Yeast and Its Role in the Bread Making Process

If you are a big bread lover, chances are you have heard about yeast. Are you wondering what role yeast plays in the bread-making process? If so, read this post by Great Harvest Bread Co. and learn about the importance of yeast.

Yeast has been used in baking for thousands of years. Its most common use is for the making of bread but has also been used for brewing over the years. Yeast is used in baking as it is the component that makes bread rise. Without ingredients like yeast, we wouldn’t know the fluffy and delicious bread we enjoy today. Learn more about yeast and its importance in the baking process in this article by Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newtonville, MA.

What is Yeast?

Yeast is present in the bread you eat at breakfast and in the delicious sandwiches you enjoy from time to time. Yeast is an organism part of the fungus family, that combined with some of the ingredients needed to make bread, produces gas making the bread or baked good rise. Thanks to yeast, qualities that we love about bread, like its softness and chewiness, are achieved. Yeast is the magical ingredient that turns a mass of dough into a well-risen loaf of bread.

Enjoy a delicious freshly baked stable bread and many other tasty treats today by visiting Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newtonville, MA. Enjoy the benefits of whole-grain bread and prepare the most delicious treats at home by getting in contact today. For more information, call 617-928-1162.

How Does it Work?

In order for yeast to be activated or to start the process of releasing gas, it needs to be mixed with elements like hot water. When mixing yeast with flour and warm water, large starch molecules are broken down, turning them into simple sugars. Carbon dioxide and other substances like ethyl alcohol are released, creating hundreds of small air bubbles, causing the dough to grow and rise. It’s crucial to consider aspects like temperature during the process, as too high of a temperature can be detrimental for the yeast and prevent it from doing its job. The temperature that is considered to be right for yeast is 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gluten

During the process, the presence of gluten also plays a significant role. Gluten is an element that helps the bread dough strengthen and hold the gas released by the yeast. Gluten helps bread dough to get the perfect elastic consistency. The more the mixture is knitted, the stronger the dough gets, and the more bubbles are formed, paving the perfect road towards a fluffy and delicious bread.

Ensure to enjoy the best products and freshly made bread offered in Newtonville, MA, today by visiting your local Great Harvest Bread Co. bakery. Learn about the amazing treats they have and all the other products on their menu today by calling 617-928-1162.

Flavor

After knitting and property stirring the dough, bakers typically shape the mixture into a round or circle-like shape. At this point, the dough needs to be set and be left to begin the fermentation process. Through this action, the molecules in the proteins and starches break down into amino acids and sugars, adding the marvelous flavor we enjoy when eating bread. Through fermentation and by letting the dough chill and slowly rise, the temperature change gradually reduces the yeast activity, enabling flavorful acids to arise. These acids also generate more flavor and allowing the dough to get its staple taste. Without yeast, bread wouldn’t have much flavor as proteins and fats by themselves don’t have a particularly strong taste.

When is Yeast Used?

Yeast is used in order to achieve the dough bread to rise, which means that depending on the baked good, a choice needs to be made between using yeast, baking powder, or baking soda. Yeast is used for baking the soft and crusty loaf of bread loved by many, as well as for baking sandwich bread, cinnamon rolls, pizza dough, focaccia, and more. When thinking about baking other goodies like cookies, cupcakes, or brownies, yeast is not needed. These types of pastries normally need ingredients like baking soda or baking powder to achieve not only the desired flavor but the required consistency and overall finished product.

After learning about the importance of yeast, head over to Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newtonville, MA, to enjoy their amazing and delicious staple bread. Enjoy the best freshly baked bread and a variety of tasty treats they offer all year round! For more information and to learn all about amazing products and services, call 617-928-1162.