Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Lori Walker
**Need quick rolls or bread from the bread machine?** Instant yeast **makes it super speedy**. It’s **lightning-fast** and **skips the fuss**. Busy folks **love this fast fix** for baking without the wait!
One of the most widely-known instant yeast brands worldwide is SAF Instant Yeast.
Here’s a quick comparison between its two varieties, the SAF Instant Yeast Red and Gold. Let’s see when we should use each yeast variety.
Comparing SAF Instant Yeast Red & Gold
SAF Instant Yeast Red trumps SAF Instant Gold when it comes to versatility. You can use it for all-around baking. It is also the best choice for doughs with little to no sugar content, like baguette recipes and pizza bases.
However, SAF Instant Yeast Gold is specifically developed for sweet doughs like Panettone and Hawaiian buns.
Nevertheless, you can still use the SAF Instant Yeast Red for sweeter baked goods.
But the rising time for the dough may take longer, and it can negatively affect the taste of your finished product.
Key Differences
Uses
Both products are instant dry yeast and bear the same brand, but you can use SAF Instant Red in a wider variety of baked goods than SAF Instant Gold.
The versatility of SAF Instant Red makes it one of the top choices for making bagels, pizza, and sourdough. You can use it in every dough that requires yeast.
But if you’re planning to make some sweet baked goods like doughnuts or a classic French brioche, SAF Instant Gold is an ideal choice.
Recommended Sugar/Flour Weight
You can use SAF Instant Red for every dough you will work on. But this variety works best for dough with less than 10% sugar on flour weight.
If you’re working on the moderately sweet dough with 5% to 20% sugar on flour weight, use the SAF Instant Gold.
The sugar in sweeter baked goods tends to pull away water from yeast, leaving it unable to grow. But SAF Instant Gold yeast is osmotolerant, which demands less water to work.
But what can you produce with flour and water?
Packaging
Both SAF Instant Yeast products usually came in the same 16 ounces or 1-lb packaging. The granulated yeast would feel like a solid brick once you opened the vacuum-packed bag.
Their package labels indicate the production date and “best if used by” date, which is commonly around two years.
But since both SAF Instant Yeast products are vacuum sealed, they could remain useful for at least ten years when stored in the freezer.
Price Point
SAF Instant Red and SAF Instant Gold have the same price range. The 16-ounce or 1-lb vacuum-packed bag ranges from $5 to $10, depending on the retailer.
One packed bag of SAF Instant Yeast can make 96 bread loaves.
The SAF Instant Red and Gold offers a cheaper alternative to some active dry yeast brands, making high-quality results and reliable consistency in every batch.
Do SAF Instant Yeast Red & Gold Shares Similarities?
Yes, SAF Instant Yeast Red and Gold share some similarities. Although SAF Instant Yeast Red and Gold have different uses based on the sugar content of the dough, both products do not need to be activated.
“Instant yeast particles are smaller, which allows them to dissolve more quickly.”
– Kelly Vaughan, Recipe Editor
Instant yeast has finer granules that, as the name suggests, work by adding it straight with other recipes [1].
You can freeze both products for storage, and you don’t have to thaw them before using them.
Where Does SAF Instant Yeast Come From?
SAF Instant Yeast comes from a France-based company, Lesaffre Yeast Corporation. The friendship between Louis Lesaffre and Louis Bonduelle was the foundation of this company that started in 1853.
The company started by making grain alcohol to manufacturing yeast by incorporating an Austrian fermentation process. In 1973, Lesaffre Yeast Corporation launched the SAF Instant Yeast.
For over 40 years, SAF Instant Yeast has become popular among professionals and home bakers.
It came in vacuum-sealed packages that can last up to many years.
Also Read:
FAQs
How do you use SAF Instant yeast gold?
You can use 1% to 3% of SAF Instant Yeast Gold based on flour weight. The SAF Instant Yeast Gold is ideal if the recipe calls for 1 tbsp sugar per cup of flour.
What kind of yeast is SAF red?
SAF Red is an instant yeast. You don’t have to activate it, and you can add it straight with other recipes. The SAF Instant Red makes the dough rise faster than active dry yeast.
Does SAF instant yeast need to be refrigerated?
How long does SAF instant yeast last after opening?
SAF Instant Yeast lasts from 6 months to more than 12 months in the freezer after opening it. Placing the yeast at room temperature will make it last for about six months.
But storing the SAF Instant Yeast in the freezer using an airtight container could maintain its effectiveness for more than a year.
Find out the reason why your bread tastes sour here.
How much SAF instant yeast do I use?
You can use SAF Instant Yeast in the same amount as active dry yeast. But if you’re using a bread machine, reduce the SAF Instant Yeast by 25% because the bread may over-rise.
Final Thoughts
Overall, SAF Instant Yeast Red has more uses than SAF Instant Yeast Gold. You can use it in various baked goods such as crackers, pizza, or sourdough.
But SAF Instant Gold is the best choice for sweet baked goods. It could make the dough rise faster despite the sugar content and helps preserve the flavor of the final product.
SAF Instant Yeast Red and Gold do not differ much regarding other aspects such as price and packaging.
References:
- https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/active-dry-yeast
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/difference-between-active-dry-yeast-213405064.html
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I have put gold yeast in pizza dough instead of the red one n don’t rise now. Can it still be eaten ??