What is the shelf life of yeast?

Answer 1

That depends upon the type of yeast - fresh compressed cake, active dry or rapid-rise. If you are talking about the fresh compressed yeast cake, I would not plan on using it after the expiration date. The activity may be too little and you'd be wasting your time and ingredients.

I have stored rapid-rise in my freezer and used it successfully significantly beyond the expiration. But I check the activity before use. To do that, dissolve 1tsp sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in a one-cup measure. Sprinkle in 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast. After 10 minutes, if the yeast is properly active, it should have bubbled up to the one-cup mark and you can use it in your recipe. If it doesn't get there, the yeast should be discarded. See Related Links.

Answer 2

Yeast can last up to a year on the shelf or 3-5 if kept in a freezer

Answer 3

Dried yeast keeps indefinately if kept dry and away from sunlight. Fresh yeast will keep for between 7-14 days if refrigerated.

Answer 4

for about 5 years