Bread and Biscuits

Fresh baker’s yeast is available in all Sainsbury stores which have an in-store bakery. Yeast should be a creamy beige colour and be smooth and in one piece: if it has crumbled and looks grey and dry it is stale and will not work effectively. It can be kept covered in the refrigerator for several days and in the freezer for a few months. Use frozen yeast immediately after defrosting it, as it will deteriorate if left.

Dried yeast keeps almost indefinitely and is useful to keep on hand. It is activated at a slightly higher temperature than fresh yeast (43°C/110°F) and is almost twice as concentrated, so use half as much. The exact time for yeast dough to rise can vary; always allow it to double in volume.