Question

How is yeast used in the food industry?

Answer 1

1. Yeast is a single-celled fungus.
2. Food and beverage manufacturers use it.
3. When yeast is present in a sugar-containing solution, the sugar is broken down into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Fermentation is the name for this process.
4. Many products are made via fermentation in the food sector.

In bakeries:

1. Bread dough is combined with yeast and allowed to rise for a while.
2. The yeast breaks down the sugar in the dough to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.
3. The dough swells or rises to almost twice its original size due to the release of carbon dioxide.
4. The dough (and thus the bread) becomes spongy as a result.
5. The alcohol evaporates when the dough is baked into bread.

In breweries:

1. Breweries employ yeast to generate several types of alcohol.
2. Wine, beer, and whisky are made by fermenting yeast with fruits like grapes or other carbohydrate-rich foods.

Yeast extract:

1. The cell walls and membranes of yeast cells are broken and removed to make yeast extract.
2. The remainder is used in food products.
3. Yeast extract is high in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutrient-dense food.
4. It is used to enhance the flavour of some foods.