Bread Machine Yeast or Active Dry Yeast – What’s the difference and why does it matter?
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Our main focus in this article will be the difference between bread machine yeast and active dry yeast. It’s important for you to know how the different types of yeast work during the baking process.
We’ll also give you details about the different conversions of yeast so that you have a general idea in case you need a substitute for a particular type of yeast.
Yeast
Yeast is a biological organism in the fungus kingdom which assists in the conversion of sugar to carbon dioxide and alcohol. The alcohol usually evaporates during the kneading process while the carbon dioxide is what causes the dough to rise when baking.
You must be careful when exposing yeast to air and also to extreme heat. Temperatures of 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit kill yeast cells and then they can’t convert sugars to carbon dioxide. Also, if you expose them to air, they become activated and die from lack of sugar.
Once you expose them to air, you need to immediately refrigerate it, as refrigeration slows the activity and the life cycle of yeast cells.
So, what’s the difference between bread machine and active dry yeast?
Most of you have heard about the different types of yeasts being advertised, and you might be wondering how the difference comes about. We will explain in detail the main difference between bread machine yeast and active dry yeast.
What’s Bread Machine Yeast?
- Saf-instant Gold Instant Yeast, 1 Pound Package
- For sweet dough varieties (with a sugar content in excess of 5% of the total flour weight)
- The outstanding performance of its fermentation action and its speed of use are the main benefits of saf-instant instant dried yeast
- This product is suitable for all types of bread-making applications It is also well suited to even the most extreme climatic conditions
- Certified Kosker Parve: Vacuum Packed Foil packaging feels like a brick, yeast flows as powder after it is opened
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Bread machine yeast has smaller granules than other types of yeast in the market. It’s designed to be used with bread machines since it rises faster than other types of yeast. Most people argue that this yeast bears the same similarities as instant yeast.
Instant yeast? What’s instant yeast?
Instant yeast is a different type of yeast that is made with a similar process as active dry yeast. Instant yeast dissolves faster and activates quicker than other types. However, instant yeast doesn’t have to be proofed first.
Bread machine yeast is instant yeast that is specially formulated. One characteristic feature of bread machine yeast is that it has fewer flavors when compared to active dry yeast. It doesn’t influence the flavor of your bread because it had little time to develop fully in the dough. They result in bread with inferior tastes.
Bread machine yeast is good for those who like adding other flavors to their bread like banana, vanilla, and chocolate since it won’t influence the flavor of the bread.
Active Dry Yeast
- Contains single 16 ounce pack of Fleischmann’s Instant Dry Yeast.
- Mix Instant Dry Yeast directly with other dry ingredients and add to your favorite recipes.
- Requires only one rise.
- No need to hydrate in water and no refrigeration required prior to opening. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator and use within 6 months of opening.
- Fast-acting yeast that works great in bread machines. It is gluten free, kosher, and has no preservatives with over 150 years of experience.
Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Active yeast is mostly used in traditional baking and it can also be used when baking with a bread machine. It only becomes active when it comes into contact with water. It is usually dormant. That’s why most recipe instructions advise you to separate any liquid from the yeast, lest it activates prematurely.
In most cases, you have to dig a well in the flour to pour the yeast. You can freeze active dry yeast for decades because active dry yeast is live yeast specially enclosed in dead cells of yeast.
This occurrence allows you to store these yeast cells at room temperature without damaging them. Before using active yeast in baking, you must proof or rehydrate them.
Most bakers usually give the dough two rises before baking it. Also, when you are substituting active dry yeast for bread machine yeast, you will use 25% more.
What’s the Difference?
The main difference between the bread machine and active dry yeast comes about when mixing yeast with other ingredients. Since bread machine yeast comes with fine granules, it doesn’t need to be proofed or rehydrated to activate it.
That’s why in most recipes, you add the yeast alongside other ingredients, making it popular among large scale bakers. When using bread machine yeast, you have to give the dough two rises before baking.
Active dry yeast, on the other hand, requires proofing or mixing the yeast with water to activate them. Since the live yeast is enclosed by dead cells, you must dissolve the yeast in a glass of warm water. If the water is too hot, it may damage the yeast cells instantly.
You only need one rise of the dough when using active dry yeast. It only takes one hour for the dough to double in size as the second rise usually takes place when you are shaping the dough.
The longer you allow the dough to rise, the richer the flavor since it allows the yeast cells to develop fully.
How to Store Yeast
Always store yeast in a dry place or a refrigerator. Any exposure to draft, humidity, oxygen, and heat will either damage the yeast cells or decrease their shelf life. Any opened yeast packages must be used within 4 months from opening the package.
Opened yeast packages should be stored in airtight containers and properly refrigerated. Active dry yeast can be stored for years under refrigeration.
What if Yeast is expired?
When yeast cells age, they lose their potency. It results in longer rising times. You must store your yeast well and always proof your yeast to fully activate them. It is advisable to use the yeast within the expiration period.
How to Test Yeast for Activity
If you are not sure whether your yeast is active or not, there is a simple way to test it. Get some warm water in a cup, usually 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Add 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast and let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes. If the yeast rises to nearly half the cup, the yeast is still active and you may use it for baking. This process is known as proofing.
Alternatively, you may dissolve sugar in a mixture of warm water and yeast. If bubbling occurs, then the yeast cells are active. The bubbling signifies the breakdown of sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
Conversions of Yeast
In most cases, you use one teaspoon of bread machine yeast with one cup of flour. If the recipe mentions one packet of yeast, it means 2 ¼ teaspoons or ¼ of an ounce. I cube of yeast is equal to 2 teaspoons of yeast.
Bottom line
When substituting active dry yeast for bread machine yeast, always use 25% more for best results in the baking process. Now that you know the difference between bread machine yeast and active dry yeast, you can choose the best for your baking.
We advise you to use the active dry yeast since it comes with a long shelf life, and the bread has more flavors than when using bread machine yeast.
4 thoughts on “Bread Machine Yeast vs Active Dry Yeast”
If you use 25% more active yeast in a bread machine do you increase the liquid as well?
Not really. As I know you should reduce the amount of water. Since you have to add water to activate the yeast, you should reduce the amount of water you use when adding to a bread pan.
For example, 250 ml water was supposed to be used according to a recipe and you use 50 ml to activate the yeast; therefore, you should only use 200 ml water when adding ingredients to a bread pan.
I have a quantity of active dry yeast and recently purchased a bread machine. Do I add the dissolved yeast within the liquid part in the bottom of the bread pan? Can’t seem to find recipes for this! I would like to use up the jar of active dry yeast.
Thanks!
I just bought a jar of acitve dry yeast, used it a couple of times, and today someone gave me a breadman bread maker! So I have this traditional yeast, and a bag of all purpose flour, which says it is good for bread machines. Does not mention the gluten content. I will remember the 25% extra. But the machine instructions are to keep yeast and water separate. I will probably just wing it, but anyone’s guess how things will turn out. Tried making bread in a slow cooker yesterday, but I killed the weast by getting it to hot ahead of time when proofing it. At which point my wife dutifully makes bread pudding instead!
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