Ineffective yeast

scottishminnie

Wondering if anyone has experienced this?

I buy Allinson easy bake yeast for use in my breadmaker. It's a little tin with an airtight lid however I'm finding (this is the third time it has happened) that once it has been opened it has a really short shelf life. I open d this tin just at the end of November 2017, it has a best before date of Nov 2018 however when I made bread yesterday (first time this year) the loaf didn't rise like it should and is far too dense.

Has anyone else found this? Or can anyone recommend a yeast suitable for bread makers which has a better shelf life? I'd rather pay a bit extra for better yeast than have to throw away tins which still have 2/3 in them.

Thanks

culpepper

Are you warming the liquid you put in your bread maker?
That makes a huge difference.
Also the little tins are 1 year life if unopened I think. Once you open them it will be less because the air has got in.
I find they last about a month(I make bread all month) once opened and lose effectiveness the less there is in the tin( more air).
You could always measure some out and freeze it in something airtight as yeast can be frozen.
You used to be able to get fresh yeast for free if you asked at supermarkets that have a bakery(they aren't allowed to sell it live but can give it away)

Oakdene

culpepper wrote: »

Are you warming the liquid you put in your bread maker?
That makes a huge difference.
Also the little tins are 1 year life if unopened I think. Once you open them it will be less because the air has got in.
I find they last about a month(I make bread all month) once opened and lose effectiveness the less there is in the tin( more air).
You could always measure some out and freeze it in something airtight as yeast can be frozen.
You used to be able to get fresh yeast for free if you asked at supermarkets that have a bakery(they aren't allowed to sell it live but can give it away)

That was my first thought.

rach_k

I find it quite quickly deteriorates once opened so I have reluctantly gone back to sachets as I don’t use the tubs quickly enough. If you know the yeast is old, you can try using extra but it’s a bit hit and miss!

AlwaysAllie

I keep my yeast in the freezer and buy it in bulk - seems to last for a long time, years at least.

AA

dandy-candy

I've used that before and I think it says use within X months of opening? Are you keeping longer than that?

JennyP

This happens to me! Thought it was just me!!!!

scottishminnie

Thanks all.

The liquid is usually tap water temperature. what I mean is I don't purposely make it tepid first however can try that.

The tin says use within 4 months of opening. It's less than 2 since I opened so it should have been ok.

If I freeze it does it need much defrosting? Some of my bread making is quite impulsive so I don't really want to have to think about defrosting first.

Bigjenny

I keep my tin in the fridge and it always seems ok

dandy-candy

scottishminnie wrote: »

Thanks all.

The liquid is usually tap water temperature. what I mean is I don't purposely make it tepid first however can try that.

The tin says use within 4 months of opening. It's less than 2 since I opened so it should have been ok.

If I freeze it does it need much defrosting? Some of my bread making is quite impulsive so I don't really want to have to think about defrosting first.

Try blood temperature water - 1 part boiling to 2 parts cold, and see if that helps. Also I usually mix the yeast with the water rather than with the flour, I put a tsp of honey in a jug, add the boiling water, top up with the cold, then whisk in the dried yeast. Hth!

Cappella

I’ve had issues with Allison’s tins as well, and have tried most of the ideas suggested here. Reluctantly I’ve moved to sachets. Very annoying because I’ve used Allunsons tins since the 1970s, and it has become noticeable how very short the shelf life now seems to be compared with its life in the past. I thought it was just me having problems but am now wondering about the product itself. I won’t be buying it any more though sadly.