Is your yeast actually alive?

Hubby wanted pizza tonight... so out came the flour.. and this time I'm experimenting with adding rye flour to the mix...

Anyway... I got my yeast out and since dry active, did my normal water, sugar, yeast to bloom before adding everything else.

Here’s the easiest way to find out before you sacrifice a whole bowl of flour to the cause.

Both of these started the same way:

In the first picture, that yeast is basically sitting there contemplating life. It sat for 13 mins and I'm like... hmmmm... now I'm starting to question the rye bread I made for the challenge looking at THAT.

A few little bubbles don’t impress me. It should be waking up and getting BUSY.

The second picture? THAT is what I want to see. Fresh yeast I refilled my jar with from the freezer bulk. After sitting only 4 mins... Foam, bubbles, activity… obvious signs that the yeast is alive and eating.

Give it about 5–10 minutes.

If it gets creamy, foamy, and bubbly, carry on with your bread.

If it mostly just sits there looking like beige pond water… don’t trust it with your flour.

And watch your water temperature. Warm is good. HOT can kill the yeast before it ever gets a chance to prove anything.

Yes, instant yeast can normally go straight into your flour. But if you’re questioning whether an old jar or packet is still good, there is absolutely nothing wrong with testing it first.

Flour costs too much to be out here gambling on dead yeast.