Yeast

PipneyJane

A question for all the bakers, how do you test that “easy bake” dried yeast is still viable?  

 I used to bake bread regularly in the bread maker, but hadn’t done it for months, when I decided to bake some last weekend.  It didn’t rise as much as I’d expected, so I am wondering about the yeast.  I used yeast from a small tub of Allinsons’, which has been open for over a year and is stored in the fridge. The best before date is September 2022, but I usually don’t pay much attention to those.  (I baked a loaf a while ago, using a sachet with a BBE from 2014.  It rose perfectly.). 

- Pip

kipperman

Occams razor - the most likely theory is probably true - in other words it is out of date! Not expensive stuff- we use the bread machine every second day so go through the tub quite quickly. However there are days where, for no obvious reason, it doesn't rise as much as usual.

bouicca21

Try testing a bit in warm water with some sugar? 

newlywed

bouicca21 said:

Try testing a bit in warm water with some sugar? 

This… and after 10 mins there should be froth on the top

YorksLass

I keep mine in the cupboard rather than the fridge - maybe the cold affected it?

PipneyJane

bouicca21 said:

Try testing a bit in warm water with some sugar? 

@bouicca21 thank you for the suggestion.  I’ve tried it and it worked!  The yeast is still active.

kipperman said:

Occams razor - the most likely theory is probably true - in other words it is out of date! Not expensive stuff- we use the bread machine every second day so go through the tub quite quickly. However there are days where, for no obvious reason, it doesn't rise as much as usual.

Since the yeast responded to the sugar test, I guess that last Saturday must have been one of those days @kipperman.

- Pip

Auntycaz

 As long as your bread tasted ok I would just add a little bit extra yeast next time you bake some. Also how cold was it when you proved your bread it takes a bit longer to rise when it's colder. 

Nelliegrace

Too much yeast can make bread rise then collapse into a brick.

We used up older dried yeast by activating it in tepid water with a little sugar until there was some froth, for each loaf.

PipneyJane

Auntycaz said:

 As long as your bread tasted ok I would just add a little bit extra yeast next time you bake some. Also how cold was it when you proved your bread it takes a bit longer to rise when it's colder. 

Our kitchen was quite cold @Auntycaz.  However, since I was using the bread maker, it shouldn’t have been an issue.  (Mind you, our bread maker was a wedding present, 20 years ago, so might be showing its age.)

Thinking about it, I probably chose the wrong program to deal with the room temperature.  Rather than our regular loaf program, I went for the “quick bake” one which is 20-ish minutes shorter.  Obviously a mistake.

Nelliegrace said:

Too much yeast can make bread rise then collapse into a brick.

We used up older dried yeast by activating it in tepid water with a little sugar until there was some froth, for each loaf.

Noted @Nelliegrace.  If I have further issues, I will try that.

- Pip

Auntycaz

Hope you manage to sort it, homemade bread is much nicer than the bought stuff.