Dried yeast

Dried active yeast should be just the same as fresh yeast, just with more water removed. Instant (also known as fast acting, easy blend or easy bake) yeast is used in smaller amounts and, as the name suggests, generates carbon dioxide more quickly.

A word of warning: most brands of both dried active and instant yeast we’ve found in the UK contain one or more artificial additives. It is for this reason that I have chosen to specify fresh yeast throughout this book for the non-sourdough recipes. Given the processes that might be used by some “conventional” yeast producers, you might also wish to choose yeast produced by a certified organic producer.