Home Made Yeast Recipe

History of Home Made Yeast Recipe:

The process of making yeast at home has a long history, dating back centuries. Before commercially produced yeast became widely available, households had to rely on their own homemade versions to leaven their bread and other baked goods. This recipe for homemade yeast has been passed down through generations and is a testament to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of those who had to make do with what they had.

Fun Facts about Home Made Yeast:

1. Potatoes: Grating raw potatoes and using them as a base for yeast might seem unusual, but potatoes contain natural yeast spores. These spores, when activated, ferment the mixture and produce carbon dioxide, which helps the dough rise.

2. Hops: Boiling hops in water and then straining it over the potatoes might sound like a step borrowed from brewing beer, and that's because it is! Hops not only add flavor and aroma to beer but also inhibit the growth of unwanted bacteria. This makes them an excellent addition to homemade yeast to ensure a healthy fermentation process.

3. Sugar and Salt: The addition of sugar and salt in this recipe serves multiple purposes. Sugar acts as food for the yeast, aiding in fermentation, while salt enhances the flavor of the yeast and helps regulate the fermentation process.

Recipe for Home Made Yeast:

Ingredients:
- 6 large raw potatoes
- 1 gallon of water
- 1 ½ cups of hops
- Scant cup of sugar
- ½ cup of salt
- 1 yeast cake or 1 cup of fresh yeast

Instructions:
1. Grate the six large raw potatoes and set them aside.
2. In a large pot, bring a gallon of water to a boil.
3. Add the 1 ½ cups of hops to the boiling water and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the pot from heat and strain the mixture through a fine hair sieve into another pot.
5. Pour the boiling hot liquid over the grated potatoes, stirring well to ensure even mixing. Be careful as the mixture thickens quickly.
6. Add the scant cup of sugar and the ½ cup of salt to the potato mixture, stirring until dissolved.
7. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
8. Once cooled, add either a yeast cake or a cup of fresh yeast to the mixture. Stir well.
9. Let the mixture stand undisturbed until a thick foam rises on the top. This may take a few hours or even overnight.
10. After the foam has formed, bottle the yeast in airtight containers.
11. Store the bottled yeast in a cool place for maximum longevity.
12. Remember to use a cup of the same yeast to start the new batch when making yeast in the future.

Fun fact: 1 cup of liquid yeast made from this recipe is equivalent to one cake of compressed yeast.

Alternate method when yeast is not available:

1. To start the fermentation process in the absence of yeast, mix a thin batter of flour and water in a ratio of around 1:1.
2. Let the batter stand in a warm place until it is full of bubbles, indicating fermentation.
3. This homemade ferment can be used in recipes, but remember to double the amount used as it is only half the strength of yeast.

Similar Recipes:

While this homemade yeast recipe is unique, there are other alternative ways to make yeast at home. Some recipes use fruit, such as grapes or apples, to create a natural yeast starter. Others rely on capturing wild yeast from the air or from fermenting natural ingredients like honey or malt.

Experimenting with homemade yeast can be a fun and rewarding process, as it allows you to explore different flavors and fermentation techniques. So, don't be afraid to get creative and try out new methods of making yeast at home!