Source for Yeast?
Kathrynne and I went shopping today and, as I was out of yeast, I was planning to pick some up at the grocery store. But, I about choked when I saw that the little jar was almost $7.
All you experienced homemakers out there can get a good chuckle over this, but you see, I've never bought yeast before. In the last few years, two people had given me large packages of yeast from their co-ops and, because I store it in the freezer, it has lasted quite a while. So, I knew yeast wasn't cheap, but I assumed the little jars were probably a couple of dollars -- not $7! Good thing you only use a little bit at a time!
So, I thought I'd ask if anyone has a good source online or elsewhere for good yeast which might not be quite so expensive. I usually use Red-Star, but I'm open to other suggestions.
All you experienced homemakers out there can get a good chuckle over this, but you see, I've never bought yeast before. In the last few years, two people had given me large packages of yeast from their co-ops and, because I store it in the freezer, it has lasted quite a while. So, I knew yeast wasn't cheap, but I assumed the little jars were probably a couple of dollars -- not $7! Good thing you only use a little bit at a time!
So, I thought I'd ask if anyone has a good source online or elsewhere for good yeast which might not be quite so expensive. I usually use Red-Star, but I'm open to other suggestions.
posted by Crystal Paine at 9:59 PM
20 Comments:
Well, my mom goes to the back door of a backery, and asks for some of their yeast. Sometimes, certain backeries will give you some of their yeast off their main "chunk" or sell it in fair-sized packages. It is quite inexpensive compared to the kind available in stores. The yeast bought at a backeries back door is the wet cake kind, which freezes very well.
you can buy it at sams club or have some one pick it up for you.
It is 2- 1lb pkgs for $4 something.
It is vacuum sealed so it lasts.
Crystal,
We used to have a bread business when I was a teenager and we (and all the ladies at church) bought yeast in bulk from our local mennonite bulk foods store. Not only did they sell bulk yeast but many other bulk flours, etc. Possibly you have one nearby?
Hi. I'm not sure where you are at, but there is a great co-op called Azure Standard that has drops along the West Coast. azurestandard.com should get you some more information about them, and yeast is definately cheaper as well as other bulk items.
Sam's has the absolute BEST price on yeast. You get 2 large packages for $4 or $5...or something like that. I only buy it once a year or so. I keep it in the freezer and when I need some I just take out what I need, be sure to let it get to room temp. before using.
Kathy,
www.highergroundtoday.com
The Urban Homemaker sells SAF yeast. It is a really good brand.
http://www.urbanhomemaker.com/customer/product.php?productid=16419
If you haven't gone there before, it is a great site!
I buy yeast from a bulk food store near me. When I empty it out it fills about 3/4 f a glass quart jar. It costs less than $3. I keep the jar in the fridge and measure out what I need when I bake.
I buy Fleischmann's instant yeast at Sam's Club. Two pounds costs less than $4.
Hi,
I buy my yeast from Sam's Club for $3 and change. I get two lbs. for this price. It does last a long time.
Blessings,
Carol
I buy my yeast at Costco. I get a lb of yeast for $3. At first I was worried about buying so much but then I learned you can keep yeast in the freezer for quite some time. Or you can split with a friend.
Your health food store should have it in pound packages. I pay about $4 for a pound. Also, like Lis mentioned you could try a bakery.
Costco sells 2 pounds of active dry yeast for less than $3.00. I was very amused when I opened it - it felt like a hard cake in the packaging, but upon opening it relaxed and became grainy. That was 2 months ago, I still have a ton of it left and have gone through 30 pounds of flour with it.
I also want to say that it's the RedStar brand.
You could try the King Arthur Flour website. They have good prices on yeast and a huge database of recipes.
Here is a link to where I have been buying yeast online: http://shop.bakerscatalogue.com/items/Yeast___SAF_Red_Instant___16_oz_.html This is for instant yeast, and you would only need 1/3 the amount of instant yeast as you would of active (the kind in the jars. After shipping to my home, I pay about $12, which is much cheaper than the equivalent amount from the grocery store, especially considering how much less you need to use at one time. I have heard that some warehouse clubs (Sam's, Costco) have 1 lb packages of instant yeast for 2 or 3 dollars also.
Thought I might just add that we also have been buying our yeast at Sams Club recently. It's SO much cheaper and in a lot bigger packages. We could always buy some for you when we go to Sams and then give it to you when we see you. As a side note- we also have been buying honey at Sams. It also is much, much cheaper for a huge deal of it.
Your little sister
Funny, but I have never bought any. My Mom picks up SAF yeast at Costco for me. I keep it in the freezer until I open the package and then in an airtight container in the fridge.
My mom always cautions us against buying yeast from the supermarket--she says that it may be old, resulting in bread that doesn't rise very well. She ran a home bakery for years, so I trust her judgement.
Thanks for this post, Crystal, and everyone for your responses--I have been wondering the same thing recently about a good source for yeast. This has been helpful.
Costco carries it, but also our regular grocery stores carry bags of Instant yeast also. When we couldn't find it in MN at first we bought it in MT and brought it to MN. Later I bought it at a health food coop, they sold it in bulk for like $2-3 a pound. I would check there too!
Wow! Thank you, everyone, this was extremely helpful!!
If you have a Gordon Food Services they also have a great price - it sounds like the same type as costco.
Peace,
Beth (Occassional reader!)
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