My yeast is a dud

[Marthe48]

I've had the yeast in the pantry and it's best buy date is 7/26. I finished the old jar for Thanksgiving rolls and added a little from the new jar. The rolls weren't my best this year, but I put it down to letting them raise once, not twice as usual.

I started a loaf of bread today. I did everything as usual, same ingredients, same timing, and used the yeast from the fresh jar. I make a starter and let it sit 1 hour. Then I add the rest of the flour, knead, shape and let it raise for an hour. Then bake. I noticed that the starter was kind of flat, but thought maybe I'd used more water than usual. I added flour and kneaded it. It felt okay, but not as elastic as usual. I shaped it and let it rise for an hour. When I checked, it hadn't raised. I brought it out and added a little more yeast and also heated the oven a little more. It is rising, but slowly. I proofed some of the yeast, and it is very slow. I'm going to try to return the jar.

I hope I can salvage the loaf. I read about slow rising bread, but it wasn't what I wanted to do today. Finding out your yeast isn't lively in the middle of baking is a bad experience, for sure.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

1. 😕

I always store mine in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge. Even when I buy a ton and it sits for months and months, I've never had it fail.

Wish I had a substitute handy but work is killing me today and my brain isn't working...

[Warpy]

2. I've had 10 year old yeast that was still ferouciously active

It was commercial yeast sold in bulk at a health food store. It came in pellets instead of powder, and I think that had something to do with its remarkable longevity.

I know the only time I proof yeast in warm water and barley malt is when I know it's old yeast and I want to make sure it's still alive. Otherwise, I don't proof it before baking, I've killed it off that way too many times.

[Marthe48]

3. Yeast I use usually does ok

I keep the open jar or package in the freezer. I kept the unopened jar in my cool, dark pantry.

I'd start the yeast on its own for years, then learned I was proofing it Never too old to learn.

I am trying to make a sourdough starter, and it doesn't look promising. I'll try to exchange this jar.

[Warpy]

4. Be sure to check the ezpiratioin date on the jar

The last jar of yeast I bought had it stamped on the label. There might also be a lot or batch humber on it, you don't want a replacement jar from the same lot or batch, it would be dud yeast, also.

Hope the next one works out better. There's little worse for a bread baker than expecting bread and getting a brick.

[Callalily]

5. We had a new jar of yeast fail too.

I wrote the company and they sent me coupons for two free jars!

[Marthe48]

6. That's an idea!

Glad you had a good result