Make your own yeast – here’s how!

Make your own yeast: Yeast water

Ingredients:

• 0.5 L water
• 2 dates (or other dried fruit such as apricots, raisins, figs – note: unsulphured!)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 screw-top jar, e.g. from a passata bottle

Instructions

1. Sterilize the screw-top jar and lid in boiling water! Leave to cool!
2. Add the date, sugar and water to the glass.
3. Screw the lid on loosely (or stretch a cotton cloth with rubber over the jar).
4. Place the jar in a warm but shady place.
5. Air the lid daily and shake the bottle gently for approx. 8 days.
6. The yeast is ready when the bubbles subside.

Storing and using wild yeast

Homemade yeast water will keep for months in the fridge. Yeast that has become unusable becomes moldy and/or smells intense and unpleasant.

Dosage of yeast water and rules of thumb:

• young yeast water: 250 ml to 500 g flour
• old yeast water: 100 ml to 500 g flour

1. Important! The fermentation power of this wild yeast increases over time!
2. If you want to use the water, shake it first.
3. Remember to subtract the liquid from the other ingredients in your recipe.

Make your own yeast: propagate

Ingredients:

• ½ cube of yeast or a sachet of dry yeast
• 100 ml water
• 100 g flour
• 15 g sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Cover the bowl and leave to rise in a warm place so that the yeast dough can increase in volume.
3. After about three hours, pour the batter into ice cube trays and freeze.

Even propagated yeast can vary in leavening power. The dough may therefore need to rise a little longer.

Preserving yeast – freezing

Yes, yeast can easily be frozen in the freezer. It will keep for at least 6 months. Simply defrost at room temperature and then process as usual.