Best way to store bulk yeast?

[Haywood]

Hello,

I am thinking of buying a 50lb bag of yeast for our longer term baking needs. We bake all our bread and buying this much would be cost effective for us.

My question is - what is the best way to store this? Does anyone know how long yeast will store for?

I don't have much room to store in the freezer so could the bulk of it just be kept in the fridge?

Just wondering if anyone else has a similar set up.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ORChick]

I store mine in the freezer with good success, and have had it still able to do what it needs to after at least a year. But, that said, I never have more than a pound or two on hand at a time. 50# of yeast is a lot of yeast! Do you bake every day? Or are you wanting to cover your needs for the next decade? If the latter (or even the former, just because it tastes good ) I would look into baking with sourdough if I were you; that you can keep going forever, and, with a bit of care, never have it *too old* to do its job. There are also ways to make a liquid yeast (there was a thread on that here not long ago); look in old cookbooks from the 19th century if you can. However, I find (in the reading; I have never made them) that they appear more awkward than I would choose for my bread baking needs. A lively sourdough starter would be my choice if, for some reason, yeast were no longer available.

 

[Farmfresh]

I agree a LOT of yeast. I freeze my dried yeast when I buy it in large batches from the wholesale club.

You can use yeast as a dietary supplement, animal supplement and to treat your septic system, but even so 50 pounds is a bunch.

 

[tortoise]

I keep 1 lb in the fridge. I have kept it in the freezer, but after 1 - 2 years it will not be nearly as active and you'll have to change recipes. You won't get the same rise.

I used my old stuff for pizza crusts that don't need to rise so much.

I think you should do some math and figure out realistically how long it will take to use that much yeast. If it is more than 18 months, than skip it or split it with someone else who bakes a lot.

 

[patandchickens]

Yeah, wow, using 50 lbs of yeast within a few years would almost be commercial-scale baking. Do the math before purchasing.

It does keep in the freezer but not forever.

Pat

 

[valmom]

I have kept a 1 lb bag of yeast in the freezer (from BJ's). It DOES lose potency over a year. I always proof before I use it, and use more than I think I need if I am using the old stuff. I feel if I proof it and give it a chance to grow a bit I can use it. That said, I haven't baked bread for ages and ages because it is too time consuming for the point I am in my life. I find I miss it...

 

[Beekissed]

We bake our own bread at all times and I don't think we could use 50 lbs of yeast in years! Probably not a good investment due to the loss of viability after awhile, even stored in the freezer.

 

[Haywood]

Thanks for the help everyone!