What is it exactly?
Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organism called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. It is grown in a carbohydrate rich solution. The yeast keeps feeding on the carbohydrates and keeps growing into what is called a “cream”. The yeast cream, is then enriched with vitamins and dried with heat. It does not have leavening or fermenting abilities like baking yeast since it has been deactivated during processing. After it is treated with heat, it is crumbled or flaked and packaged for use.
- The yeast strain is cultured in a tank where it ferments.
- The yeast mixture is pasteurized to inactivate the yeast and then fortified by adding vitamins
- The liquid yeast mixture is then dried using heat, resulting in a toasted aroma and flavor.
- The dried yeast is then ground into small flakes
A unique type of yeast
Nutritional yeast is a unique strain of yeast and is not the same as baking yeast, therefore, it cannot be used interchangeably with active yeast in recipes. This yeast strain was selected for its nutrient composition (protein content) and was fortified with B vitamins to complement vegetarian diets with essential nutrients. Using nutritional yeast will not work as a leavening agent as it will not froth or grow as active yeasts do. And you do not want to use an active yeast like baking yeast in place of nutritional yeast as you’d most likely end up with a big frothy mess that would taste terrible.
How to use it?
Use nutritional yeast the same way you would a grated cheese. Sprinkle it over anything from salads and roasted veggies to pasta and rice for a subtle, savory flavor boost. Toss a couple of tablespoonfuls with a little bit olive oil, salt, and freshly popped popcorn for a "cheesy" snack that to rival even the most addictive flavored chip or corn puff, minus the dairy or fluorescent-orange food coloring.
What does it taste like?
Nutritional yeast’s “cheese-like” flavor makes it a great low-sodium, cholesterol-free, delicious, healthy addition to recipes and foods. In addition to its great health benefits listed below, Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast Seasoning is a versatile culinary ingredient for most recipes. It can be used as a condiment or in recipes.
