While there is a more or less agreed-upon name for “Active Dry Yeast” in the English speaking world, you will find Instant Yeast called by different names on the same store shelf.
Cream Yeast is filtered, then dehydrated at temperatures cooler than for Active Dry, so that fewer dead yeasties result, which helps to make it more active overall. Instant Yeast is more finely grained than Active Dry Yeast, so that it will rehydrate faster, giving you rising times up to 50% faster. If you are making your dough by hand, this means you get can away with only 1 rise of the dough. If you are letting your bread machine make the dough, this speed doesn’t matter, as the machine’s dough cycle is likely going to give it two, good rises anyway in the same amount of time.
Because it is such a vigorous yeast, it is said that this is a very good yeast for beginners to use, as its vigour can overcome some mistakes you might have made that Active Dry wouldn’t have been able to make it past. If you are using Instant Yeast in manual recipes, just stir it into your dry ingredients straight from the package. There is no need to proof it first in water as you would for Active Dry — but then again, because it is such a vigorous yeast, that it won’t mind even if you do.
Some people say that it has less flavour than Active Dried Yeast. Did they sit down and sample spoonfuls of both?
In North America, Instant Yeast is usually sold in 3 separate but attached little sachets, about 8 grams each, with each package enough for one loaf of bread; or in small brown glass jars, or in tins with resealable plastic tops, or in vacuum bricks. In the UK, it is sold in strips of 6 sachets, or boxes of 8 sachets, about 7 grams each, or in tins with resealable plastic tops.
Substitutes
Bread machine yeast (same amount); Active Dry (use a tidge more).
Equivalents
One package = 2 1/4 teaspoons = 1/4 ounce = 8 grams
Storage Hints
You can store this yeast in the cupboard until the expiration date or until 4 months after opening. The expiration date is for room temperature storage: if you keep the yeast in the fridge or freezer, it will last for up to a year after being opened.