[gunman]

my wife is baking homeade bread and as i watched i looked at the list of ingredeints
the only one i dont have in storage is the yeast
i looked at the package and it has a too close for longterm storage date
I know it is alive and will not last for years so how do you store it ?
is there a long term storable version ?
is there a way to make bread rise w/out it
any help is appriciate




stay safe gunman

 

[awildchipmunk]

I does last past the expiration date, if kept well sealed and refrigerated it will last for quite a while, I'm still using some that has a use by date of dec 2003 and its still working just fine.

I've read that you can also grow your own with potato water and flour.

 

[BrowserCat]

As an alternative bread rising method, check out the Sunset magazine article on sourdough making and baking here: http://www.survivalistboards.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=756. Sunset knows their sourdough.

 

[westbrook]

for now.. freeze it! it lasts 5 years or longer in the freezer. I have yeast from costco in my freezer since 1998 and it is still good. the rule of thumb for storing it in the freezer is 5 years.

Another way to store yeast is to make if from flour, water, honey or sugar. to sour it like sourdough then add rye flour. Now if you leave it out on the counter, it will need to be fed everyday in the heat of the summer and less as the weather cools. If you are baking bread every day then you won't need to dump half of it out .. adding more flour, water and sugar to feed it again, stir. the problem with leaving it out on the counter is the flavor will change over time. there is wild yeast in the air and in time it will take over the yeast in the container. the container needs to be glass and a loose top put on. I like using crocks with lids or canning jars with a piece of fabric on top then a ring put on. It must let the carbon dioxide escape.

You can take the above and with a lid that can be put on tightly, put it in the refrigerator. Because it is cold it will inhibit the growth of the yeast and it will only need to be feed once a month. take the jar out of the refrigerator and place on counter. When it gets to room temp. remove half, feed, stir, then put it back into the refrigerator.

You can keep several different types of bread yeast in the refrigerator without worrying about one yeast taking over another.

Before refrigeration, a yeast mixture was formed into a ball and kept in the flour bin. When needed, it was taken out of the bin, a piece pinched off, placed in warm (not hot) water, sugar and given time for it to 'proof'. The ball was put back in the flour bin.

You can take yeast from your refrigerator or counter top, smear it on a piece of fabric, wax paper or paper and let dry. Kept in a cool dark place or share with another. Proof with warm water and sugar.

the above two techniques will live 6 months.

Proofing is checking to see if the yeast is still alive. Place yeast in warm water... again NOT hot ..hot kills the yeast, a little honey or sugar. If it bubbles or froths.. it is alive. If nothing happens it is dead and you need new yeast.

The water should be pure and not tap. Tap water contains chlorine. I use distilled water.

*if you are baking bread and making cheese, wait 1 week (or longer) the cheese yeast will take over the bread yeast and make it taste strange, awful even. this is where having 2 kitchens is nice.

 

[535]

unleavened bread doesn't need yeast....

 

[westbrook]

flour tortillas or Nann... my favorite! but doesn't make a great turkey sandwich or french toast.. just ask my kids! they like pita bread but... I don't think it would make a very good PB&J sandwich.

 

[tnrick55]

i go with broweracat all you need to know how to make sour dough starter

 

[535]

Folded nann makes a good sandwich, and its great to mop soup out of a bowl.

 

[texjen]

for now.. freeze it! it lasts 5 years or longer in the freezer. I have yeast from costco in my freezer since 1998 and it is still good. the rule of thumb for storing it in the freezer is 5 years.

Star yeast....in a vaccum packed brick. This is what I see at Sam's club. It's a lot of yeast, do I dump out my bad yeast from the glass fleishman's jar and pour some of the new yeast into this for fridge storage? Then how do I re-package the remaining bulk yeast for freezer storage?

Food saver? Mylar? Air-tight container? What method do you use? Thanks.

 

[westbrook]

This yeast is in a foil pouch and yes vacuumed packed. I open it, use what I want, fold the bag back up, put a chip clip on it (a little metal one actually) and put it in a zip lock bag and into the freezer.

Sure you can vacuum pack it if you want.. I even have one of those sucky thingers that will not work for me! My husband and kids it works great for..me? and I can't make potato pancakes either! some things in life I just can't do!

re-package your yeast any way you want just as long as you put it in the freezer to extend its life.

p.s. if you have a BBQ with a lid, preferably a propane one cause you can control the temperature... you can bake bread in the BBQ in the summer to keep your house cool. takes a thermometer to check the temp. +/- is ok.
If you have a space in the side and use a long stem thermometer you never have to open the lid to check which drops the temp.
Anything can be baked in the BBQ... try pizza!

 

[westbrook]

i go with broweracat all you need to know how to make sour dough starter

I absolutely agree... learn to make yeast from flour, water, and honey/sugar! however, not all airborne yeast is great and not everyone gets that nice sourdough flavor. I don't want a sourdough PB&J sandwich and I know my kids don't like it either. they do like sourdough toast with Jam, but adding Peanut Butter.. no.

I have several yeasts in my refrigerator and yeast on my counter. Norman.. the yeast on my counter has been going for years.

I know some don't care for sourdough so learning to keep store bought yeast is their only option.