How to cultivate yeast at home easily

Cultivating yeast at home is a practice that can be very useful for those who enjoy baking or making fermented beverages. In this article, we present a step-by-step guide for you to cultivate your own yeast easily and effectively.

What is yeast?

Yeast is a microorganism found in nature and is essential for fermentation processes. It is mainly used in baking to make the dough rise, but it is also used in the making of beers and wines. There are different types of yeast, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae being the most common.

Necessary materials

Before you begin, make sure you have the following materials handy:

• Sugar
• Water
• A glass jar with a lid
• A strainer
• A container to store the yeast

Preparing the growth medium

To cultivate yeast, it is important to prepare a medium where it can grow properly. You can do this as follows:

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1. Mix the sugar: In a container, mix one tablespoon of sugar with 1 cup of warm water. Make sure that the water is not too hot, as it can kill the yeast.
2. Add the mixture to the jar: Pour the water and sugar mixture into the glass jar. This will serve as food for the yeast.

Capturing the yeast

Capturing yeast from the environment is a crucial step in this process:

1. Cover the jar: Cover the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel, ensuring it is protected from dirt but has good ventilation. This will allow airborne yeast to enter the jar while preventing contamination of the culture.
2. Wait a week: Place the jar in a warm location, away from direct light. After a few days, you should start to notice bubbles in the liquid, which indicates that the yeast is active and growing.

Feeding the yeast

Once the mixture shows activity, it is important to continue feeding the yeast:

1. Feed the mixture: After a week, add 1 more tablespoon of sugar and 1 cup of warm water to the jar. This will provide more nutrients for the yeast.
2. Stir gently: Mix gently with a wooden spoon to avoid damaging the formed bubbles. Cover the jar again and let it rest.

Collecting and storing the yeast

Once your yeast has grown sufficiently, you can proceed to collect it:

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1. Strain the mixture: Use a strainer to separate the liquid yeast from the residues. The liquid part you collect is the active yeast that you can use in your recipes.
2. Store the yeast: Keep the yeast in a clean jar in the refrigerator. Make sure to label the jar with the date to keep track of its freshness.

Using yeast in cooking

The yeast you have cultivated can be used immediately in recipes for bread, cakes, or any other preparation that requires fermentation. To activate it, simply mix a small amount with warm water and a little sugar, and let it rest until it starts to bubble.

Cultivating yeast at home can be a rewarding experience and allows you to have a fresh ingredient always at hand for your preparations.

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