Instructables - how to freeze fresh yeast

[Steve Maskery]

Does anyone here use the Instructables site? Lots of good stuff amongst the nonsense.

And if you bake bread, you might be interested in my first Instructable:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... esh-yeast/

Enjoy!
S

 

[brianhabby]

Well done Steve, I use Instructables quite often for all sorts of things but never bread making. I remember when I was a nipper when my mum made bread it was us kids who had to spend time kneading it. Took ages after school but worth it for the bread she used to make.

regards

Brian

 

[Baldhead]

Thanks for that Steve, I may even pop out and treat myself to a bread maker, how much does it cost approx per loaf?

Baldhead

 

[Steve Maskery]

No idea. But good bread is not cheap and cheap bread is not good. I like the stuff I make. I used to use all wholemeal but sometimes it is too heavy, the white lightens it but without making it wimpy.

I had some nice walnut and sunflower at the weekend, I must have a go at that. I should be more adventurous, really.

BTW, if you shop at Tesco (I don't very often) they will give you, yes give, free, gratis and for nothing, fresh yeast. Just ask at the bakery counter. No idea why they do that, but they do.

 

[NickWelford]

BTW, if you shop at Tesco (I don't very often) they will give you, yes give, free, gratis and for nothing, fresh yeast. Just ask at the bakery counter. No idea why they do that, but they do.

Morrisons used to. Don't anymore.

I make bread too, and I reckon a loaf made with 500 Grammes of flour costs under a pound. Can't beat that. Course, it doesn't last long........ Doesn't have a chance to go stale though.

 

[Glynne]

I get my fresh yeast from Hindley's bakery in Lichfield. I find that it keeps for up to a month in the fridge which is about as long as it takes me to use the 6 kg of flour I buy (white, malted & whole meal).
I don't use a bread maker as I like to experiment with different recipes / types and I did get some brilliant sourdough yeast from Dave123 (who I just visited today) who is a good reference point if anyone has any queries as he has made bread for about 40 years.
As Steve says, good bread is not cheap but I still reckon making your own is cheaper than buying even middle of the range quality let alone the top of the range.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

There's nothing like a bacon butty with Daddies sauce and home made bread....oh yes!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Why buy a breadmaker? it's perfectly simple without one. Of our local Tesco's one charges 1p for 25grms but will only give you one, one gives you a small bit free and the other charges 30p for 100gms, but will give more than one. Yeast freezes ok for a few weeks, but I always keep some dried yeast as a back up for when a starter doesn't work.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Why buy a breadmaker?

I made bread by hand for ten years before I bought one. The truth is that the BM kneads the dough better than I do. Sometimes I use the machine to knead the dough and then bake in the oven. But generally I use the Dough cycle and then the Bake cycle. I've never been able to get the Bread cycle to work well, I gave up years ago, but separately, the Dough and Bake work great.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Glynne
How do you get yeast to stay useable for a month? Mine goes off in days. A week is good.
Does it make a difference what strain of yeast you get, I wonder?
I think the supermarkets use DCL, IIRC.
S

 

[Glynne]

I simply keep it in a small Tupperware container in the fridge. Next time I buy some I'll check the make and let you know.
It's the same yeast that Hindley's use and comes in 1kg blocks. I usually get 1/4 block which is more than enough for the 2 of us for a month. If you drop me a PM with your address, I'll send you some next time I go to Lichfield.
Not that you need it having made bread for years but Hindley's do both an ordinary bread making course and an Artisan course. It's just an afternoon but you get a a supply of flour and yeast and is run by Duncan Hindley who is more than happy to answer any queries at any time both during the after the course. It's 2 years since my course and I often have a chat when I drop in to get supplies.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Ooh, that sounds very tempting, thank you.
S

 

[NickWelford]

I just use the dough hook on my kitchenaid. Works for me.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Luxury!
S

 

[blackrodd]

'Er indoors makes a mean loaf, using the good old rayburn as well as the B.M. sometimes.
It seems to be a bit of an art, getting the ingredients and baking times right.
Goes well with our homelaid eggs.
One thing she did find is that when the baking starts, after the rising has riz, if you knock, or bang the bread in the baking tin in any way. the loaf seems to be somewhat "stodgy". May be a load of old cobblers, but I've learnt NOT to disagree.
Have to say that Tesco brown, with (very annoying) sesame seeds is always a good sandwich backup, just leave in the freezer and take out the required slices needed. always fresh and scrummy, for shop bread!
Regards Rodders

 

[Brentingby]

Steve, I think you need a cooking channel on YouTube.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Actually, you are not the first person to suggest that. Are you in league with Eric the Viking?

And on a separate note, do you live in a very very tiny hamletette of a place in Leicestershire where the only mail collection of the day is at 9.15am? And if so, do you know that our esteemed former member DaveR, more lately of Minnesota, USA, has his ancestral roots there? Small world eh?

S

 

[Brentingby]

Actually, you are not the first person to suggest that. Are you in league with Eric the Viking?

Not intentionally. Great minds think alike.

And on a separate note, do you live in a very very tiny hamletette of a place in Leicestershire where the only mail collection of the day is at 9.15am? And if so, do you know that our esteemed former member DaveR, more lately of Minnesota, USA, has his ancestral roots there? Small world eh?

S

No, not there. Small world, though.

 

[whiskywill]

Why buy a breadmaker? it's perfectly simple without one. Of our local Tesco's one charges 1p for 25grms but will only give you one, one gives you a small bit free and the other charges 30p for 100gms, but will give more than one.

Last time I had fresh yeast from Tesco they gave me 11 ounces for 1p.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

How much did you throw away?