hello everybody :)

i have a couple questions i'd like to ask about yeast and breadmaking.

1. what is the best yeast to buy?

2. whats the best, most economical way to buy?

3. any storage hints, do's or don'ts ?

thanks in advance for your replies, everyone have a great day and take care.

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), April 06, 2001

Answers

The most economical way that I know is through a food co-op by the pound. I store it in the freezer.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 06, 2001.

Hi Gene, For me the most economical way to buy yeast has been buying in bulk at Sam's club. They sell one pound packages. It is much cheaper than buying the small packets. I keep mine in a sealed container in the fridge. Hope this helps. It's worked great for me.

-- Jackie (miller672@cs.com), April 06, 2001.

I get mine in bulk from Sam's too. We bake a lot of our own bread so we really go through the yeast! I don't have a Sam's membership because the only thing I want from is yeast. I asked around at church and found someone who *did* go to Sam's and was willing to pick some up for me.

I keep my yeast in the freezer too. It will keep unopened for several years. When I open a new package, I transfer it to a airtight proof container and move it to the fridge where it's more convenient to grab.

-- dmtaylor (dmtaylor@fanninelectric.com), April 08, 2001.

I guess I'm not as persnickety. Sam's comes in 2 each 1 lb packages, vacuum sealed. I open one and do nothing more than keep the opened bag in the refrigerator. The unopened on goes on a shelf in the cellar. Even the opened one last a year for me, which can happen if I'm not making a lot of bread. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), April 09, 2001.

If there is no food co-op in your area, try the local bakery. When I worked in one, we used to sell it by the pound for... I think.... $1.50. But we never advertised it, as it was extremely close if not exactly the price we paid for it. Talk to the owner, not a cashier...

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 09, 2001.

I too buy mine at Sam's (DH gets a free membership from work). I keep the unopened package in the freezer and put the opened one inside a peanut butter jar (wide mouth, good seal) in the fridge.

I also keep my flour in the freezer then transfer it to the extra fridge. I usually have about 12 bags (5#) in the fridge and about 12 in the freezer. I bake all the bread we eat and we live too far to run to the store. Besides, it keeps my extra fridge full.

-- Viv in TX (kudzu1@webtv.net), April 10, 2001.

I just by the "super" yeast from your local store. There is quite a few different brands. I store mine in the fridgerator too. The most important thing when making bread is the kneading. You have to knead the air out of the dough but not over knead it or it will be tough. It comes with trial and error. Also, make sure your yeast has not expired. That's the most important of all.

-- Michelle (phalvers@ccisd.k12mi.us), April 12, 2001.