Yeast

• Yeast is used to make bread rise, adding airiness to homemade loaves, baguettes, and rolls. It feeds on sugars, producing carbon dioxide and alcohol which causes the expansion of dough.
• In pizza dough recipes, yeast is crucial for achieving that characteristic chewy and puffy crust. Using yeast in pizza dough produces bubbles, making the crust airy and light.
• Yeast is essential for brewing beer, where it ferments sugars from malted grains into alcohol and carbon dioxide, creating the beverage's alcoholic content and carbonation. Proper fermentation is key to flavor and profile.
• Yeast is often used in making sweet baked goods like cinnamon rolls or doughnuts, contributing to their soft texture and helping them rise properly. The yeast works with other sweet ingredients to enhance the flavor.
• Yeast can be used to make sourdough bread, where it works in symbiosis with lactic acid bacteria in a 'starter' to provide a unique tangy flavor and complex texture. This fermentation process takes time and skill.
• Yeast can also be used in some savory dishes such as fluffy bao buns.

• Supports gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria.
• Rich in B vitamins, aiding energy production and nerve function.
• Contains essential minerals like selenium, supporting immune function.
• Source of protein, contributing to muscle maintenance and repair.
• May help regulate blood sugar levels due to its chromium content.

Store active dry yeast in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, like the refrigerator or freezer, to prolong its shelf life. Unopened packages can last for several months past the expiration date when refrigerated or frozen. Once opened, it is best to use it within a few months for optimal rising power. Check the yeast's viability by proofing it in warm water with a little sugar before using in a recipe.