Pizza dough didn't rise, maybe yeast cells were killed off
I made a pizza dough and I left it to rise until doubled in bulk. However, it didn't rise at all. After reading here I can just guess that I killed the yeast cells:
Yeast Is Too Hot. Recipes that call for active dry yeast direct you to dissolve that yeast in warm water. Sometimes the recipe calls for the liquid to be heated with fat and then added to the yeast. Either way, if the liquid is too hot it will kill off yeast cells. Yeast is pretty picky. It doesn’t like it too cold and it doesn’t like it too hot.
If this is the case and after waiting more time, it still doesn't rise, is there something I can do with the dough? I wouldn't want to throw it away.
Thanks
Best Answer
Very possible your yeast was killed or was dead to begin with. The recipe you linked has no sugar, and sugar usually is used to speed up fermentation. The recipe does call for salt, which tends to inhibit fermentation. The recipe calls for pretty intense mechanical mixing for 2 minutes, which is going to raise the temperature of the dough by the friction generated. A lot of potential things working against you.
I've had pizza making disasters and have managed to salvage some dead doughs and at least get something on the table that can be called a pizza; but you aren't going to get great results unless you cut your losses and start over with new ingredients.
To prevent waste of that flour, you could salvage it and at least cook it as a flat bread or garlic knots, etc.
The way I salvage dead dough is by putting about 10g of yeast in a tablespoon of water with 10g sugar, let it become active to prove you have action happening, then mix into your dead dough, then let rise.
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Quick Answer about "Pizza dough didn't rise, maybe yeast cells were killed off"
Yeast Is Too Hot. Sometimes the recipe calls for the liquid to be heated with fat and then added to the yeast. Either way, if the liquid is too hot it will kill off yeast cells. Yeast is pretty picky. It doesn't like it too cold and it doesn't like it too hot.How do you fix dead yeast in pizza dough?
To fix dough that won't rise, try placing the dough on the lowest rack in your oven along with a baking pan filled with boiling water. Close the oven door and let the dough rise. Increasing the temperature and moisture can help activate the yeast in the dough so it rises. You can also try adding more yeast.Will dead yeast rise dough?
If the yeast rises and bubbles, it's good to use. If nothing happens, you'll need to go buy new yeast or try again. Your yeast can be dead either because it's old and has just died with time, or if you have added it to water that's too hot, which has killed it.How do you know if you killed the yeast in dough?
After 10 minutes, the yeast should be foamy and bubbly and expanding. It should have expanded to fill over half of the cup/jar and have a distinct yeasty smell. This is yeast that is alive and well. If the yeast doesn't bubble, foam or react \u2013 it is dead.How to save my dough if it doesn't rise - Why is my dough not rising? 🎈
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Answer 2
Assume you are using bread flour. You could
Refrigerate your dough, buy some new yeast.
When you could source yeast powder again, add them back to make your pizza.Make no-yeast flatbread.
This link is a reciept to make a flatbread without yeast, where you can dip with any dip sauce you like, or curry. Remember to adjust the portions of different ingredients, like here in this link, milk is used.
A trick ensure that you are using lukewarm water without killing your yeast (and of cause without a thermometer) is just put a drop of the water onto your inner wrist, and see if the temperature of water is similar/ not too hot for your hand.
Answer 3
From https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/bread/yeast_temp.html:
130° F–140° F (55° C–60° C) Yeast cells die (thermal death point).
120° F–130° F (49° C–55° C) Water temperature for activating yeast designed to be mixed with the dry ingredients in a recipe.
105° F–115° F (41° C–46° C) Temperature of water for dry yeast reconstituted with water and sugar.
100° F (38° C) or lower When yeast is mixed with water at too low a temperature, an amino acid called glutathione leaks from the cell walls, making doughs sticky and hard to handle.
95° F (35° C) Temperature for liquids used to dissolve compressed yeasts.
80° F–90° F (27° C–32° C) Optimum temperature range for yeast to grow and reproduce at dough fermentation stage.
70° F–80° F (21° C–27°C) Recommended water temperature for bread machines.
40° F (4° C) Recommended refrigerator temperature. Used directly from the fridge, yeast is too cold to work properly.
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