What's the difference between nutritional yeast and active yeast varieties?
Written by
Gina Mason
Reviewed by
Prof. William Dalton, Ph.D.Nutritional yeast differs significantly from baking yeasts and brewers yeasts. Yet, they are all derived from the same strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The heat deactivation process removes decomposing offspring from this food fermentable organism to make it a non-alien food product. I have travelled all three professionally and have found nutritional yeasts to possess a peculiar nutty cheeselike flavor while baking yeasts yield a neutral taste and brewers yeasts a bitter taste.
Processing Methods
- Nutritional yeast: Heat-treated to deactivate cells
- Baking yeast: Kept alive for dough rising
- Brewer's yeast: Byproduct of fermentation process
- Deactivation creates stable shelf-stable product
Culinary Applications
- Nutritional yeast: Seasoning for savory dishes
- Baking yeast: Leavening agent for breads
- Brewer's yeast: Supplement with bitter taste
- Flavor profiles dictate completely different uses
Nutritional Composition
- Nutritional yeast: Fortified with B vitamins
- Baking yeast: Minimal nutritional value
- Brewer's yeast: High chromium content
- Different growing media create distinct nutrient profiles
The health consequences range widely. The inactive cells of nutritional yeast do not cause yeast infections, unlike the active forms of yeast. The content of purines in nutritional yeast is lower and safer for individuals with gout than that of brewer's yeast. Nutritional yeast is recommended for those concerned about candida, but all active yeasts should be avoided.
Additionally, the storage requirements clearly reveal differences between them. Nutritional yeast can be stored in pantries for 2 years.Active yeast requires refrigeration and has a short shelf life. Brewer's yeast must be stored in airtight containers to prevent oxidation. Be sure to check the labels carefully, as misidentifications may result in culinary pitfalls or detract from the health benefits of that product.
Read the full article: 7 Surprising Benefits of Nutritional Yeast
