Yeast Converter: Instant, Active Dry and Fresh Yeast

How to convert between yeast types

The three common baking yeasts are the same organism in different forms. Fresh yeast is moist and perishable. Active dry and instant are dried, and active dry carries more dormant cells, so you need a little more of it. Convert by weight for the most reliable result.

Active dry = instant × 1.25 Fresh = active dry × 2.4 Fresh = instant × 3 1 packet = 1/4 oz = 7 g = 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast 1 cake = 0.6 oz = 17 g fresh yeast

Example. A recipe with one packet of active dry yeast, 2 1/4 tsp or 7 g, needs about 1 3/4 tsp or 5.6 g of instant yeast, or 17 g of fresh yeast, which is one 0.6 oz cake.

Not every source agrees on the dry yeasts. America's Test Kitchen adds 25% when using active dry in place of instant. Red Star, which makes both, says either can be used in the same amount. Both agree that one 1/4 oz packet of dry yeast matches a 0.6 oz cake of fresh. Switch the ratio under Advanced to follow the one you trust.

Yeast conversion chart

Using 25% more active dry than instant.

Instant	Active dry	Fresh
1/2 tsp · 1.6 g	5/8 tsp · 1.9 g	4.7 g
1 tsp · 3.1 g	1 1/4 tsp · 3.9 g	9.3 g
1 3/4 tsp · 5.6 g	2 1/4 tsp · 7 g (1 packet)	17 g (1 cake)
2 1/4 tsp · 7 g	2 3/4 tsp · 8.8 g	21 g
1 tbsp · 9.3 g	3 3/4 tsp · 11.7 g	28 g

Sources: America's Test Kitchen and Red Star Yeast. Checked October 2026.

Using each type

Instant yeast goes straight into the flour. It is also sold as rapid-rise or bread machine yeast.
Active dry yeast is traditionally dissolved first in some of the recipe's warm water, around 105 °F or 40 °C, for about five minutes.
Fresh yeast is crumbled into the flour or dissolved in lukewarm water. It keeps for about two weeks in the fridge.
Long, cold rises need much less yeast. When you convert a recipe that rises overnight, convert the amount exactly rather than rounding up.

Questions

How do I convert active dry yeast to instant yeast?

Use about 25% less instant yeast, or multiply by 0.8. A 2 1/4 tsp packet of active dry becomes about 1 3/4 tsp of instant. Some makers, such as Red Star, say the two can be swapped one for one.

How much fresh yeast equals one packet of dry yeast?

One 0.6 oz cake, about 17 g, of fresh yeast matches one 1/4 oz packet, 7 g or 2 1/4 tsp, of dry yeast. By weight that is about 2.4 times as much fresh yeast as active dry, or 3 times as much as instant.

How many grams of yeast are in a teaspoon?

About 3.1 g of instant or active dry yeast. A packet holds 7 g, which is 2 1/4 tsp. Fresh yeast is crumbly, so weigh it rather than measuring it in spoons.

Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry without changing the recipe?

Yes. Use a little less, add it straight to the flour instead of dissolving it first, and keep the rest of the recipe the same. Doughs made with instant yeast often rise a little faster.

How much is a cube of fresh yeast?

In much of Europe fresh yeast is sold in 42 g cubes. A whole cube does the work of about 17.5 g of active dry or 14 g of instant yeast, which is about two and a half packets.