Found out a packet of yeast only lasts about 4 months once it's opened, and mine was from last Thanksgiving | Bread Baking Basics

Anna Park · 2026-10-19T01:30:03.620153+00:00

I was digging through the pantry on Saturday looking for the jar of instant yeast I bought back around Thanksgiving, and when I checked the date on the back it said to use within 4 months of opening. Mine had been sitting there for about 7 months, half folded over with a chip clip. I figured it was still fine since it was sealed, so I did a little test with warm water and a pinch of sugar, and 10 minutes later there were maybe three tiny bubbles. Basically dead. I ended up running to the store on Sunday morning for a fresh packet, and my loaf actually rose over the rim of the pan for the first time in a while. Now I'm wondering how many of my flat, dense loaves over the past year were just me using tired yeast and blaming my kneading. Does anyone here keep their yeast in the fridge or freezer to make it last longer, and does it actually help?

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Found out a packet of yeast only lasts about 4 months once it's opened, and mine was from last Thanksgiving | Bread Baking Basics - The Community Guide