Finely milled yeast with a higher live-cell count than active dry, formulated to be mixed straight into flour without proofing.
What it does in a recipe: Fast biological leavening with no dissolving step. Pick the swap that covers that job - the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.
Also called: Rapid-rise yeast, Bread machine yeast
2substitutes
2close matches
Baking staplescategory
Quick answer
Active dry yeast
1 tsp instant yeast = 1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
All substitutes, best first
2 ways to replace instant yeast
Active dry yeast
Closest match
1 tsp instant yeast = 1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
Active dry carries fewer live cells per spoonful, so it takes about 25% more to match - the reverse of the instant-for-active conversion.
MethodDissolve it in some of the recipe's warm liquid with a pinch of sugar and wait for it to foam before mixing, rather than adding it dry.
Trade-offRises a little more slowly. Add roughly 15 minutes to the expected proof.
Instant yeast at a glance: category, its job in a recipe, the diets it suits, the diets its substitutes can satisfy, and how many substitutes there are.
Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?
1 tsp instant yeast = 1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast. Active dry carries fewer live cells per spoonful, so it takes about 25% more to match - the reverse of the instant-for-active conversion. Rises a little more slowly. Add roughly 15 minutes to the expected proof.
Can I use fresh yeast instead of instant yeast?
1 tsp instant yeast = 9 g fresh cake yeast. Fresh yeast is largely water, so it takes roughly three times the weight of instant to deliver the same active culture.
Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter - confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.