🍞 Baking

Yeast Conversion

Convert fresh yeast, active dry yeast and instant yeast by grams or teaspoons. Enter the amount you have, pick the yeast you need, then press Convert.

Written and reviewed by SM Arijul Islam · Last reviewed 27 October 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error

About the Yeast Conversion

Fresh yeast, active dry yeast and instant yeast are the same organism preserved differently. Fresh yeast is roughly 70% water, so you need about 2.5 times as much fresh yeast as active dry, or three times as much as instant, to deliver the same number of living cells.

Teaspoon figures are approximate because yeast does not pack consistently. A level teaspoon of active dry yeast is about 2.8 g and instant yeast about 3.1 g; fresh yeast is denser at roughly 3 g per teaspoon. For anything you plan to repeat, weigh the yeast.

How the calculation works

1 g active dry yeast ≈ 2.5 g fresh yeast.
1 g instant yeast ≈ 3 g fresh yeast.
1 g instant yeast ≈ 1.25 g active dry yeast.
1 level teaspoon ≈ 2.8 g active dry, 3.1 g instant or 3 g fresh yeast.

Reference values

Approximate yeast equivalents used by the converter
Yeast type	Grams per tsp	Fresh equivalent	Packet size
Fresh yeast	3.0 g	1×	—
Active dry yeast	2.8 g	2.5×	7 g / 2¼ tsp
Instant yeast	3.1 g	3×	7 g / 2¼ tsp

Worked example: a 7 g packet of instant yeast

A recipe calling for 7 g of instant yeast needs 8.75 g of active dry yeast or 21 g of fresh yeast. If you only have active dry, use 7 × 1.25 = 8.75 g. One 7 g packet of instant yeast is about 2¼ tsp; 21 g of fresh yeast is about 7 tsp.

Weigh the yeast when the recipe is one you plan to repeat. Teaspoon figures are approximate because yeast does not pack consistently, and the difference between a level and a heaped spoon is large. Fresh yeast should be crumbled into the liquid; instant yeast can be mixed directly with the flour.

Frequently asked questions

Can I swap instant for active dry one-for-one?

Not exactly. Use about 25% more active dry by weight, or about 20% less instant. The difference is small in a rich dough but visible in a long ferment.

Do I need to proof instant yeast?

Usually no. Instant yeast can go straight into the flour. Active dry benefits from a short soak in warm water, and fresh yeast should be crumbled into the liquid.

Does the converter work for sourdough starter?

No. A starter is a culture with flour and water, not a concentrated yeast product. Use the sourdough hydration calculator instead.

Can I use fresh yeast instead of dry?

Yes. Use about three times the weight of instant yeast, or about 2.4 times the weight of active dry. Crumble fresh yeast into the liquid first and reduce the other liquid by roughly the same weight.