Best Pizza Dough Yeast: 7 Brands | The Definitive Guide

Explore our guide on the best pizza dough yeast available, featuring a variety of yeast types suitable for different pizza styles. Discover easy-to-use, affordable options to perfect your homemade pizzas.

Best Pizza Dough Yeast: 7 Brands

Enjoying delicious pizza is a great way to add variety and flavor to your meal plan.

Whether you prefer picking up a quick slice from the local pizzeria or rolling out fresh dough in your kitchen, having the right ingredients, namely yeast, helps ensure that your homemade pie bakes evenly and satisfies every taste bud.

There are several options for best pizza dough yeasts to consider if you’re looking for options beyond traditional bread dough yeasts — read on to find five great choices to make sure your next pizza night turns out perfectly!

List of 7 Best Pizza Dough Yeast Brands

How Does Yeast Work?

Yeast is a single-celled microorganism that converts starch into alcohol and carbon dioxide — it’s the same process used to make beer! 

Yeast transforms the natural sugars in your dough into carbon dioxide bubbles during the fermentation process. These bubbles, along with the alcohols and acids released, create the signature bready flavor and lightness in your pizza.

However, once the dough is placed on the pizza stone and exposed to heat, the yeast is deactivated and the bubbles expand, resulting in a perfectly puffed pizza crust. Witness the enchantment of your pizza rising before your eyes.

The Seven Best Pizza Dough Yeast Brands

SAF Instant Yeast

This industry-leading yeast is one of the top-selling in the world and comes in a large 16-ounce vacuum-packed bag, perfect for those who bake frequently. There’s no need to proof or pre-dissolve with this fast-acting yet long-lasting yeast—it will continue to work for hours longer than “rapid” yeast.

The microscopic fungus is just 6 to 8 thousand millimeters in size and has exceptional fermentation capabilities, making it reliable for even the most demanding bakers. That’s why so many home bakers and professional kitchens alike trust SAF Instant Yeast time and time again.

And you can rest assured your mixture won’t go stale anytime soon if you store it properly in an airtight container—up to 6 months at room temperature or in the fridge; or for a year or longer in your freezer!

Get ready to achieve delicious results with every recipe you bake by using the best pizza dough yeast today!

Feature:

• SAF Instant Yeast is easy to use and fast-acting
• Long-lasting and reliable with excellent fermentation characteristics
• Store in an airtight container for 6 months or longer

Fleischmann’s Instant Dry Yeast

Fleischmann’s Instant Dry Yeast is the perfect choice for anyone looking for an all-natural, gluten-free product that offers fast-acting results without the hassle of activating or refrigeration.

With over 150 years of experience in yeast production, Flesichmann’s can offer a superb product with no preservatives and Kosher certification!

This Instant Dry Yeast is suitable for bread machines and requires only one rise thanks to its fine-textured consistency. It is ready for use right away after being mixed with other dry ingredients and just needs to be stored in a tightly sealed container in your refrigerator once opened.

Each pack contains 16 ounces of yeast, ensuring you have plenty on hand when it comes to baking up some tasty treats. With this convenient pack, there’s no need to proof or feed traditional yeasts hours before baking – simply add directly to your wet mixture and follow the directions stated in any recipe.

Thanks to Fleischmann’s Instant Dry Yeast, home bakers can rest assured knowing that they are using products made with top-quality ingredients from a reputable company that has been providing top-notch baked goods since 1868!

Get ready to enjoy delicious snacks like fluffy pizza bases and sweet bread rolls anytime you want with minimal effort – try Fleischmann’s Instant Dry Yeast now!

Feature:

• Easy to use – no proofing time necessary
• Gluten-free and shelf-stable
• Perfect for oven, bread machine, and gluten-free baking
• No need to hydrate in water or refrigerate before opening.
• Fast-acting yeast
• Keep it fresh for up to 6 months.

Red Star Active Dry Yeast

Red Star Active Dry Yeast comes from one of the most popular brands worldwide and is a great choice for all your baking needs. This active dry yeast is designed specifically for yeast-leavened bread and dough, working best with temperatures between 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its 2 Pound Vacuum Packed Pouch seals in freshness and potency so you can trust that your dishes will come out tasting great every time.

This best pizza dough yeast won’t disappoint – its drying process reduces moisture to just seven percent, giving it a longer shelf life than cake yeast while still providing ultimate baking activity in the dough with low sugar to highly sweetened bread.

Allergen-free, this Red Star Active Dry Yeast is perfect for those with food sensitivities who want to make great taste at home easier than ever.

Feature:

• Use the perfect amount of moisture for your dough.
• Enjoy a longer shelf life than cake yeast
• Versatile and ideal for yeast-leavened bread and doughs
• Quality assurance with ingredients from the popular Red Star brand

Cultures for Health San Francisco Sourdough Starter

If you’ve been longing to make the perfect sourdough bread, our Cultures for Health San Francisco Sourdough Starter is just what you need!

Perfect for both first-time bakers and seasoned pros alike, this dehydrated culture offers a unique twist on other starters — it can be reused over and over to leaven your favorite baked goods.

From delicious bread and pizza doughs to pancakes, muffins, cakes, and banana bread, the starter allows you to get creative with your food.

And that’s not even counting all of the health benefits associated with this heirloom-style culture: feeds good digestive bacteria with prebiotics, increases the nutritional content of your dishes, and creates delectable flavor in every batch.

When it comes to safety, every sourdough starter is pathogen tested by a trusted third-party laboratory — so you never have to worry about anything but making delicious food! Take advantage of this versatile starter today so you can bake with confidence anytime.

Feature:

• Sourdough starter is easy to work with for beginners or breadmaking professionals.
• The starter can be reused indefinitely for delicious baked goods.
• Versatile and can be used in multiple recipes.
• Contains a blend of bacteria and yeast that boosts the nutrient content of your bread.
• Tested by a trusted third party for safety.

Bellarise (Gold) Instant Dry Yeast

This yeast is designed with your dietary needs in mind—Kosher, Halal, and gluten-free certified by the Celiac Sprue Association at less than 5 parts per million.

Produced from natural yeast, sorbitan monostearate, and ascorbic acid, this best pizza dough yeast guarantees a granular free-flowing texture for use in dough containing sugar levels above 10%.

Achieving the perfect rise time and texture has never been easier with this reliable product. Bake without worry: each package of Bellarise (Gold) Instant Dry Yeast is produced to the highest standard with quality ingredients that will enhance your baking every time.

Customers love that it’s fast-acting and easy to work with; plus it provides consistent results every time.

Offering convenience and superior quality, our team of food scientists has created an expertly brewed yeast that is sure to leave you—and everyone who tastes your baked goods—impressed!

Feature:

• Certified Kosher, Halal, and Gluten-free. 
• Natural ingredients without any chemicals or preservatives.

Lallemand Instaferm Instant Dry Yeast Leavening Agent, Red

This instant dry baker’s yeast has been specifically obtained from a specially selected strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. With up to 10% sugar content allowed, it’s the perfect addition to any regular bread or high-sugar dough such as artisan loaves, pizza dough, sandwich bread, bagels, and rolls.

With its vacuum-packed 450g brick ensuring enough dough to make up to 96 loaves of bread, you’ll be sure that there will always be enough with just one purchase!

Not only does this quality product take care of your baking needs but also comes equipped with the property of enduring storage as it can last for a year or more if stored in an air-tight container in the freezer.

It’s no wonder why it is so widely used by professionals and households alike. What are you waiting for? Make sure you get your packaging of Lallemand Instaferm Instant Dry Yeast Leavening Agent today!

Feature:

• Vacuum-packed brick makes about 96 loaves of bread.
• Easy to use and requires no adjustment to regular recipes
• 2-year shelf life – no need to refrigerate.
• No need to dissolve, just mix with flour or add to the dough during the first stage of mixing.

Antimo Caputo Lievito Active Dry Yeast

Antimo Caputo Lievito Active Dry Yeast is the perfect all-natural solution for pizza, bread, and beyond!

As diet-conscious individuals know, finding a yeast that is both gluten-free and low in shelf life can be challenging; but thanks to Caputo’s years of research and study of baking needs, we are proud to present you with the ideal choice.

Caputo Yeast has a powerful fermentative power that pushes over time. It also dies completely at 58ºC, unlike conventional baker’s yeast which collapses if left to ferment too much and does not perish while baking.

And because it is naturally gluten-free, using this yeast is suitable for any diet type you might have.

Furthermore, each batch of our dry active yeast uses selected stock from Italy which is fed with natural Italian molasses for an even more pleasant taste.

Not only does this make for delicious results every time; but it also decreases usage by up to ⅓ compared to fresh yeast! So now you can get great results with less work – what could be easier?

For top-quality products with unbeatable convenience and minimal fuss – choose Antimo Caputo Lievito Active Dry Yeast!

Feature:

• No chemicals, long shelf life
• Does not collapse
• Natural ingredients, gluten-free, and safe to consume
• Easy to use – use half or a third of the amount of fresh yeast

The Best Pizza Dough Yeasts For Homemade Pizzas

Instant Yeast

Also known as ‘bread machine yeast,’ instant yeast does not require pre-dissolving in water before use. It works quickly and can be added directly to dry ingredients for a quick rise time of about 20 minutes.

Experience the convenience and versatility of instant yeast. With its unique additives, this type of yeast boasts enhanced reactivity, eliminating the need for water activation.

Simply sprinkle it directly onto your dough mixture! Plus, the benefits don’t stop there – instant yeast is also less prone to being affected by extra salt and sugar in your dough. Discover the secret to effortlessly achieving impeccable baked goods every time with instant yeast.

Active Dry Yeast

Active dry yeast is a bit slower to activate than instant yeast and needs to be dissolved in warm water (110-115°F) before use. It can yield slightly better flavor results but takes longer to rise — expect about an hour or more.

Active dry yeast is the go-to yeast for baking, known for its affordability and convenience. This type of yeast has been dried out, giving it a longer shelf-life.

To revive it, simply add warm water and watch it come back to life. While dough made with active dry yeast still requires time to rise, it remains widely accessible, making it a reliable choice for everyday baking needs.

Fresh yeast

Fresh yeast is the quickest-acting and most perishable of all yeasts.

To achieve an evenly distributed yeast throughout the dough and prevent large chunks from forming, it is important to dissolve fresh yeast into water first before adding flour and salt.

When using fresh yeast in a recipe, it is advisable to use a slightly greater quantity compared to dried yeast, as fresh yeast is less concentrated due to minimal processing.

To maintain its freshness, it is recommended to store fresh yeast in an airtight container at the back of the refrigerator or freeze it. However, please note that fresh yeast has a relatively short lifespan and will gradually deteriorate, typically lasting only a few months.

Sourdough Starter

For an even deeper pizza flavor, try using a sourdough starter made from flour, water, sugar, and yeast. The mixture ferments over several days to create a tangy taste without the need for adding extra salt to the dough.

It also requires several hours to proof and may take some time to get used to making your starter. 

Make your authentic sourdough pizza at home with our easy-to-use sourdough starter. Unlike commercial yeast, natural yeast is created by fermenting flour and water for a week or two.

Not only is sourdough the most authentic type of yeast, but it is also the most affordable. This versatile starter is commonly used to make bread, and now you can use it to create delicious pizza dough.

Using microscopic yeast particles naturally found in the air, our sourdough starter transforms a simple mixture of flour and water into a pizza dough that rivals those seen in restaurants and on social media.

Not only is sourdough ideal for crafting delicious pizza dough, but it’s also great for those with gluten sensitivities. The fungi and bacteria present in sourdough starter can help break down gluten, making it easier to digest.

While preparing a sourdough starter does require some time and effort, the result is well worth it. Indulge in the most authentically delicious and gut-friendly pizza dough with our sourdough starter. Embrace the alchemy of turning air into yeast.

No matter which type you choose, these five best pizza dough yeasts can help make your homemade pies something special! With just a bit of knowledge and practice, you’ll soon be crafting pizzas that deserve a blue ribbon. Feel free to experiment and find the one that’s right for you!

Yeast Conversion Guide: Simplify your recipe adjustments

To achieve precise conversions between different types of yeast, it is vital to correctly adjust the quantity you intend to use. Check out this handy guide to make your conversions hassle-free:

Fresh to Instant: Divide by 2.7

Fresh to Active: Divide by 2

Active to Instant: Divide by 1.35

Active to Fresh: Multiply by 2

Instant to Active: Multiply by 1.35

Instant to Fresh: Multiply by 2.7

Take the guesswork out of yeast conversions and ensure your recipes turn out perfectly every time.​

FAQs

Can I Make Pizza Dough Without Yeast?

Yes, pizza dough can be made without yeast. However, this won’t produce the same texture and flavor as a traditional pizza. Without yeast, your dough won’t rise and will lack the cheesy bubble-filled crust we all know and love.

While there are other options available, such as baking powder (a chemical leavening agent) and steam (a vaporous leavening agent) present viable alternatives, achieving an authentic, delightful texture and flavor is best accomplished by using yeast.

Is There a Special Yeast For Pizza Dough?

No, there is no single type of yeast specifically designated for pizza dough. Any type of fresh or dry yeast can be used. However, instant (or rapid-rise) yeast is the most commonly used variety due to its convenience and faster action time.

Whether it’s a dry, instant, or sourdough starter, each option offers a unique taste. Determine your desired baking time and personal preferences to create the perfect crust. Explore the exciting possibilities of different yeast types for an unforgettable pizza experience.

Can I Use Baking Soda Instead Of Yeast?

Baking soda cannot entirely replace yeast in pizza dough recipes. While baking soda does produce some lift with carbon dioxide bubbles, it lacks the fermentation process that creates flavor complexity and texture development.

To ensure a well-risen crust with an authentic taste, we recommend utilizing the power of active dry or instant yeast when making your homemade pizza.

What Happens If Too Much Yeast In Pizza Dough?

Adding too much yeast to your dough can result in a rapid rise, compromising the development of gluten and leading to an excessively sticky texture. Yeast plays a crucial role in creating bubbles and structure by releasing CO2 during the fermentation process.

It can lead to an overly yeasty flavor and a gummy texture. It is essential to adhere closely to the recipe measurements when baking with yeast. Too little, however, will result in a flat crust. 

Is Less Yeast Better For Pizza Dough?

Not necessarily. While adding too much yeast will affect the flavor and texture of your pizza, using too little may lead to a flat, dense crust. Yeast is an essential ingredient in pizza dough, enabling it to rise and enhance its flavor.

Using a minimal amount of yeast (within reasonable limits) will result in a slower reproduction process, consumption of stretchy proteins, and expansion. However, this prolonged period will contribute to the generation of a substantial amount of flavor, resulting in a generally pleasing taste.

Conclusion

Yeast is an integral part of creating a delicious homemade pizza. Not only does it add bubbles for texture and lift to your dough, but it also provides complex flavors that enhance each bite. It’s important to activate your yeast before incorporating it into your dough and to use the appropriate amount for a perfect rise.

As you can see, there are many incredible yeast varieties to choose from when it comes to creating the perfect pizza dough.

Whether you prefer the flavor profiles found in dry or fresh instant yeast or opt for a more traditional approach of activating with whatever wild yeasts might be residing in your kitchen, every option can add an interesting dimension to your homemade pizza. 

Each variety has its distinct benefits that cannot be ignored and may prove helpful when deciding what kind of dough to create. By using this article as a guide, choosing the best possible pizza dough yeast for you should be a much simpler task.

So don’t hesitate – pick up some yeast and start experimenting! Who knows? Maybe your new favorite will rise to the top soon enough. What is your favorite?

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