HOW YEAST WORKS: THE HIDDEN SECRET OF SOFT, FLUFFY BREAD
๐ Why Bread Rises: The Magic of Yeast Have you ever wondered why a small, flat dough turns into a soft, fluffy loaf of bread? It almost feels like magic. But the secret behind this transformation is something tiny and alive — yeast. ๐ฑ What is Yeast? Yeast is a microscopic living organism, a type of fungus. You can’t see it with your eyes, but it plays a huge role in baking. When you add yeast to dough, you’re actually adding life to it. ✨ The “Magic” Begins When yeast is mixed with warm water, sugar, and flour, it starts to “wake up.” It begins feeding on the sugar present in the dough. As it eats, something amazing happens — yeast produces carbon dioxide gas and a little bit of alcohol. ๐ How Does Bread Rise? The carbon dioxide gas gets trapped inside the sticky dough. This creates tiny air bubbles, just like blowing air into a balloon. As more gas forms: The dough expands It becomes soft and airy It starts to rise and double in size That’s why bakers leave dough to “rest” — ...