If you’ve baked before, you know that yeast is a popular ingredient used in many baking recipes. Usually, the recipes ask you to measure the needed amount using tablespoons or teaspoons.
However, since yeast comes in packets, it is important to know just how many tablespoons are in a packet of yeast.
For instant and dry active yeast, the number of teaspoons will remain the same. One packet of yeast translate to roughly 2 ½ tablespoons.
Read on as we explore the importance of yeast in baking and the top industry-tested measuring spoons you can use for accuracy in your next baking project.
What is Yeast Used For?
Bakers’ yeast is an easily available leavening agent used worldwide to bake bread and other bakery products, with the most common types of yeast being instant and active dry yeast.
Active dry yeast is the most common and readily available yeast in stores. This yeast is dry and granulated and requires some lukewarm water to activate.
After dissolving it in the water, you can add to the rest of the ingredients, which will help your baked product rise.
Instant yeast, on the other hand, can be mixed directly into your ingredients. Additionally, since this yeast does not require proofing or dissolving in water, it works faster than the active dry yeast.
Some of the most popular brands that sell both instant and active dry yeast include Fleischmann’s and Saf-Instant.
Other types of yeast include;
- Fresh Yeast is mainly used by professional bakers and is rarely available at local stores. Fresh yeast is highly perishable and stays fresh in the fridge for about two weeks. Fresh yeast is also known as compressed yeast.
- Rapid-Rise Yeast is a type of instant yeast. Rapid-rise yeast takes the least amount of time to dissolve in the dough, helping bread rise faster.
How Does Yeast Work?
Yeast is a living organism. As such, it feeds on sugars and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is why yeast is also used in beer making.
In baking, yeast is used as a leavening agent to help bread rise by fermenting the sugar found in flour and expelling carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This helps bread and other bakery goods stay airy, soft, and spongy.
How Do You Measure Yeast?
You can measure yeast in two ways;
- Using the yeast packaging
- Using measuring spoons.
1. Using Yeast Packaging
To use the yeast packaging for measurement, check the recipe requirement. For example, most yeast packages come in 1/4 ounce, which is about 2-1/4 teaspoons.
You can safely store any remaining yeast in the refrigerator. Make sure to keep it in the back of the fridge and use it within four months of opening it.
2. Using Measuring Spoons.
You can use measuring spoons to determine the amount of yeast you will need for baking. A moderate normal kitchen tablespoon will hold about 11 grams of active dry yeast, while a tablespoon holds about 6 grams.
However, using a rounded and leveled spoon will yield different measurements since yeast may have different granule sizes. Here’s a simple table to guide you when measuring yeast using spoons;
| Active Dry Yeast | Tablespoon | Teaspoon |
| Rounded | 11 grams | 4 grams |
| Leveled | 6 grams | 3 grams |
So, How Many Teaspoons of Yeast Are In a Packet?
Some recipes will refer to yeast packets as envelopes, but this basically means the same thing. As a rule of thumb, one packet or envelope of yeast is ¼ ounces, which translates to about 2 ½ teaspoons of yeast inside.
To make it easier for you to measure yeast when baking, we’ve compiled a table with the different types of yeast.
| Type of Yeast | Teaspoons in a packet |
| Active Dry Yeast | 2 1/2 |
| Instant Yeast | 2 1/2 |
| Fresh Yeast | 2 1/2 |
The good news is that this makes it easier to remember the needed measurements the next time you are baking.
Read Also: How Hot are Jalapeno Peppers on the Scoville Scale?
Recommended Yeast Measuring Spoons
Not all measuring spoons are created equal. You may be surprised at how a slight deviation of yeast measurements can affect your final product.
Here are some of the hottest measuring spoons on the market;
These 9-piece measuring spoons are made from food-grade solid stainless steel. With easy U.S.A metrics, these spoons also come with a leveler to ensure you get the correct measurements in all your recipes.
What’s better than a digital yeast measuring spoon? The electronic measuring spoon can precisely weigh recipes from as little as 1 gram to 500 grams. This is perfect for recipes that are for different weighing measurements such as g, oz, ct, or gn.
When baking, you may use both dry and wet ingredients. Having a measuring spoon that helps adjust ingredients from as little as 1/8 tsp up to 1 full tsp is every baker’s dream. This set can come in handy in your baking adventures.
These are made of metal and stainless steel for a sleek look and are meant to last a long time. They come with easy U.S. and metric measurement markings that will endure repeated washing.
