Yeast Not Foaming

[shivvy]

I am following a recipe for a pizza base.
It says to sprinkle the dry yeast over luke warm water and leave for 3-5 mins until it is dissolved and foamy.
It is not going foamy.
I have tried it a few times, with the water a bit hotter, a bit colder, I have added a bit of sugar, I have stirred it, not stirred it, but still no foaming.
I only bought the yeast today and the packet is sealed and still in date.
Suggestions please!

[Old_Geezer]

Buy a different brand next time ?

[TheWinner]

Did you buy the fast action dried yeast in a packet
or fresh yeast?

[ducksie]

Open another packet, that's a dud, have the water warmer than lukewarm but not boiling, if it doesn't foam up, add the sugar, wait, it should take about 5 mins or longer it should be foaming definitely after 15 mins, is it fast acting yeast?

[shivvy]

Fast action TheWinner.
I was hoping for a nice quick dinner.
Now however I'm having to start making something else as a Plan B!

[ducksie]

Pity, a nice homemade pizza would have been lovely

[shivvy]

Yup, tried all that ducksie.
I love general cooking, but I really dont like anything that remotely resembles baking. If I'm cooking something and it goes a bit wrong I can usually salvage it but if pastry, yeast, gelatine, rising, proving etc doesn't go right, I have no idea how to recover from it!

[TheWinner]

When I have done this I found that the fast action dried yeast doesn't foam. It is just added to the flour etc with lukewarm water and then when you cover and leave it, it should rise as expected. I put the dough in a bowl that I have previously warmed (which helps the rising).

[AuntLydia]

Fast action yeast is not designed to be 'proved' in liquid. Just add it to your dry mix add water and leave to rise .

[IJKLM]

Pizzas cooked from scratch like that are not quick, though they are very good.

When I do them, I start around 3pm to eat around 6 or 6.30.

And yes, the yeast is dead. Use another pack.

I buy tubs of easy-cook yeast and use around 2 teaspoons per 1kg of flour.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Allinson-Easy-Bake-Yeast-100g/dp/B00C636VSO

Good luck :)

[ducksie]

I love baking shivvy and I guess you were trying and hoping to treat your family tonight to a nice homemade pizza all made from scratch, it's such a pity, after what I suggested, I don't know where I'd go from there - I think the temperature of the room helps too and what I would do is put a damp t towel over the yeast mix while it's foaming or to allow it to foam

[TheWinner]

It won't foam, as it is not meant to. I agree with AuntLydia. That is why it is called fast action. It does not need to be foamed in advance. It is not dud. Pre-warm the bowl you use to rise it in, with very hot water, then dry it with a tea towel, put the dough in, cover it tightly with cling film and it should rise perfectly.

[Tilly2]

or...ring Domino's.

[TheWinner]

If all else fails, go with Tilly2...................

[Old_Geezer]

I hadn't realised she was a goer.

[bainbrig]

The water might well be too hot or cold.

Luke-warm water is best made with two-thirds boiling water plus one-third cold water.

Then stir in either a teaspoon of honey or of sugar, then sprinkle on the yeast, and stir.

Leave for 10-20 minutes. It will ‘foam’ eventually.

[diddlydo]

Make a scone base for a pizza - much quicker and foolproof.

[RainbowRafiki]

I made pretzels once, and the yeast wasn't doing what it was supposed to. They were still good.

[shivvy]

Pizza was abandoned and Dan dan veggie noodle soup was made instead!
Thanks for all your answers. This is the recipe which says that
1) it does need to foam, and
2) it doesn't need to rise.
Couldn't be any more confused!

[Old_Geezer]

In the circumstances I think I'd have continued out of curiosity, to know if it would've been ok, for future reference.

[shivvy]

Sorry - forgot to add the link to the recipe in my last post!
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-homemade-thin-crust-pizza-recipes-from-the-kitchn-45499