My fast action yeast has a best before of October 2019

[MuddyPuddlesAndPrettyBubbles]

Is there any point in trying to make bread with it, or is it doomed before I begin?

Put a bit in warm ( not hot )water with some sugar , put it in a warm place and see if it starts to bubbie.

It’ll be fine. Might not be quite as powerful so you could use a little extra.

I read somewhere that yeast found in a pyramid was used to make a trial loaf & it worked. So I don't think you'll have any problems.

Are you making it in a machine? In which case you may need a bit more.

If you're hand baking, mix it with sugar and warm water and let it start foaming before adding it. If it's dead it won't foam.

If you do it in a machine and it doesn't rise, slice or cube it and bake in a low oven to make "Melba toast" or croutons.

Yes to bubbles, wouldn't say it's gone as far as foaming. Double it up maybe? Going to make it by hand.

It’ll be fine - I used to check bread flour as part of my job by baking. When I pointed out the yeast they gave me was out of date they laughed and said it’s like bicarbonate of soda - only has a date on it by law not because it goes iff

I know it's not a competition, but mine was bbe January 2019 and has been absolutely fine

I wouldnt double it up, but I would leave it to start activating before mixing with the flour.
It may rake a little longer to rise than the recipie suggests.

I found some in the back of the cupboard late last year, an unopened packet of Allisons yeast (now in tins) it was 2014 . It's wasn't as good as fresher yeast, so I made it up with extra sugar and left it an extra half hour or more in the warm to really froth and get going.

If it's not great, use some to get a starter going.

Do try, it may be OK.

Before second prove

After second prove. Its risen just fine. Goodness knows how it will taste though!

I'm going to give this pack a try later this week - just out of curiosity... found it at the back of a cupboard 😊

Loving this thread - please report back on the 2015 yeast!
Mine is July 2019 so it's given me the confidence to try.

You are lucky to have this, albeit ancient, yeast. Our DH was unable to find any at all in local shops or online and was very grateful for the pack of 5 we sent him.
Glad your bread was so successful.

I’ve used older!

I forgot to use the 2015 sachets but am sure they'll be fine based on other PPs' experience. The loaf I made I forgot to add the water but as I couldn't resist curiosity got the better of me I took a peak and realised! Smoothed down the dry ingredients. It was a medium loaf but had risen to hit the top of the pan so had an uneven top. Tasted lovely after years of Hovis sliced! Naturally, I'm now wondering why I haven't used the breadmaker for all those years .

I call it 'The Loaf of Loveliness'...

The yeast I'm currently using in my bread maker is bbe 12/2015 and it's still working well. If you store it in the fridge it's good for far longer than the date on the package.