Baker's Yeast Vs. Brewer's Yeast

Although they come from the same fungus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, baker's yeast and brewer's yeast serve different purposes. Baker's yeast is used as a leavening agent in breads and other baked goods, while brewer's yeast is used to ferment beer.

Types of Brewer's Yeast

There are two types of brewer's yeast: top fermenting and bottom fermenting. Top-fermenting yeasts are used to brew ale style beers while bottom-fermenting yeasts are used to brew lager-style beers.

Types of Baker's Yeast

There are several varieties of baker's yeast: fresh, active dry and instant. Fresh yeast is sold in little cakes while active dry and instant yeasts are sold in vacuumed-sealed packets or in bulk.

Actions of Baker's Yeast

Baker's yeast is mixed into flour, salt and water then kneaded and left to rise. When the bread dough is rising, the yeast is converting sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide, causing little bubbles to form and also developing the yeasty flavor of the bread.

Actions of Brewer's Yeast

The fermentation of beer produces ethanol, which makes the beverage alcoholic. Brewer's yeast functions in circumstances that are either low in oxygen or anaerobic.

Brewer's Yeast as a Nutritional Supplement

Brewer's yeast is high in B vitamins, chromium, and selenium and is often sold in pill form as a supplement. Other varieties of yeast such baker's yeast do not contain chromium.

References

• How to Cook Everything; Mark Bittman; 2008
• Brewer's Yeast