How to Work With Yeast in Bread Making

Steps

1. Make sure you use yeast well within its freshness dates. This can be found either on the back of the paper packages or on the lid of the jar type.
2. Whether you use milk or water yeast needs warmth to activate and begin to rise. The temperature needed is generally between 120 degrees and 130 degrees F. For non-instant yeast, known as granular yeast, the temperature should be between 90 to 110 degrees F.
3. Test the liquid with your finger tips, it should feel warm but not hot.
4. There should not be any coolness if butter is used and should be added to the flour mixture directly.

Tips

• Yeast breads are tricky and when you cover them to rise, use a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl to trap any heat rising from the dough. Also, an oven set to warm and the door cracked with the bowl on the front of the stove works well too, espcially if you have a drafty kitchen.
• Can also run the oven for 1 minute at the lowest temperature. Turn the heat off and place the dough in the warm oven, close the door, let the dough rise.