🫧 Yeast Converter (Active Dry, Instant, Fresh)
Convert a yeast quantity between active dry, instant and fresh (cake) yeast — and see it in packets and teaspoons — so you can use whatever type you have.
Active dry
7 g
Instant
7 g
Fresh / cake
17.5 g
≈ 1 standard packet of dry yeast (2.3 tsp)
Active dry and instant are swapped 1:1 by weight (Red Star); some bakers use about 25% less instant. Fresh (cake) yeast ≈ 2.5× the dry weight (King Arthur). 1 packet dry yeast = ¼ oz = 7 g = 2¼ tsp. 🔒 In your browser.
How the yeast converter (active dry, instant, fresh) works
The tool works by weight. Active dry and instant yeast are interchangeable roughly 1:1 (Red Star’s conversion chart); fresh (cake) yeast is about 2.5 times the dry weight (King Arthur). It also expresses the amount in standard packets and teaspoons, where 1 packet = ¼ oz = 7 g = 2¼ teaspoons.
Active dry and instant can be swapped 1:1, though some bakers use about 25% less instant since it’s slightly more active — treat that as a fine-tuning, not a rule. Instant yeast can be mixed straight into the dry ingredients; older active dry recipes often dissolve it in warm liquid first. Fresh yeast is perishable and now uncommon in home kitchens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert active dry yeast to instant?
They’re interchangeable about 1:1 by weight (Red Star). Some bakers use roughly 25% less instant because it’s a little more active, but for most home recipes an equal swap works fine.
How much fresh yeast equals dry yeast?
Fresh (cake) yeast is about 2.5 times the weight of active dry yeast — so 7 g of active dry ≈ 17–18 g of fresh. Fresh yeast is perishable and less common in home baking now.
How many grams is a packet of yeast?
A standard packet of active dry or instant yeast is 7 grams (¼ ounce), which is about 2¼ teaspoons. Most bread recipes call for one packet.
Can I substitute instant for active dry directly?
Yes. Use the same weight, and you can usually add instant straight to the flour rather than proofing it in water first. Rise times can be a little shorter with instant.
How many teaspoons is 7 grams of yeast?
About 2¼ teaspoons — the amount in one standard packet of active dry or instant yeast.