The Best Dry Yeast

Lesaffre offers some of the best yeast on the market. Their Saf-Instant Yeast is their most basic yeast that can be incorporated into just about any bread or pizza dough recipe. The yeast is suited for budding bakers because it requires no complicated proofing ahead of time, so all you need to do is add the yeast directly to your flour right at the beginning of the kneading process.

Lesaffre's yeast is regaled for its fast-acting and long-lasting properties, unlike the at times fleeting nature of rapid yeast.

Since yeast is a living microorganism, once you open up the vacuum-sealed bag, you'll need to transfer the yeast to an airtight container to preserve it's lifespan.

If contained in the fridge, the yeast should survive for about six months; if frozen, it can live for a year or even longer.

Key Features

• 1 lb. vacuum-packed bag
• Requires no proofing or pre-dissolving
• Can last for 6 months at room temperature or the fridge, or 1 year in the freezer

If you're looking to add some dimension to your meals without loading on calories and unnecessary fats, try nutritional yeast flakes. These flakes taste cheesy and creamy, similar to parmesan, without any dairy at all.

The flakes are gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO plant-based deliciousness. They're a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant-based protein. Other health benefits include that they're fortified with folic acid and B12, making these flakes all the more densely nutritious.

Sure, they're healthy, but what's also important to note is that they're delicious. The flakes have a cheesy and creamy flavor that pairs nicely with savory dishes. I personally love to add them to my popcorn, avocado toast, or scrambled eggs. They're also yummy in salads!

Key Features

• 1 lb. bag
• Deactivated yeast
• Gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, plant-based
• Has a cheesy, creamy flavor

LeSaffre's gold yeast is a bit different from the other yeast we recommended earlier from them, since this one is designed for dough of the sweet variety, so anything with a higher sugar content.

It comes vacuum-sealed and feels much like a brick, but once you open it up, the yeast is like a soft powder. Similar to the other yeast, you must carefully contain the powder once opened so it can survive for a while.

This is a fast-acting yeast that can be added directly to dry ingredients. It doesn't have to be activated in water first, like some complex yeasts require, making it a great starter option.

Key Features

• 1 lb. bag
• For sweet dough varieties
• Certified kosher

Nutritional yeast is undeniably delicious, and since it's dairy- and gluten-free, even the most sensitive stomachs won't mind it. Tasting somewhat similar to parmesan cheese, it can be a great way to incorporate cheesy flavors into your favorite meals.

Bragg's product comes in two shaker bottles so you can easily sprinkle some nutritional yeast on just about anything, like salad, soup, dips, roasted veggies, and my absolute favorite, popcorn!

Similar to the other nutritional yeast on our radar, this product is rich in B vitamins, which do all sorts of great things for your body. What's different is the convenient shaker bottle design that can easily be stowed away in your spice cabinet. Each shaker bottle is small enough to be stored anywhere and used anytime.

Key Features

• 2-pack 4.5 ounce shaker containers
• Similar flavor to parmesan
• Vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, and salt-free