Red vs. Gold Instant Yeast: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

Red vs. Gold Instant Yeast: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

For those who enjoy baking bread, pizza, dough, and crusts, choosing the right yeast is crucial. There are several types of yeast available, including active dry yeast, instant yeast, and fresh yeast. In this article, we will focus on the difference between red and gold instant yeast, two popular types of yeast used in baking.

Introduction to Scratch Ingredients

Scratch Ingredients is a small business based in Phoenix, AZ, that provides high-quality ingredients tailored to your specific baking and cooking needs. We aim to enhance the experience and joy of cooking by sourcing and manufacturing scratch ingredients with the highest quality standards in state-of-the-art, sterile facilities in the US to ensure the purest product available.

Our Gold Instant Rapid-Rise Dry Yeast is a premium baking ingredient that is perfect for making bread, pizza, dough, and crusts. It is a quick-rising all-purpose yeast that is great for all baking applications. Scratch Gold Instant Rapid-Rise Dry Yeast is quick and does not need to be pre-hydrated prior to use, making it superior to standard active dry yeast for bread, and works well in no-time, short term, and conventional time bread making methods.

 

What Is Instant Yeast?

Before we dive into the difference between red and gold instant yeast, let's define what instant yeast is. Instant yeast is a type of yeast that is dehydrated and dried to a smaller granular size than active dry yeast. This allows it to be added directly to dry ingredients without having to be dissolved in water first, making it a convenient and quick option for baking.

Instant yeast is also known as rapid-rise yeast, quick-rise yeast, or bread machine yeast. It is widely available in grocery stores and is a popular choice among home bakers.

What Is the Difference Between Red and Gold Instant Yeast?

Now, let's get to the main topic of this article: what is the difference between red and gold instant yeast?

Red Instant Yeast

Red instant yeast is a type of yeast that is popular among professional bakers. It is a high-quality yeast that is known for its consistent performance and reliability.

Red instant yeast is designed to work well in bread recipes that require a longer rising time, such as sourdough bread. It is also great for baking bread with bread flour, which has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour.

Gold Instant Yeast

Gold instant yeast is a premium baking ingredient that is perfect for making bread, pizza, dough, and crusts. It is quick-rising and works well in all baking applications.

Gold instant yeast is a superior option to standard active dry yeast for bread as it does not require pre-hydration prior to use. It is also a great option for no-time, short term, and conventional time bread making methods. 

To learn a little more about gold instant yeast, check out this article!

Substituting Instant Yeast for Active Dry Yeast

One common question that many bakers ask is whether they can substitute instant yeast for active dry yeast. The answer is yes, but it's important to keep in mind that the two types of yeast are not interchangeable in equal amounts.

Instant yeast is more potent than active dry yeast, which means that you need to use less of it to achieve the same result. In general, you can use about 25% less instant yeast than active dry yeast in a recipe.

If a recipe calls for active dry yeast, you can substitute it with an equal amount of instant yeast. Conversely, if a recipe calls for instant yeast, you can substitute it with an equal amount of active dry yeast, but you will need to dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water before adding it to the recipe.

Gluten-Free Baking with Instant Yeast

For those who follow a gluten-free diet, baking bread can be a challenge. However, instant yeast can be a helpful tool for making gluten-free bread.

Instant yeast works well in gluten-free bread recipes because it can provide a quick rise and help to give the bread a lighter texture. When using instant yeast in gluten-free bread, it's important to use a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that is specifically designed for bread baking.

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In conclusion, instant yeast is a convenient and quick option for baking bread, pizza, dough, and crusts. Red instant yeast is designed to work well in bread recipes that require a longer rising time, while gold instant yeast is a superior option to standard active dry yeast for bread as it does not require pre-hydration prior to use. When substituting instant yeast for active dry yeast, it's important to use less of it due to its potency. Instant yeast can also be a helpful tool for making gluten-free bread.

If you're looking for high-quality instant yeast for your baking needs, Scratch Gold Instant Rapid-Rise Dry Yeast is a great option. Made in state-of-the-art sterile facilities in the US to ensure the purest product available, Scratch Gold Instant Rapid-Rise Dry Yeast is quick and great for all baking applications. It's a premium baking ingredient that can save time and help you bake delicious bread.

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