i know this is going to seem like a really silly question, but here it goes…
i know that there is an expiration date on the liquid yeast. is there any harm in using expired liquid yeast?
Nico Miranda
None whatsoever. I’ve used yeast as much as 3 1/2 years past its expiration date with success. You have to go to a bit more effort, though. As far as I’m concerned, you should always make a starter for liquid yeast, but that’s even more important for yeast past its expiration date. There’s a calculator at mrmalty.com that let’s you enter the date of the yeast and tells you how big a starter to make.
Silly liquid yeast? Does it have a yeast strain number? ;D (just kidding)
Isn’t the date stamped on the liquid brewing yeast package the packaging date?
Bread yeast has an expiration date on the package. The 2# package of Red Star Bakers Yeast’s expiration date is usually two years after the packaging date.
know whats not silly? a yeast infection!
White Labs has an expiration date on the tube of 4 months after packaging.
Wyeast doesn’t put an expiration date on the yeast. The date they use is the date it was packaged.
I have heard from several home brew stores it is good up to six months, but to use a starter after the expiration date. I prefer to do a starter anyways, even if it is before the expiration date, but that is my preference.