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What Is Bread Machine Yeast?

A.E. Freeman
A.E. Freeman

Bread machine yeast can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients of recipe before the bread is baked, usually in a specialized appliance. Unlike active dry yeast, a baker does not need to proof bread machine yeast before using it, and the dough will need to rise only one time. The yeast is similar to instant or rapid rise yeast. Bread machine yeast is finely granulated and is designed to rehydrate more quickly than active yeast. It also usually has added ascorbic acid.

The primary difference between active dry yeast and bread machine yeast or instant yeasts is the level to which the yeasts are dried. Bread machine yeast is finer than active dry and contains less moisture before it is rehydrated. The lower moisture level means that a baker can mix it into dry ingredients without rehydrating it first. Active dry yeast needs to be dissolved in water before it is mixed in with the rest of the dough ingredients, or it will not rehydrate fully.

Bread machine yeast.
Bread machine yeast.

Another difference between bread machine yeast and other types of yeast is the rate at which the yeast leavens the bread. Instant or bread machine yeasts are designed to leaven the bread quickly — up to twice as fast as active dry yeasts — so a baker can bake the dough after allowing it to rise only one time. The smaller size of the yeast granules and the addition of ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, encourages a rapid rise.

Unlike active dry yeast, a baker does not need to proof bread machine yeast before using it, and the dough will need to rise only one time.
Unlike active dry yeast, a baker does not need to proof bread machine yeast before using it, and the dough will need to rise only one time.

Although they are different types of yeast, a baker can use bread machine or active dry yeast interchangeably by making some adjustments to the bread recipe. If a baker replaces bread machine yeast with active dry yeast, he or she will need to dissolve the active dry yeast in half a cup (60 ml) of water with a small amount of sugar before adding it to the recipe. Usually, active dry yeast must proof, or foam in the water, before it is added to the dough.

When bread machine yeast is used to bake bread in a bread making appliance, it is sprinkled on top of the dry ingredients. When the water is added, it should be 80°F (27°C). A baker should use half a teaspoon (about 1.5 g) of yeast for every cup (450 g) of flour in a bread machine recipe.

The yeast also can be used to make bread in the traditional way, without a special appliance. Although the yeast still should be added directly to the dry ingredients, the water temperature needs to be considerably higher — 120°F (49°C). When used for traditional recipes, a packet or 2.25 teaspoons (7 g) of yeast will leaven up to 4 cups (1800 g) of flour.

Discussion Comments

Markerrag

@Soulfox -- I don't know if bread machine yeast costs just a whole bunch more, really. Heck, bread yeast is cheap and I don't care if you are talking about bread machine yest, quick rising yeast or whatever else. Any difference in price would be negligible if you are comparing any bread yeasts at all.

Some people like bread machine yeast because it makes a very simple thing easier. Making bread with a machine is easy as can be, and some people want to abbreviate the process even further. Nothing wrong with that.

Soulfox

I honestly don't understand the attraction of bread machine yeast. It is not hard at all to use quick rising east in a bread machine. Just soak it in water for a bit first and you are ready to go. Compare that to the old days when bread had to sit out so that it could attract natural yeasts.

The "instant yeast" we have these days is a lot more convenient than that. Why bother speeding up the process more, particularly since bread machine yeast seems to cost more?

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    • Bread machine yeast.
      By: South12th
      Bread machine yeast.
    • Unlike active dry yeast, a baker does not need to proof bread machine yeast before using it, and the dough will need to rise only one time.
      By: jolantia
      Unlike active dry yeast, a baker does not need to proof bread machine yeast before using it, and the dough will need to rise only one time.