How Is Dry Yeast Made?

How Is Dry Yeast Made?

Do you enjoy baking fresh bread at home? If so, then you've likely used active dry yeast before. An essential ingredient in most dough recipes, yeast helps bread rise to perfection while creating a light and airy texture. And while many of us use yeast weekly, very few people know how it is made. If you're interested in learning more about how dry yeast is made, keep scrolling. This article will cover the step-by-step process of dry yeast and share how you begin baking with it today.

What Is Yeast?

Before we dive into dry yeast, let's first discuss what yeast is in general. Yeast is a microorganism that is made up of one single cell. Yeast cells grow much faster than animal cells and undergo a unique budding process. Budding is when a small yeast cell begins to grow on the outside of a mature one. This small cell continues to grow until it's fully mature and ready to separate. To grow, yeast cells need adequate food and optimal growing conditions. Temperature, pH level and oxygen all play a part in healthy yeast growth and must be monitored when producing yeast. You can use yeast to make a lot of different foods. For example, beer, wine and many types of bread wouldn't exist without yeast. When combined with ingredients like water and sugar, active yeast converts sugars into alcohol through a process known as fermentation. This same process produces carbon dioxide, which helps the dough rise while proofing.

Active Dry Yeast

Active dry yeast is a product that can be found in nearly every baker's kitchen. Made from specially cultured fresh yeast, it's put through a process of pressing, drying and dehydrating to maintain its strong fermentation ability while drastically improving its shelf life. Read on to understand the dry yeast manufacturing process better.

The Process of Making Active Dry Yeast

bowl of active dry yeast on color background Because yeast is a living microorganism, it can't be made through a simple chemical process. Instead, yeast must be grown and cared for to remain active and healthy. Luckily, growing yeast is a somewhat straightforward process and doesn't require a lot of resources. To grow yeast, an existing yeast culture must be present. In many instances, manufacturers get the yeast from previous batches. The strains are then carefully monitored to continue the cycle and act as the starting point for another set.

Growing Yeast

Most companies keep ample supplies of the yeast species they need to grow when manufacturing yeast. If they offer different strains, they begin by taking some cells of the desired strain whenever they need to manufacture a specific type of yeast. Manufacturers learn the optimal growing conditions for their yeast strains through trial, error and years of hard work. Then, they combine the yeast cells with water and food (a specific type of sugar, usually derived from molasses), ensure that the yeast receives enough oxygen, and watch it grow. As the yeast begins to grow, it begins to fill up the flask it was placed in, in which it is transferred to an even larger container. The final container holds a large amount of liquid full of yeast.

Challenges When Growing Yeast

Though this process seems pretty straightforward, manufacturers face some challenges when growing yeast. As mentioned, yeast requires specific conditions to grow, and many other microorganisms thrive in those same conditions. When manufacturing yeast, it's crucial that undesirable bacteria do not enter the yeast facility. To prevent bacteria from ever interacting with the yeast, several precautionary steps are taken, such as sterilizing molasses (the food for the yeast) before it is introduced to the mixture.

Drying Yeast

As the yeast thrives in the final container, it's active and alive. While that yeast can be used immediately to create dough and great-tasting bread, the activity will slow down once the food runs out, and eventually, the yeast will die off. Manufacturers dry the yeast to keep the yeast active and healthy until it reaches your kitchen. The process of dehydrating yeast helps keep it shelf-stable for years.

Making Active Dry Yeast

There are many levels in which yeast is dried. Cream yeast, fresh yeast, semi-dried yeast, and dried yeast are all created at different degrees of drying. Active dried yeast is the most dried of the varieties and is the yeast that you'll likely find in supermarkets. To make it, yeast is dried into tiny granules that can be poured and scooped easily. The moisture content of active dried yeast is below 5%, allowing it to thrive at room temperature for up to two years.

Tips for Using Active Dry Yeast

Young woman holding tasty fresh bread in her kitchen Active dry yeast is the most commonly used type of yeast in baking. While baking with it is simple, there are a few tips and tricks you'll want to know beforehand. Here's how to ensure that the dry yeast in your pantry is activated and used correctly.

How to Check If Yeast Is Still Active

If the yeast you're using has been sitting in the pantry for a while, you'll want to check to ensure it's still active before combining it with the other ingredients in the recipe. To do so, measure out the liquid for your recipe, warm it to room temperature, and pour cup of it into a bowl. Then sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of sugar on top of the liquid and stir. Allow the mixture to stand for about ten minutes. If the yeast is still alive, it will dissolve into the liquid and create bubbles or foam at the top. While proofing the yeast beforehand might take a few more minutes than initially planned, it's better than baking bread that doesn't rise.

Pay Attention to Temperature

Just like you'll want to make sure that the liquid you combine the yeast with is warm, you'll also want to create a friendly environment for the dough. Yeast works best at a bit warmer than room temperature. If you're cooking in a house that is too cool, it can negatively impact the dough's rise. So as the dough rises, place it somewhere warm, like the top of a fridge or inside an off oven. If your house is warmer than 80F, know that the dough may rise more quickly than expected.

Know How Certain Ingredients Affect Yeast

If you're making a baked good that calls for ingredients like butter, milk, eggs and sugar, understand that it may rise more slowly than you're used to. These specific ingredients slow down yeast activity, and while they produce tasty results, they also require a bit of patience.

Store Yeast Properly

Whether you've chosen to purchase yeast in bulk or just have a bit leftover, storing it properly is the best way to ensure it remains fresh. Opened yeast is best stored in an airtight container, and a dark, dry location. To extend the lifespan of yeast even more, you can also keep it in the freezer. Placing yeast cells in the freezer puts them into a state of suspension, and when sealed properly, they remain protected from oxygen and humidity. Treat yeast kindly, and you'll create the perfect bread every time.

Active Dry Yeast Recipe

Artisan Bread Now that you know how dry yeast is made and how to care for it, it's time to begin baking with it. If you're new to using active dry yeast, the recipe below is a great way to start your journey.

No-Knead Artisan Bread

Making homemade bread for the first time might sound a bit scary. But the truth is, delicious homemade bread can be made easily and with just four simple ingredients: water, salt, Active Dry Yeast and Artisan Bread Flour. A slow fermentation method makes this No-Knead Artisan Bread ridiculously easy to make. Plus, there's no kneading required. Enjoy it with jam as morning toast, or serve it alongside your favorite savory soup. It's a loaf that's sure to be loved by everyone at the table. We hope that this guide to making dry yeast has helped you better understand this versatile baking ingredient. Though making active dry yeast might sound a bit tricky, it's a process that our Bob's Red Mill team knows well. Our Bob's Red Mill Active Dry Yeast is fresh, reliable and ideal for all types of yeasted bread and baked goods, including dinner rolls, pizza crust, whole wheat bread and more. Use it to create the recipe above or make a different baked treat. We're sure that the outcome will be delicious no matter what you choose to make. From the Bob's Red Mill family to yours, we wish you a day full of flavor and baking fun! Do you love working with active dry yeast? We'd love to hear about the great-tasting treats that you create. Share your favorite recipes that use active dry yeast with us in the comments below.
Bob's Red Mill
May 10 2022

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