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Yeast Converter (Fresh, Active Dry, Instant)

Swap between fresh cake yeast, active dry, and instant yeast at the right ratio. The rule of thumb: 1 g fresh equals 0.4 g active dry equals 0.33 g instant.

Try (g)
Use instead
8.4 g

21 g Fresh (cake) yeast → Active dry yeast

Substitution ratio
×0.40
1 g equals
0.40 g
Estimates for general information, verify important figures before relying on them.
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How it's calculated

new amount = original amount × (target factor ÷ source factor)

original amount = grams of the yeast you have, factors are per-type strength constants (fresh, active dry, instant). The ratio rescales the weight when swapping yeast types.

Common values

FreshActive DryInstant
10 g4 g3.3 g
25 g10 g8.25 g
42 g16.8 g13.9 g

Common questions

Can I swap instant for active dry?

Yes. Use about 25 percent less instant than active dry, and you can usually skip the proofing step since instant yeast mixes straight into dry ingredients.

Why is fresh yeast measured by a larger weight?

Fresh yeast holds a lot of moisture, so it weighs more for the same leavening power. Dry forms are concentrated, so you need less.