A Homemade History

Fleischmann’s Knows Yeast

Fleischmann’s has created the first and only yeast specially formulated to make pizzeria–quality pizza dough in the comfort of your own kitchen. How were we able to do this?

We know yeast. For more than 140 years, our company has been making yeast for use in both home and commercial baking. Our founders started the company with the goal of developing a yeast that would create superb tasting bread. Because of our determination, experience and groundbreaking research, we continue to develop yeast products that help bakers all over the world create delicious baked goods.

1868 – It Began with the Compressed Yeast Cake

Brothers Charles and Maximillian “Max” Fleischmann wanted to create quality bread like they used to enjoy in Austria-Hungary. So they produced and patented the first compressed yeast cake for home and commercial baking in the United States. This new yeast replaced unreliable home-brewed starters and leaveners. It delivered excellent leavening power, provided consistent quality and made great-tasting bread.

More Fleischmann’s Yeast Innovations

Charles and Max were committed to helping manufacture better yeast and yeast-raised bakery products. Through ongoing research at Fleischmann Laboratories, their work led to the following innovations:

  • Active Dry Yeast® – Developed as America entered World War II, this new yeast didn’t need refrigeration and was activated quickly with warm water. It ensured that GIs could enjoy home-baked bread.
  • RapidRise™ Yeast – Introduced to busy bakers in 1984, this highly active, fine-grain yeast makes dough rise 50% faster than our regular active dry yeast.
  • Bread Machine Yeast – Created in 1993, this specially-formulated yeast made it possible for home bakers to produce excellent-tasting baked products using their bread machines.

2009 – Innovation Continues with Pizza Crust Yeast

America’s love affair with pizza prompted the development of a special Pizza Crust Yeast that can be used to make high-quality homemade pizzas quickly and easily. With our Pizza Crust Yeast, pizza dough has no rise time. And our yeast’s specially-formulated dough relaxers prevent the dough from pulling or snapping back during shaping. So you can have a hot, fresh-from-the-oven pizza in 30 minutes!