Active or rapid rise? Fresh or instant? Find out which yeast is best for your homemade bread recipes.
Which Type of Yeast Is Best for Your Bread?
Updated on Apr. 30, 2024
Any baker knows that making bread can be tricky business. It requires a little extra time, a little elbow grease (all that kneading!) and some extra know-how, especially when it comes to yeast. Yeast is responsible for that lovely rise in a loaf of homemade bread (plus some of that delicious flavor). But when working with yeast, a lot can go wrong—luckily we have tips to help you when you’re bread’s not rising. But sometimes the biggest challenge in making bread is knowing exactly what kind of yeast to choose in the first place: active dry, instant, rapid-rise?
Don’t worry—I’ll get you through this dough dilemma. So let’s dive in and see what makes each of these yeasts different and why those differences can matter when you’re mixing up homemade yeast bread recipes.
Active Dry Yeast
When it comes to baking bread at home, most recipes call for active dry yeast. This type of yeast comes out of the package looking like small, tan granules roughly the size of poppy seeds. In this state, the yeast has a long shelf life so long as it’s kept in a cool, dry place.
In this dormant state, active dry yeast requires warm water to activate the little organisms that give your bread its lift. After the yeast starts to come alive and bubble up (learn more about how to proof yeast), the mixture is added to the rest of your bread recipe.
(Check out our full guide to how to make yeast bread!)
Instant Yeast
Instant yeast is also a popular option for everyday bread baking. Also known as rapid-rise, quick-rise or even bread machine yeast, instant yeast is sold in small packets or jars and is appropriate for everyday bread baking (you can easily substitute instant for active dry yeast in most recipes). The major difference between instant yeast and its active dry cousin is that instant yeast does not need to be proofed in water. The granules (smaller than active dry yeast) can be incorporated right along with your dry ingredients. like with this babka recipe.
Check out some more recipes that use instant yeast.
Fresh Yeast
Less common is fresh yeast. You can find this option in some grocer’s dairy sections, though it is sometimes difficult to come by. Sold in small cakes or bars, fresh yeast has the texture of a crumbly eraser. It also has a much shorter shelf life than its packet-ready cousins (though they are actually the same organism). Since the product is so perishable, it must be refrigerated and used within two weeks.
To use fresh yeast, it must be crumbled into small pieces and proofed (just like active dry yeast).
Osmotolerant Yeast
If you plan on baking an exceptionally sweet dough (think cinnamon rolls, danishes or brioche), you should consider using an osmotolerant yeast. Sugary doughs often take a long time to rise—or just plain don’t rise much at all—so sometimes a special form of yeast is necessary to get light and airy breads.
This specialty yeast isn’t always readily available at your local grocer, and when it is, it’s likely not labeled as osmotolerant (what a mouthful!). Instead, look for SAF Gold Instant Yeast when you’re shopping in-store or online. Also worth noting: this yeast is more expensive than your standard packets. If you’re not interested in the investment of a large container like the one here, you can always use more common instant or active dry yeasts—just increase the amount by about 30%.
Nutritional Yeast
When shopping, you may also come across nutritional yeast. This type of yeast is not for baking. Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast that’s commonly used as a health supplement (it’s high in B vitamins). Occasionally this yeast product is also used to season foods with its nutty flavor.
Just like you can’t use nutritional yeast in baking, you cannot use baking yeast as a nutritional supplement (ingesting that much active yeast can be dangerous).
Now that you know one yeast from the next, learn how to use yeast so you’re ready to tick off a few items from your baking bucket list. If you ever thought bread couldn’t be healthy, ezekiel bread will make you think again.
Ready for bread? Start with these simple 5-ingredient recipes.
Country White BreadThis country white bread is wonderful for making sandwiches or French toast, and it's quite delicious even on its own.
Feather-Light BiscuitsI usually used a glass as a cutter so the biscuits are bigger than average size, and I always baked some extras to send home with the kids. They liked to split them and fill them with cheese or peanut butter and strawberry jam. —Eleanore Hill, Fresno, California
Big-Batch Dinner RollsHere’s a home-baked roll you can make for every holiday. Just mix, knead, shape and par-bake, then pop 'em in the freezer. They’re ready to finish baking when guests are on their way. —Mary Jane Henderson, Salem, New Jersey
Pull-Apart Bacon BreadI stumbled across this recipe while looking for something different to take to a brunch. Boy, am I glad I did! Everyone asked for the recipe and was surprised it called for only five ingredients. It's the perfect treat to bake for an informal get-together. —Traci Collins, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Drop BiscuitsDrop everything! It's time to bake some warm, golden drop biscuits. This five-ingredient recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Pull-Apart Caramel Coffee CakeThe first time I made this delightful breakfast treat for a brunch party, it was a huge hit. Now I get requests every time family or friends do anything around the breakfast hour! I always keep the four simple ingredients on hand. —Jaime Keeling, Keizer, Oregon
Garlic Crescent RollsThe simple comfort of warm crescent rolls gets dressed up with a brush of herbed garlic butter and a shower of Parmesan cheese.
Party Cheese BreadYou can't go wrong with this cheese bread recipe. The cheesy, butter bread is so simple to make but the taste is sinful. Plus it looks fantastic, and people just flock to it! It's better than the usual garlic bread with pasta, too. —Karen Grant, Tulare, California
Homemade Bread RecipeHere's a step-by-step guide to kneading, shaping and baking yeast bread for the freshest, fluffiest homemade loaves.
Bacon-Wrapped BreadsticksI first tried these breadsticks at a restaurant and the owner was kind enough to share the recipe. When I made them for my family, not a crumb was left and everyone was asking for more! —Wendy Domres, West Bend, Wisconsin
Bread BowlRe-create a perfectly cozy at-home version of Panera's famous bread bowl with this copycat recipe.
Rustic Cranberry & Orange BreadStudded with cranberries, slices of pretty bread make the perfect holiday brunch treat. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
No-Fuss RollsWith only 4 ingredients, these delicious rolls are ready in no time. They're fantastic with herb butter or jam. —Glenda Trail, Manchester, Tennessee
Bacon Crescent RollsThe mouthwatering aroma of warm bacon from these three-ingredient rolls will draw folks to the table. These are fun for children to prepare and such a cinch to assemble with ready-cooked bacon. —Jane Nearing, Indianapolis, Indiana
French BreadOnce you make this easy French bread recipe, you'll never go back to store-bought loaves. Here are our best tips on how to bake it.
Pull-Apart Garlic BreadThis pull-apart garlic bread is buttery, savory and all-around excellent. Plus, it's quite easy to make with premade dough.
Buttermilk BiscuitsYou can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
Potato Pan RollsMy family loves these rolls and requests them often. They don't take long to make because you use quick-rise yeast. —Connie Storckman, Evanston, Wyoming
Monkey BreadBoth of my boys really enjoyed helping me make this butterscotch monkey bread when they were young. It seemed to taste twice as good when they helped fix it. It's one of our favorites for breakfast or as a snack. —Carol Allen, McLeansboro, Illinois
Monkey Bread BiscuitsI came up with an easy, savory—instead of sweet—dinner version of monkey bread featuring garlic and Italian seasoning. —Dana Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Oatmeal Dinner RollsThese fluffy rolls go perfectly with any meal. They have a delicious homemade flavor that's irresistible. I like them because they're not hard to make and they bake up nice and high. —Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa
Italian BreadA basket of Italian bread complements any meal. Make your own loaves at home with our simple, straightforward recipe, then use them for sandwiches or just for sopping up some sauce.
Parmesan-Ranch Pan RollsMom taught me this easy recipe, which is perfect for feeding a crowd. There is never a crumb left over. Mom used her own bread dough, but using frozen dough is my shortcut. I make a wheat bread dough version with poppy and sesame seeds that’s popular, too. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Home-Style Yeast BreadEveryone likes the tender texture and slightly sweet taste of this homemade bread. When I'm in the mood to bake, I usually double the recipe and share loaves with friends. The dough also makes lovely rolls.
-Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina
Yeast RollsEvery home cook should have a recipe on hand for soft and fluffy yeast rolls. They're made with basic ingredients and come in handy when you need a simple dinner side.
