What is yeast?!
What is yeast?
Answers:
YEAST -- 1.a. Any of various unicellular fungi of the genus Saccharomyces, especially S. cerevisiae, reproducing by budding and from ascospores and capable of fermenting carbohydrates. b. Any of various similar fungi. 2. Froth consisting of yeast cells together with the carbon dioxide they produce in the process of fermentation, present in or added to fruit juices and other substances in the production of alcoholic beverages. 3. A commercial preparation in either powdered or compressed form, containing yeast cells and inert material such as meal and used especially as a leavening agent or as a dietary supplement. 4. Foam; froth. 5. An agent of ferment or activity: political agitators who are the yeast of revolution.
From the American Heritage Dictionary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/yeast...
according to the better homes and gardens new cookbook, yeast is a living microrganism.. As I understand it , it feeds on the sugar in dough , making carbon dioxide- the bubbles that cause it to rise, making your baked goods fluffy and lighter in texture.
Yeast is a form of fungus.