Tried a new 'quick proof' yeast from the discount bin and ruined a whole batch of sourdough

I grabbed a packet of 'RiseFast' yeast for $3 at the grocery store because it promised to cut proofing time in half. It completely killed the natural rise in my starter and left my loaves dense and gummy. I had to throw out 5 pounds of flour and starter that I'd been feeding for months. Has anyone else had a bad experience with a specific brand of yeast messing with their sourdough?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey_harris1mo ago

Totally agree with @alicecooper, those quick yeasts are brutal. I wrecked my starter the same way with a cheap "instant" packet last year.

dakotawood24d ago

Had a buddy who did the exact same thing with some no-name yeast he found at a dollar store. He thought he was being smart saving a couple bucks but ended up with these sad, flat bricks that barely even looked like bread. He said it smelled weird too, like chemicals mixed with old socks. Took him like two months to get his starter back to normal after that mess. lmao I still give him crap about it every time we bake together.

alicecooper1mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst feeling! I had a similar disaster with a "rapid rise" yeast that completely overpowered my starter. Those quick yeasts are way too aggressive for a natural sourdough culture. It's like they bully the wild yeast out of the dough. I learned the hard way to only use a tiny bit of plain active dry yeast if I'm in a real pinch, and even then it's risky. Stick with your normal feeding schedule next time, even if it takes longer.