Yeast is the one ingredient a pizza dough needs the most. Yeast is the primary leavening agent in dough, which means it’s what causes the pizza dough to rise. The best pizza dough recipes produce dough that rises quickly, making for an airy and bubbly crust. Many people know what yeast does and what types of recipes usually call for it, but how yeast works is another story. In this blog we’ll cover how yeast works and what types of yeasts are used to make pizza dough.
How Yeast Works
Yeast is essentially part of the fungus family, and the way it works is actually quite fascinating. Yeast creates carbon dioxide by feeding on fermentable sugars within the dough’s ingredients. Carbon dioxide creates air pockets in the dough, and during the baking process the heat kills the yeast. This leaves the air pockets trapped in the dough, which creates an airy, fluffy crust. When you see a pizza dough recipe that calls for sugar, it’s because added sugar can help the yeast’s feeding process. Whether or not this extra step is necessary is arguable, but in my experience I’ve made plenty of batches of great dough without sugar.
Types of Yeast
When it comes to pizza dough, you’ll see a few different types of yeast used in recipes. Here’s a basic run down of some of the different types.
Sourdough Starter
Believe it or not, yeast can be found nearly everywhere. Wild yeast spores are floating all around us in the air. Although wild yeast may be slightly different than what you buy in the store, it’s just as good as any other yeast you’ve used (and in some cases it’s even better). Starter, more commonly known as sourdough starter, is one of my favorite types of yeast. This yeast is captured from the air by using rye (or wheat) flour and just a little bit of patience. The flour is mixed with purified water and left out at room temperature (about 70°F) for 5 days. Periodically more flour is “fed” into the starter until it is ready. At each of the “feedings,” half of the starter is first discarded so that it doesn’t grow too big in size.
Active Dry Yeast
Active dry yeast is yeast that has been dried out so that it’s shelf stable. Typically this yeast needs to be dissolved in water before it’s added to a recipe. Active dry yeast is one of the more popular types of yeasts because it’s easy to use, convenient, and it’s sold in many supermarkets.
Instant Yeast
Instant yeast very closely resembles active dry yeast, but is slightly different. Because it is a bit more “alive” than active dry yeast, it isn’t necessary to dissolve instant yeast in water. Simply add it to the dry ingredients of your dough recipe and you’re good to go.
Fresh Yeast
Fresh yeast is perhaps the liveliest of the yeast types (alongside sourdough starter) but is also a bit harder to find. Some stores only stock this yeast seasonally, while other stores don’t stock it at all. On top of that, fresh yeast also has a shorter shelf life. Fresh yeast can either be dissolved in water, or simply crumbled onto other dry ingredients before a batch is mixed.Fresh yeastcan be substituted for instant in the following amount: 1 Tbsp. fresh yeast = 1.5 tsp. active dry yeast (or a 2:1 ratio).
If you’re worried about what kind of yeast to use, don’t fret too much. The most important part of using yeast is using the correct quantity and ensuring your water is at the right temperature (95 – 100F°).
Try experimenting with different yeasts the next time you make dough andlet us know which one you like the most!
NOTE:
We were mistaken when we called yeast a bacteria in an earlier version of this post. Yeast is actually part of the fungus family. Thanks to our eagle-eyed readers who caught the mistake!
FAQs
10 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Yeast
- 1 – Yeast is a Fungus. ...
- 2 – Over 2,000 Species. ...
- 3 – Yeast Is Everywhere. ...
- 4 – Yeasts Are Much Older Than We Are. ...
- 5 – Yeast Can Survive Almost Anywhere. ...
- 6 – We Are More Like Yeast Than Plants. ...
- 7 – Humans Have Been Using Yeast For 1 Million Years. ...
- 8 – Yeast is Essential to Wine Aroma.
Yeast needs 3 things to thrive: moisture, food (sugar), and warm temperatures. When yeast is hydrated and given something to feed on it begins growing. Yeast's favorite food source is sugar in its various forms. Yeast doesn't just feed on white sugar, but it can feed on carbohydrates in any form.
How much yeast is enough? ›
Depending on the recipe and rising time, you may use as little as 1 teaspoon, or up to 2 1/4 teaspoons (sometimes more) of instant yeast per pound (about 4 cups) of flour.
What happens if I don't use enough yeast? ›
Just remember: the less yeast, the longer the rising time (and/or the warmer the rising temperature).
What 4 things does yeast need? ›
It requires moisture, warmth, food, and nutrients for their growth. These conditions help to fungi to grow and reproduce. Yeast is commercially cultured on an aerated suspension of molasses. It is a type of sugar that serves as a food source for the yeast.
Where does yeast live? ›
Out in the world, yeast is all over — on tree sap, on grape skins, on fallen fruits. The organisms drive the process of decay, helping to break down plant material. “Where is yeast found in nature? It is found everywhere,” Rusche says.
What temperature kills yeast? ›
Too Hot to Survive. Regardless of the type of yeast you use, if your water reaches temperatures of 120°F or more, the yeast will begin to die off. Once water temps reach 140°F or higher, that is the point where the yeast will be completely killed off.
How long can yeast stay alive? ›
Fresh Yeast
| Type of Yeast: | Active Dry & Instant Yeast | Fresh Yeast |
|---|
| Storage | Cool, dark place Refrigerator Freezer | Refrigerator |
| Shelf Life | 2 years (unopened) 4 months (opened, refrigerator) 6 months (opened, freezer) | 2 weeks (refrigerator) |
Feb 24, 2022
A small amount of room-temperature or slightly warm water works best. Once foamy, stir it with a spoon or a fork until the yeast is completely dissolved. It should be smooth and silky and you can carry on with the rest of the recipe. You do not need sugar to activate the yeast.
What is yeast made of? ›
What is yeast? Yeast is a single-celled, living microorganism that is a member of the fungus kingdom. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer's or baker's yeast, has been a key ingredient in baking, winemaking, and brewing for millennia.
Sugar is nutrition for yeast, it consumes it and produces CO2. Yeasts produces enzymes that react with sugar. The yeasts, like most fungi, respires oxygen (aerobic respiration), but in the absence of air they derive energy by fermenting sugars and carbohydrates to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide.
How does yeast work? ›
The Functions of Yeast
Yeast has two primary functions in fermentation: To convert sugar into carbon dioxide gas, which lifts and aerates the dough. To mellow and condition the gluten of the dough so that it will absorb the increasing gases evenly and hold them at the same time.
How much yeast for 1 cup of flour? ›
If you use more (up to 2%), the dough rises more quickly and flavor suffers, but takes on a yeasty flavor that some like. For each cup of flour (125 g), that is 1.5 g of instant yeast, or 1/2 teaspoon. For salt, I add 2% of the flour weight or 2.5 g per cup or about 0.4 teaspoons of table salt if all else is unsalted.
What happens if you put too much yeast in dough? ›
This can affect the bread by adding a "yeasty" taste if you put too much into the dough. General amounts of yeast are around 1 - 2 % of the flour, by weight. Too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand.
Why does my yeast never foam? ›
If the yeast does not foam after proofing, there could be a few reasons why. The most common is that the yeast has either expired or was not stored properly. If you're working with yeast that does not foam, you'll need to discard the yeast and buy a fresh batch before continuing the recipe.
What are 5 yeast characteristics? ›
The characteristics of yeast include their wide use in various industries, their presence in different ecosystems, their small size (about 3-4 μm in diameter), and their ability to reproduce asexually through budding or direct division.
What are 4 examples of yeast? ›
Yeast are eukaryotic, single celled microorganisms relating to fungi. Examples are - Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Histoplasma and Blastomyces.
What is special about yeast? ›
Besides being important in the fermentation of foods and beverages, yeasts have shown numerous beneficial effects on human health. Among these, probiotic effects are the most well known health effects including prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases and immunomodulatory effects.
How long does yeast live? ›
Fresh Yeast
| Type of Yeast: | Active Dry & Instant Yeast | Fresh Yeast |
|---|
| Storage | Cool, dark place Refrigerator Freezer | Refrigerator |
| Shelf Life | 2 years (unopened) 4 months (opened, refrigerator) 6 months (opened, freezer) | 2 weeks (refrigerator) |
Feb 24, 2022
