Yeast Conversion Calculator
Recipe calls for a packet but you only have instant or a fresh cake? Enter what you have and read equivalents for active dry, instant, and fresh compressed yeast — US packets, spoons, and grams.
Yeast type you have
Enter amount as
1 US packet ≈ 2¼ tsp ≈ 7 g active dry · instant ≈ 75% of that weight
Quick amounts
Spoon measures for yeast? See tablespoons to teaspoons. Scaling the whole dough? Try ingredient scaling.
Substitution rules (US)
1 packet active dry = 2¼ tsp = 7 g. Use 75% as much instant by spoon or weight. Fresh compressed yeast weighs about 3× active dry (one 17 g cake ≈ one packet). Cold dough, high sugar, or old yeast may need longer rise — this is a planning chart, not a guarantee.
Example: 1 packet active dry ≈ 1.69 teaspoons instant ≈ 21 g fresh.
Yeast conversion chart
| You have | Active dry | Instant | Fresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 packet active dry | 2.25 tsp · 7 g | 1.69 tsp · 5.25 g | 1.24 cakes · 21 g |
| 2¼ tsp active dry | 2.25 tsp · 7 g | 1.69 tsp · 5.25 g | 1.24 cakes · 21 g |
| 7 g active dry | 2.25 tsp · 7 g | 1.69 tsp · 5.25 g | 1.24 cakes · 21 g |
| 1¾ tsp instant | 2.33 tsp · 7.26 g | 1.75 tsp · 5.44 g | 1.28 cakes · 21.8 g |
| 1 fresh cake (17 g) | 1.82 tsp · 5.67 g | 1.37 tsp · 4.25 g | 1 cake · 17 g |
Related baking tools
Butter conversion, ingredient scaling, cups to grams, tablespoons to teaspoons.
FAQ
- How much instant yeast replaces one packet of active dry?
- A standard US packet is 2¼ teaspoons (about 7 g) active dry yeast. For the same rise, use about 1¾ teaspoons (roughly 5.25 g) instant yeast — about 25% less by volume or weight.
- How do I convert fresh yeast to dry yeast?
- By weight, fresh compressed yeast is about three times active dry. One 0.6 oz (17 g) US fresh cake ≈ one packet (7 g) active dry, or 1¾ tsp instant.
- Do I need to proof instant yeast?
- Instant (rapid-rise) yeast is usually mixed into dry ingredients. Active dry can go straight into flour in many modern recipes, but older cards still call for blooming in warm water — follow your recipe.
- Can I use this for sourdough starter?
- No. Sourdough is a living culture with wild yeast and bacteria, not a 1:1 swap for commercial yeast. This tool is for active dry, instant, and fresh cake yeast only.