warm water with sugar (aka, exactly what are doing today) before using it in the recipe. This process is called proofing.
Instant yeast is made up of finer granules and does not need to be proofed before it. You can mix it right into the dry ingredients. It’s also made up of 100% living cells and as such tends to be seen as more powerful than active dry.
Within the first few minutes, you should see lots of bubbles, and the mixture should look creamy and foamy. If it doesn’t, this means the yeast is past its prime and should be discarded. Additionally, don’t let proofed yeast hang around for too long.
How to Store Your Yeast to Keep it Fresh
The best place to store your yeast is in the freezer or the fridge. I keep mine in the fridge, but the freezer puts a pause on the yeast’s expiry date, making it last much longer.
What yeast to use?
I recommend using the yeast that your recipe calls for. For instant, I use SAF Instant Yeast. For active dry yeast, I love Bob’s Red Mill. They are both very affordable, is affordable in large quantities and last very long.
How To Check If Yeast Is Active? | Good Yeast and Bad Yeast | Schilla’s Easy Recipes
FAQ
How do I know if my yeast has gone bad?
What should yeast look like when proofed?
How long is too long to proof yeast?