What is Bread Machine Yeast?
What is bread machine yeast and which is the best one to use? Read on to find out.
So, you have your favorite bread maker recipes and are ready to try making your own bread. However, in the ingredients section, you realize you need bread machine yeast.
What is this yeast? Is it normal yeast? Read on to find out.
What is Bread Machine Yeast?
Yeast is one of the most important ingredients needed to make bread.
There are two types of yeast: fresh and dry yeast.
Fresh Yeast
Fresh yeast perishes quickly. Therefore, you won’t easily find it in most grocery stores. Most supermarkets cannot simply handle the yeast properly, and this is why they don’t stock it.
However, most professional bakers prefer fresh yeast.
Dry Yeast
Dry yeast is the yeast found in most homes. This yeast lasts longer than fresh yeast.
There are three types of dry yeast:
- Active dry yeast
- Instant yeast
- Rapid-rise yeast
Below is an overview of the yeasts:
Active Dry Yeast
Active dry yeast is the yeast found in most households. Traditionally, for the yeast to become active, it has to be proofed, i.e., be activated through contact with liquid.
However, some active dry yeasts can be used interchangeably with bread machine yeast. These yeasts do not need to be proofed. A good example of such yeast is Red Star active dry yeast.
Instant Dry Yeast
Instant dry yeast has smaller granules than active dry yeast. Therefore, it perishes faster than active dry yeast.
However, for instant dry yeast to be activated, it does not need to come into contact with liquid. This property makes it the preferred yeast for dry doughs.
Rapid Rise Yeast
Rapid rise yeast has finer granules than active dry yeast. Therefore, makes bread rise faster. The yeast is usually used in machines with the “rapid bake” cycle.
However, since the yeast makes bread rise faster, the flavors do not have time to develop. Some people do not like the taste of bread made using rapid rise yeast.
Using Yeast in a Bread Machine
Check the instructions of your bread machine to see what type of yeast is recommended. With some units, you will have to heat the liquid to a certain temperature, to create a yeast-friendly environment, before putting it to the bread pan.
Some of the best bread machines, such as this Zojirushi, have a preheat cycle. With these units, you just need to put the liquids in the bread pan and the machine will heat it up to the correct temperature before starting the kneading cycle.
When placing the ingredients in the pan, make the yeast in some sort of nest in the bread machine pan, like you can see in the picture below.
Which Bread Machine Yeast Should I Use?
I recommend using Red Star active dry yeast. I’ve been using the yeast in my bread machine recipes and it works great. There is no need to proof (get the yeast in contact with liquid) before using. Simply add it dry to the bread machine pan and you are good to go.
So, what type of bread machine yeast should you use? Well, simply pick a brand a type of yeast you prefer to use in making bread. As you become more familiar with the yeast, you will use it more confidently in your recipes.
Any of the three bread yeasts can work for a bread machine. In terms of ranking, we would choose instant rank yeast first, then active dry yeast, and finally rapid rise dry yeast.
Instant yeast is stronger and faster than active dry yeast. This makes it perfect for bread machines. Breads baked using instant yeast have more flavor than those made from rapid-rise yeast.
Our next choice is active dry yeast. The yeast takes longer to make the bread to rise than rapid-rise yeast. The slow rise makes the bread have better flavor.
Finally, rapid-rise yeast would be the last option we’d recommend. We wouldn’t really recommend this yeast unless you want your bread fast and will be using the “rapid bake” setting.
How to Store Bread Machine Yeast
You can keep your yeast in an airtight jar and store it in the cupboard. When you open the yeast, make sure you store it in a refrigerator.
