Where would we be without the discovery of yeast? Fresh, puffy bread would be non-existent and need I not mention the fact that beer, wine, and alcohol products would cease to exist. Of course, all yeasts were not created equal. Some yeasts are made for making bread and baked goods, and some yeasts are made for distilling spirits.

Knowing ways of making this essential prep would be beneficial to anyone trying to live off of the food supply they have. Grains, vegetables, and fruits are three of the easiest ways to find yeast. Some have even used herbs to get their yeast.

How Does It Work?

Did you know that yeast is actually alive on plants? As long as it has warmth, moisture, and food to grow, it will stay alive. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs have yeast living on its surface. As a result, using different products will add to the flavor of the bread you make. For example, using a potato yeast starter will add more moisture to the dough due to its ability to hold more moisture.

Start experimenting with different produce to see how much yeast you can get. All you need to do is soak the produce in water and the yeast will float to the top. The water and yeast actually start the fermentation process and when mixed with flour, it creates that desirable baked good we love so much. This fermented concoction is also called a bread starter by some and is using for the sourdough starter.

By using this method, however much water the recipe calls for is how much water to soak the fruit, vegetable, herb or grain in. Those that have used this method rave about raisins as being one of the best fruits to use for acquiring yeast.

Grains

In the book, The Little House Cookbook, Ma Ingalls explains how she ferments her bread dough using what she has on hand, “You start it by putting some flour and warm water in a jar and letting it stand till it sours…”Then you use it, always a little. And put in the scraps of biscuit dough…and add warm water, and cover it and just set it in a warm place.”

Because yeast is already present on grains, when combined with water, the yeast will separate from the grain. As a result of the soaking process, the combination will begin to ferment.

To create this starter you will need:

1 1/4 unbleached all-purpose white flour

1 cup of warm water

Glass jar with lid or piece of cheesecloth

Mix flour and water in the jar and let stand, until the batter bubbles and rises. This may take anywhere from overnight to a week!

Here is another method you could use

Potatoes

Wild yeast naturally lives on potatoes, as well, making this a popular choice for making distilled spirits, such as vodka. According to the article,”Homemade Yeast: Making and Using Yeast For Bread,” the author states that using potatoes to make yeast starters dates back to 4,000 B.C.

Yeast Starter 1



one medium potato, unpeeled

4 cups of water

1 tsp. sugar

Boil potato in the unsalted water until done. Drain, but save the water. Mash potato then add sugar. Cool to lukewarm, add enough potato water to make one quart of the mixture. Cover and set in a warm place and allow to ferment. Note: If the starter is not rising, you can add a package of store-bought yeast to speed up the process (but it will be just as good if allowed to ferment without the added yeast). This recipe is about right for a large family requiring more than one loaf for baking.

Overnight Yeast Starter 2



This is an overnight method of making a bread starter.

3 potatoes, unpeeled (about the size of a large hen egg)

4 cup of filtered water

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbls. yeast

1 cup bread flour

Boil potato, save potato water (unsalted). In a mixing bowl, add cooled potato water, sugar, yeast, and flour. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the mixture to sit overnight. Put the mixture in a wide mouth jar and cover loosely–never use a tight-fitting lid. In about five or six days it should be ready. Feed starter regularly with 1 cup flour and 1 cup of water.

Fruit Yeasts

As we mentioned, many fruits can be used to make yeast for bread. Oranges, apples, grapefruits, grapes and even dried raisins all have traces of yeast on them. Using yeasts from fruits will create different flavors to the bread that you make. Skins of fruit can be used as well as cores of apples and even tomatoes. The only fruits that should be avoided are kiwi, pineapple and papaya as these fruits contain actinidin, an enzyme that breaks the dough down and it creates a sticky mess.

Fruit Yeast Starter

3-4 tablespoons of raisins (or any fresh or dried fruit)

bottled water

clean jar

Place raisins in a clean jar and pour bottled water into the jar until it is 80% full. Loosely cover the jar and leave at room temperature. This process should take a few days. You will notice small bubbles and “activity” occurring inside the jar. At this point, all the raisins should be floating at the top. The jar should smell like wine. Once it is done, store in the refrigerator.

*Tip: Adding 1-2 tablespoons of honey or sugar to your mixture speeds up the fermenting process and leads to a better result.

Source

Once your yeast starter has been established, here is my favorite bread recipe I use:

Basic Bread Recipe

1 cup yeast starter

3 cups bread flour

1/2 – 1 cup water

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon melted butter

Grease bread pan and set aside. In a mixing bowl, add the starter and remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Note: Add water a little at a time until the consistency is right. Knead the dough for 5 to 10 minutes until the dough comes together. Add dough to bread pan and brush with melted butter. Allow bread to rise for 2-3 hours. Bake at 375 degrees F for 40 minutes or until bread is golden brown on top.

Without yeast, our lives would be void of many of our day-to-day products. Getting back to the basics and learning how to make yeast yourself will give you an invaluable skill to hold onto and share with others. Using different types of produce such as oranges, potatoes, herbs, and grains is not only a great science experiment but a way for you to play around with the flavors of your favorite bread recipes.