How Does Yeast Work

Yeast can be purchased in grocery stores, and is an essential part of making bread. But what is yeast? How does yeast make the bread rise? Find out in this article?

What is yeast?

First of all, let's talk about what yeast is. Yeast is a microscopic organism that is a member of the Fungi kindgom. Yes, that's right, yeast is a living thing. When bread is baked, the yeast dies. Kind of sad, but then, we make bread from flour, and flour comes from dead plants. So, try not to feel too guilty when you eat it.

How does yeast make dough rise?

Now that we know what yeast is, let's talk about how it works. When you mix yeast with dough (which is typically made of flour, water, and eggs or sugar), the yeast starts to eat the sugars that naturally exist in the dough. When the yeast eats the sugar, it gives off carbon dioxide and other chemicals. Carbon dioxide is what bubbles in sodas are made of, so you can imagine that when dough becomes all bubbly inside, it puffs up. That's why the dough rises.

Is it safe to eat yeast?

Yes, it is safe to eat just plain yeast. You can buy nutritional yeast and sprinkle it onto foods; this is popular with vegans and vegetarians. Nutritional yeast has a kind of cheesy flavor, so some people use it in place of parmesan cheese. Nutritional yeast is very protein-rich, and has a lot of the B-vitamins.