My first loaf came out flat as a pancake because I used old yeast from the back of the pantry | Bread Baking Basics

Claire Baker · 2026-09-28T02:05:03.739981+00:00

I finally tried baking my first loaf last Saturday in my tiny kitchen in Boise. I grabbed a packet of yeast that had been sitting in the pantry since who knows when, and the dough barely rose after two hours. I panicked and tossed it in the oven anyway, and it came out dense and flat, more like a cracker than bread. Next time I'm checking the date on the yeast and proofing it in warm water first. Does anyone have a trick for telling if yeast is still good before you waste a whole batch?

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My first loaf came out flat as a pancake because I used old yeast from the back of the pantry | Bread Baking Basics - The Community Guide