I ran to Winco this morning to pick up some essentials before the major storm hits us this weekend and next week. In the bulk section they had 1 lb packages of SAF-Instant (Red) yeast for $4.58. That's only a few cents per ounce more than the 2 lb Costco price. Good until Oct 2024 if kept on a shelf.
If kept in a freezer until needed, it won't expire. I keep a yeast supply in the freezer and use it to refill jars I keep in the refrigerator. I've had yeasts that were a year past their expiration that still performed perfectly.
For the past year I've been using Red Star Active Dry and Instant yeasts. I haven't noticed a difference between Red Star, Fleischmann's, and SAF, except the price. A 4 oz jar of either Red Star is the same price as the 1 lb SAF yeast (Red).
If kept in a freezer until needed, it won't expire. I keep a yeast supply in the freezer and use it to refill jars I keep in the refrigerator. I've had yeasts that were a year past their expiration that still performed perfectly.
For the past year I've been using Red Star Active Dry and Instant yeasts. I haven't noticed a difference between Red Star, Fleischmann's, and SAF, except the price. A 4 oz jar of either Red Star is the same price as the 1 lb SAF yeast (Red).