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SAF instant dry yeast, on line

Lars/J. Robert Scott

10 years ago

I ordered some IDY from Amazon, thinking it would be okay - I bought the last 1 pound back at Sur La Table, but I did not want to have to drive to El Segundo to get it, although I could also have bought it at Surfas in Culver City (closer), and I think next time I will go to Surfas, as I can always buy other things there. Anyway, I opened the sachet (which is what they call it) last week-end to bake some more bread, and the dough took forever to rise and when baked only rose half as high as bread I made two weeks ago using the same exact recipe but with yeast that I had stored in the freezer for at least a year (maybe two). Afterwards, I decided to proof the yeast in some water and sugar, and it also appeared very weak, but not totally dead. The side of the package says that there is a "best by" date on the back, but there was none to be found - only a cryptic batch number. I gave the product the worst reviews possible because the yeast is so weak and the "use by" date is not on the package. I could possibly forgive somewhat weak yeast if they had given a date. I'll post photos of the two breads later.

What should I do with the weak yeast? Would you try to return it? I will not be buying any more yeast on line, since I cannot be sure that the package will have a date, and if I buy it in a store, I can see the date when I buy it.

Featured Answer

plllog

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

E-mail or call SAF. When I have had trouble with a product from any maker, I've always found excellent results by talking to the customer service department. SAF have a good reputation, so I'd be inclined to think that there was bad handling in the middle, or maybe a bad batch.

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Comments (7)

party_music50
10 years ago
I'd contact Amazon. I've had little success with a manufacturer when I've contacted them about a faulty product.
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Lars
10 years ago
The yeast I bought was SAF-instand Premium High Power, and so I expected it to have more power instead of less.

Here are pictures of the two breads
Both were baked in a Pullman pan, and the first loaf rose so much that I was unable to add the lid, but I'm okay with that because it made a lighter loaf. The second one did not rise enough to even reach the lid, although I did add it, in case it rose during baking, but it didn't. I prefer the taller loaf to the dense one and am worried that if I make rye bread that it won't rise even this much.

I guess I will contact Amazon about this. I'll take the empty yeast package to work tomorrow to scan the back with the batch numbers.
ci_lantro
10 years ago
Yes, I would return it. Super easy to return if you ordered Amazon Prime and are within the 30 day return period. I order lots of stuff from Amazon; only once have I felt the need to return something but with Prime it was very easy to do.

I've ordered SAF yeast--the basic red label one, not the premium--from Amazon and had no problems with it. I keep a small 4 oz. yeast container in the refrigerator and refill it from the 1# bulk package that I store in the freezer downstairs. My yeast is years old and still works great.
Lars/J. Robert Scott thanked ci_lantro
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
10 years ago
Yeast is a living organism, and can be damaged if not handled properly during shipping and handling.

dcarch
cynic
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
You didn't say how long you've had it or storage conditions or anything but assuming you got it recently and kept it properly I would have contacted them to give them the chance to make it right instead of rushing to give it bad reviews. Geez. Things happen. Most reputable vendors appreciate someone contacting them when something is wrong so they can make it right. Buying mailorder is risky in a lot of ways. How long does that package sit in the mail truck, sitting in the sun baking away? It's easily damaged. Could have been a defective batch. Could have been a number of things. Could be there was supposed to be a date on it and for some reason it didn't get stamped on there. We can't tell you, only the manufacturer can.

Of course you should return it especially since it bothers you so much. I don't like getting defective things or things that don't work like I think they should. Not many people do. But at least be fair to them. Giving them no chance to rectify the problem and then giving them bad reviews is just plain wrong. How would you feel if you sold something to someone and they complained like that without giving you the chance to resolve an issue?

Calm down. It's just some yeast!
Lars
10 years ago
You obviously did not read the reviews that I wrote, or else you would not be attacking me the way you did. What I wrote was almost identical to what other reviewers had written, and so my case is not an isolated one. What I wrote was an accurate description of my experience, but perhaps you think that is not something valid to share in a review. Anyone reading the reviews of the product can read the good ones with the bad, and it would be wrong to censor the bad reviews - I wish I had read a review like mine before buying the product, and then I would have bought it at a store instead.

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