Active dry yeast or instant yeast are both excellent choices for bread machines. Instant yeast, also known as bread machine yeast, is often preferred for its ease of use, as it doesn’t require proofing and can be added directly to dry ingredients. Ensure the yeast is fresh for best results.
Best Yeast Brands for Bread Machine
Fleischmann’s Bread Machine Yeast
Fleischmann’s Bread Machine Yeast is a highly reliable and easy-to-use option for all bread machine bakers. Its excellent rising power consistently yields bread with great texture and volume. Being instant yeast, it can be mixed directly with dry ingredients, saving time and effort. The bread produced has a pleasing taste, free of any overly-yeasty flavor. This yeast’s dependable performance makes it a go-to choice for both novice and experienced bread machine users.
SAF Instant Yeast
SAF Instant Yeast has earned its spot as a favorite among home and professional bakers. Known for its high performance, it guarantees a quick, strong rise, contributing to beautiful loaves with a light, airy crumb. Its long shelf-life and resilience are notable advantages, even in less-than-ideal conditions. The yeast is also easy to use, requiring no prior proofing. The flavor it imparts is subtle and does not overshadow the natural taste of the bread, making SAF Instant Yeast a reliable choice for any bread-making endeavor.
Scratch Gold Yeast – Instant Dry Yeast for a Rapid Rise
Scratch Gold Yeast stands out for its rapid rise capability. It proves to be highly effective, making bread-making an efficient task. This yeast’s potency enables it to consistently produce light, fluffy bread with a pleasant taste. It eliminates the need for proofing, further simplifying the process. The packaging ensures a long shelf life, providing excellent value for regular bakers. Scratch Gold Yeast is a solid choice for those seeking to enhance their bread-making experience.
Red Star Bread Machine Yeast
Red Star Bread Machine Yeast is tailored specifically for bread machines, leading to superb results. Its consistency in yielding well-risen loaves is remarkable. This yeast produces a subtle, appealing flavor and an impressive rise, resulting in excellent bread texture every time. It is easy to use, requires no proofing, and stores well. Red Star Bread Machine Yeast is an excellent investment for anyone using a bread machine regularly.
Bellarise Gold Instant Dry Yeast
Bellarise Gold Instant Dry Yeast delivers high performance with a quick and strong rise. It’s simple to use, saving time by removing the proofing step. The yeast contributes to a well-structured loaf with an ideal crumb and texture. It adds a gentle, almost sweet flavor to the bread, enhancing its overall taste. Given its consistent results, generous packaging size, and long shelf life, Bellarise Gold Instant Dry Yeast offers great value for regular and occasional bakers alike.
Types of Yeast
Instant Yeast
Instant Yeast, also known as Bread Machine Yeast or Quick-Rise Yeast, is a highly active dry yeast. It doesn’t require proofing; you can mix it directly into your dry ingredients. This yeast is perfect for recipes that call for a rapid rise.
Active Dry Yeast
Active Dry Yeast comes in the form of larger granules and usually needs to be dissolved in water (proofed) before use. It’s used in various bread recipes and has a longer rise time than instant yeast.
Fresh Yeast
Fresh, Cake, or Compressed Yeast, is sold in small, perishable blocks. It’s moist and crumbly, with a short shelf life. It’s popular for artisanal baking but can be more difficult to find in stores.
Bread Machine Yeast vs. Active Dry Yeast
Bread Machine Yeast
Bread Machine Yeast, also known as instant yeast, is an ideal choice for bread machines due to its fast-acting nature. It doesn’t require proofing and can be directly mixed with dry ingredients. This yeast is designed to give a strong rise, making it suitable for breads that require only one rapid rise, like those made in a bread machine.
Active Dry Yeast
Active Dry Yeast is also compatible with bread machines but needs to be dissolved in warm water before adding it to the dough, a process called proofing. Although this extra step isn’t always necessary in bread machines, some users believe it results in a better rise. Active dry yeast generally takes longer to rise, benefiting breads requiring longer fermentation.
How to Use Yeast in Bread Machine?
Instant/Bread Machine Yeast
- Measure Correctly: Check your recipe for the correct amount of yeast. This typically varies between 1 and 2 teaspoons for a standard loaf.
- Add to Dry Ingredients: Add yeast directly to your dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar, etc.) and mix well before adding liquids. Avoid direct contact with salt or sugar to prevent deactivation.
- Use the Right Liquid Temperature: Ensure your liquid ingredients are at room temperature. Too hot and it could kill the yeast; too cold and it might not activate properly.
- Set the Machine: Select the appropriate setting on your bread machine for your recipe.
Active Dry Yeast
- Measure Correctly: Similar to instant yeast, adhere to the quantity specified in your recipe.
- Proof the Yeast: Dissolve yeast in warm water (around 110°F) with a pinch of sugar. Wait 10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating it’s active.
- Combine with Other Ingredients: Add this yeast mixture to your bread machine once the other ingredients are added.
- Set the Machine: Select the appropriate setting on your bread machine for your recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much yeast to put in a bread machine?
Typically, a bread machine recipe will call for between 1 to 2 teaspoons of yeast for a standard 1 to 2-pound loaf. However, the exact amount may vary depending on the specific recipe, so following the instructions is best.
What happens when you add more yeast to a bread machine?
Adding more yeast than a recipe requires can lead to a faster rise, but the bread may have a yeasty flavor and rise too fast, causing it to deflate or collapse. Overuse of yeast can also result in a coarse or crumbly texture.
How to substitute instant yeast for active dry yeast?
Generally, you can use 25% less instant yeast if substituting for active dry yeast. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast, you can use 3/4 teaspoon of instant yeast.
How to substitute active dry yeast for instant yeast?
You can usually replace instant yeast with active dry yeast at a 1:1 ratio. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of instant yeast, you can use 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast. You must dissolve active dry yeast in warm water before using it.
Can I use natural yeast in a bread machine?
You can use natural yeast, or sourdough starter, in a bread machine. However, natural yeast typically requires a longer rise time, so you’ll need to use a bread machine cycle that allows for this extended fermentation period.
