Yeast conversion calculator
This yeast conversion calculator converts fresh (cake or compressed) yeast to active dry or instant yeast and back, in grams, ounces, packets and teaspoons. Red Star Yeast states that 0.6 oz of fresh cake yeast equals one ¼-oz packet of dry yeast, or 2¼ teaspoons – a ratio of 2.4 to 1. The German maker Dr. Oetker uses 3 to 1.
Example: What do you want to know: convert yeast · Amount 1 · Unit: packets of dry yeast (¼ oz, 7 g) · Conversion: 2.4 : 1 (Red Star, US) → Result: 16.8 g (0.59 oz) fresh yeast. Source: Dr. Oetker – Hefeteig (German yeast dough) guide – 42 g cube for max. 1 kg flour, 7 g sachet for max. 500 g flour (read 09.10.2026). Updated: .
How it is calculated
One ¼-oz packet of dry yeast (7 g, 2¼ teaspoons) equals 0.6 oz – about 17 g – of fresh cake yeast, according to Red Star Yeast. Going the other way, divide the fresh yeast by 2.4 to get dry yeast.
Yeast conversion chart
| Dry yeast | Fresh yeast (2.4 : 1) | Fresh yeast (3 : 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp (3.1 g) | 7.5 g | 9.3 g |
| 1 packet, ¼ oz (7 g) | 16.8 g (0.59 oz) | 21 g |
| 2 packets (14 g) | 33.6 g | 42 g (1 cube) |
Red Star, a Lesaffre brand, divides its 2-oz fresh cake into thirds: each third (0.6 oz) equals one ¼-oz packet or 2¼ teaspoons of dry yeast and raises up to 4 cups (about 1 lb) of flour. Dr. Oetker in Germany states that a 42 g cube of fresh yeast is enough for 1 kg of flour and a 7 g sachet of dry yeast for 500 g – a ratio of 3 : 1. Recipes from Europe usually follow the 3 : 1 rule; choose the ratio that matches your recipe.
Examples
- 1 packet of dry yeast → 16.8 g (0.59 oz) fresh yeast.
- 2 oz fresh cake yeast → 23.6 g dry yeast, about 3.4 packets (Red Star’s chart rounds this to 3 packets).
- 21 g fresh yeast (European recipe) → 7 g dry yeast with the 3 : 1 ratio, or 8.75 g with 2.4 : 1.
- 1 lb of flour → up to 7 g (1 packet) of dry yeast.
For grams and cups use the cups to grams converter; for dough recipes the pizza dough calculator and the sourdough calculator.
Limits
The conversion applies to ordinary yeast doughs. Very sweet or rich doughs (Red Star adds a packet when there is more than ½ cup of sugar per 4 cups of flour), long cold fermentation or whole-grain flour change the amount needed. A teaspoon is not a precise measure – weigh small amounts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert fresh yeast to dry yeast?
Divide the fresh yeast by 2.4 (Red Star) or by 3 (common European rule). 0.6 oz of fresh cake yeast equals one ¼-oz packet of dry yeast.
How much fresh yeast equals one packet of dry yeast?
0.6 oz, about 17 g, of fresh cake yeast – one third of a 2-oz Red Star cake.
How many teaspoons are in a packet of yeast?
2¼ teaspoons. A ¼-oz packet weighs about 7 g, so one teaspoon is about 3.1 g.
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Red Star says either type of dry yeast – active dry or instant – can replace fresh cake yeast in a recipe. Dry yeast needs different liquid temperatures than cake yeast – see the package.
How much yeast for 4 cups of flour?
One ¼-oz packet (7 g, 2¼ teaspoons) of dry yeast raises up to 4 cups (about 1 lb) of flour, according to Red Star.
What is a cube of fresh yeast?
In Germany and much of Europe fresh yeast is sold in 42 g cubes. Half a cube (21 g) replaces one 7 g packet of dry yeast.
Sources and legal basis
- Dr. Oetker – Hefeteig (German yeast dough) guide – 42 g cube for max. 1 kg flour, 7 g sachet for max. 500 g flour (read 09.10.2026)
- Red Star Yeast (Lesaffre) – Yeast Conversion Chart, fresh cake yeast to dry yeast (read 09.10.2026)
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