For some time now, handmade and homemade things have become fashionable. And it is that the love for real food (without preservatives or additives) makes us do everything possible to take time to cook, and we are not bad at all! Bread is one of those things that you usually start with because it is easy to make and it solves more than one meal. Homemade bread lasts longer and is of course cheaper.
What is the first step to get down to work? Have the ingredients we need. For example, fresh yeast is one of the required ingredients, but it is not easy to preserve as it has a very short shelf life. This is because it is a living product, an active fungus that makes the dough ferment and different from ‘envelope’ yeast, which is a mixture of chemical products that with water and heat turn into gas and increase the volume of the dough. Recipe that we make
But is there a way to make this ingredient last much longer in good conditions? The answer is yes, and you have come to the right place. In this article, we tell you some very effective tricks to keep fresh yeast without spoiling. Ready? Let’s see them!
How can I keep fresh yeast in perfect condition?
Hermetic closure
As we have mentioned, fresh yeast usually has a short duration because it is a living product. This duration is usually approximately two weeks to 10 days. It is a very delicate product that suffers from both cold and heat, so we must give it optimal conditions so that it does not spoil easily. What is your ideal conservation? In the fridge, at about 4-8º C if possible.
Once you have opened the container where the yeast is, it can be kept for a certain time but it will lose its effectiveness more quickly, so it is recommended that you use it as soon as possible. To do this, it will be good to place it in an airtight box or container and close it as best as possible at the temperature that we have indicated above.
Freeze the yeast
Another of the most common options to preserve fresh yeast is to put it in the freezer. At a very cold temperature, like the one provided by this appliance, it goes dormant and will last longer. Of course, it is convenient to let it thaw in the fridge with enough time.
Write down the deadline you have to use it
A recommendation to keep in mind so that you do not miss the date of approximately two weeks of use of the yeast is to write on the container the day you opened it. In this way you will know what deadline you have to use it.
Use it in one or two batches and directly preserve the final product
Remember that you can always do with the yeast that you have a good amount of bread or buns. Then, freeze and properly preserve all these foods so that they do not spoil. In this way, you will get much more out of this product.
How do you know if the yeast has gone bad?
If you have doubts about whether the yeast is in perfect condition or not, that is, if it still retains its active agents, there are tricks to find out. For example, place half a tablespoon of sugar with two fingers of warm water and mix well: if it starts to foam and increase in size after a few minutes, the yeast is good. If nothing happens, it will have lost its effect.