Food glossary
What is Yeast?
Yeast — A microscopic living fungus that multiplies rapidly in suitable conditions. It's an essential ingredient for bread-making and brewing. When mixed with warm water, sugar and flour, yeast produces carbon dioxide, which causes dough to rise. There are three types of yeast used in bread-making: fresh yeast, which is a firm, moist cream-coloured block available from bakeries; dried yeast, which comes…
A microscopic living fungus that multiplies rapidly in suitable conditions. It's an essential ingredient for bread-making and brewing. When mixed with warm water, sugar and flour, yeast produces carbon dioxide, which causes dough to rise.
There are three types of yeast used in bread-making: fresh yeast, which is a firm, moist cream-coloured block available from bakeries; dried yeast, which comes in small granules that are first reconstituted with warm water and sugar; and powdered (or 'easy-blend' or 'fast-action') dried yeast which is sold in sachets and just sprinkled straight into a bowl of flour.
Yeast is used as a raising agent for all kinds of baked goods - breads, rolls, cakes and sweet pastry doughs. Store the different types of yeast carefully according to the packet instructions because they won't work if they become stale.