SAF Instant Yeast, 1 Pound Pouch, 16 Ounce (Pack of 3)

The product worked as intended. I got a good rise in my bread dough, and the finished loaf of bread came out great. I prefer instant yeast (vs. active) because you don't have to mix it with warm water before using. It's hard to find yeast in bulk at your regular grocery store, and the small jars they sell are really expensive. This 1lb pack (which came in a bundle of 3 1lb packs) is a good value and so much less expensive than one jar at the grocery store (each 1lb pack was only about $1 more than a 5 oz jar purchased locally for about $6). This brand came highly recommended by other bakers in a bakers forum, so I gave it a try. I would buy this brand again.

I have making bread for three decades or more and there is nothing more disappointing than when after all your hard work your dough fails to rise properly. Conversely, when the first rise looks perfect and your work is rewarded, even after all these years, I get a feeling of satisfaction. Bread baking is an art and you need the best tools. That is where SAF Instant Yeast comes in. I have used all different brands of yeast, but once I tried this product I never went back. If consistent, quality performance from your yeast is important, don't hesitate to give this product a try. It will not disappoint.

I bought the three, one-pound packages of SAF instant yeast from Taste of Arabia. The items arrived in a heavy bubble pack more quickly than I expected and were in fine condition with no damage. The yeast was manufactured in October 2019 and expires October 2021, which means 18 months remaining, a very acceptable amount of time, especially during the corona crisis when yeast is very hard to find. These were certainly not short-dated packages. Normally, I just store most of the yeast I will be using in the next few weeks in the refrigerator, since we make quite a lot of baked goods and the yeast just gets used up quickly; but with the corona crisis, I am taking extra measures to ensure that I have yeast available long-term and that it doesn't go bad. This SAF yeast can be kept far longer than the expiration date. To prolong the life span of the yeast, don't open the factory-sealed package until you begin to use it. Store any unopened/opened packages in the freezer in a sealed plastic freezer bag stored inside an airtight glass jar to keep out moisture (I use canning jars), preferably with a light-tight/light-reducing wrapper, such as aluminum foil, etc. The less light and the less moisture available, the longer the yeast will maintain its strength. Take out only what you will use in a couple of weeks or so, store it in the refrigerator in a glass jar, and return remainder to the freezer. With care, SAF instant yeast stored this way can last several years beyond its expiration date. For yeast well beyond its expiration date, you can proof a small amount to make sure that it is still active. Don't proof instant yeast and then add it to your mixture to be baked because instant yeast activates so quickly that it can lose efficacy if proofed first. Instead, sprinkle a small amount, an eighth or quarter teaspoon, of the instant yeast into a separate bowl containing a small amount of warm sugar water. Stir to mix. If the yeast starts making bubbles of carbon dioxide after a few minutes, it is still good. Discard this small test amount of instant yeast. Use the dry instant yeast from your package to make your baked items. Good luck with your baking, and stay safe.

This SAF Instant Yeast works exceptionally well. For a widely available commercial-grade yeast, its performance is really powerful and reliable, providing a fantastic rise for baking projects. Since it comes in large 1-pound pouches (and this was a 3-pack), proper storage is important to maintain its activity. My method is to store the unopened, vacuum-sealed pouches directly in the freezer. Once I open a pouch, I pour about 5 ounces into a small, airtight glass jar (for convenient regular use) and transfer the rest into a larger airtight glass jar. Both the small and large jars containing the opened yeast are then stored back in the freezer. This approach keeps the yeast fresh and effective for a very long time. Highly recommended for consistent results!

High rising professional yeast. No additional gluten needed. Good for use in bread machines as well

SAF yeast is really the gold standard when it comes to instant yeast. If you’ve never used instant yeast before, there is a huge advantage: no need to bloom in water or worry about temperature! This means you can add it directly to your other ingredients along with cold, tepid or hot liquid and it will still do the job it was meant to do. This pack has a great price and is packaged to keep it fresh as long as possible.

Normally I don't leave reviews, however some of the reviews on this left me uncertain whether or not to buy it. Given the absence of commercial yeast in my local supermarkets, I decided to take the risk. I'm pleased to report that I'm satisfied with my purchase. The yeast is viable and produces good results. I weighed all of my packages on both of my kitchen scales and all were at the advertised weight. Another source claimed that this product was compressed yeast, but it clearly is not. It does come in a vacuumed sealed pack which may have led to the confusion, but once the package is opened, it is unmistakably instant yeast. I personally have found, but not tested thoroughly, that trading out active dry yeast amounts and proof times tend to create a slightly stronger yeast characteristic to my bread. By scaling back the instant yeast about 10-15% it seems to produce comparable to the results I get from active dry. Lastly a disclaimer: I reserve 5 star ratings for things that blow me away. This yeast does meet all of my expectations of a baking yeast and I have no complaints. Keep on baking my fellow bread enthusiasts!