SAF Instant Premium Yeast

No experience - just pontificating here.   Looking at the ingredients on amazon:

Saf regular: yeast, sorbitan monostearate, ascorbic acid.

Saf premium: yeast, sorbitan monostearate, ascorbic acid, cellulose gum.

Of course, the proportions of sorbitan and ascorbic acid could be different too.

I note that my 4 oz jar of Fleishmann's instant yeast also lists sorbitan monostearate and ascorbic acid as ingredients.  Ascorbic acid is also a preservative, in addition to a dough conditioner.

From wikipedia:

"Sorbitan monostearate is primarily used as an emulsifier to keep water and oils mixed. Sorbitan monostearate is used in the manufacture of food and healthcare products and is a non-ionic surfactant with emulsifying, dispersing, and wetting properties. It is also employed to create synthetic fibers, metal machining fluid, and brighteners in the leather industry, and as an emulsifier in coatings, pesticides, and various applications in the plastics, food and cosmetics industries. Sorbitans are also known as "Spans". Sorbitan monostearate has been approved by the European Union for use as a food additive (emulsifier) (E number: E 491)."

Cellulose gum at Wiki:

"CMC powder is widely used in the ice cream industry, to make ice creams without churning or extreme low temperatures, thereby eliminating the need for the conventional churners or salt ice mixes. CMC is used in preparing bakery products such as bread and cake. The use of CMC gives the loaf a much improved quality at a reduced cost to the baker, by economizing on the fat component. CMC is also used as an emulsifier in high quality biscuits. By dispersing fat uniformly in the dough, it improves the release of the dough from the moulds and cutters, achieving well-shaped biscuits without any distorted edges. It can also help to reduce the amount of egg yolk or fat used in making the biscuits, thus achieving economy. Use of CMC in candy preparation ensures smooth dispersion in flavour oils, and improves texture and quality. CMC is used in chewing gums, margarines and peanut butter as an emulsifier. It is also used in leather crafting to burnish the edges."

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Net:  Saf premium adds "dough conditioner(s)."  

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Assumptions:  since this product is likely targeted at an "average" baking consumer, I would assume they proportioned the dough conditioners in it with the assumption that the customer would likely use the common standard of 1/4 oz (7 grams), or  2-1/4 teaspoons, ie one "packet" worth, per average loaf (about 1.5 pounds?).

Since  artisan bakers typically use a smaller amount of instant yeast than 2-1/4 tsp per equivalent loaf (making up for it with longer ferment times), the benefits of the dough conditioners would likely be diluted/reduced somewhat.

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Amazon shows a $2/lb price differential between regular and premium Saf, which works out to 3.125 cents per 1/4 oz(7 grams or 2-1/4 tsp).  Negligible, making it worth a try.  

Their promotional copy says you can use less of it than non-premium, so there could be a minor cost savings.

But then, any usage too far below their recommended usage level will likely not achieve the full "dough-conditioning" effect that the Saf folks had in mind.

are exactly why I make sourdough bread and don't use commercial yeast - Red Star yeast in the little packets (not the jars) has ingredients: Yeast.  The jars also have sorbitan monostearate. For those of us with allergies, it makes a huge difference.

Just sign me,

Everything in North America is made with corn