How to Make Yeast
Yeast is a single-celled organism that is present all around us in the environment. It is a key ingredient in baking, making beer, and many types of fermented foods. Yeast is used to leaven bread and add carbonation to beer and other alcoholic beverages.
Making yeast from scratch is simple but requires patience, as it can take several days for the yeast to properly ferment. The first step is to find a source for your yeast. You can buy yeast from the store, or you can make it from natural ingredients like fruit, molasses, or honey. You can also collect wild yeast by leaving a container of water, flour, and sugar outside for several days.
What You’ll Need:
- Yeast source – store-bought or collected wild yeast.
- Flour.
- Water.
- Sugar.
- Empty jar with lid.
Instructions:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, and a few tablespoons of warm water in a small bowl until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into an empty jar and add two tablespoons of your yeast source.
- Cover the jar with a lid and shake it for about 30 seconds to mix the ingredients together.
- Leave the jar in a warm place for 2-3 days, or until the mixture starts to bubble and smell like yeast.
- Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.
- Your homemade yeast is now ready to use in recipes!
Making your own yeast is a fun and simple way to get creative with baking and fermentation. With the right ingredients and a little patience, you can make delicious bread, beer, and other fermented treats right in your kitchen!
