Why don't you try using a warmer water with just a pinch of yeast to make sure it's working well. I'd expect the yeast to proof faster in warmer water, but think it should proof at room temp water as well - just a bit slower. I'll go test my yeast in room temp water - I know it's good - and get back to you in a short while.

I made it using room temp water, didn't rise at all.

Can you define "room temperature"? Dry yeast can be killed by subjecting it (them?) to cold water. See this recent post for details:

http://food52.com/hotline...

Yeast can proof with room temp water but it's slower if that temp is on the cooler side. Standard room temperature is common understood to be about 72F. Not sure if your kitchen is that warm right now. Mix in a little sugar (about 1Tb) and wait a little longer. A little food (sugar) can help give a boost to yeast growth. Or try to gently warm up the mixture.

The recipe calls for 1/4 C. room temperature water. I put 1/4 C. of water into a cup and let it sit for close to an hour while I was doing other things. It was not cold water.

70F is way too cold for rehydrating dry yeast. Optimum temperature is just above 100F.

I've proofed dry active yeast with room temperature water before, but only with a teaspoon of sugar added. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to get nice and foamy.

Quoting myself:

"Cold water negatively impacts the yeast cells' rehydration process which must take place within a particular temperature range to be successful."

I don't purchase yeast by the packet but the instructions should be printed right on there. I'll eat my hat if it says anything about "room temperature".

Here, right from the horse's mouth (thanks to sfmiller):
http://www.lallemand.com...

Hi bella s.f.! Well, that's a bummer. Assuming the yeast is fresh, i.e. not extremely passed its expiration date, it should be fine for making this bread.

The slideshow on the recipe page has a shot of the bubbling action. It doesn't look like it's crazy-bubbly, just a few here and there. That's enough to tell you the yeast is alive.

I always dissolve yeast in water, usually warm tap water, and move on to mixing it into the flour immediately. I don't wait for the foaming action to begin, partly because I know my yeast is alive and well - I buy it in big bags and store it in the freezer - and partly because I can be very impatient.

Try warm tap water next time. And if you do try it again, let us know!

Well, for some reason, Amanda wrote the recipe asking for room temperature water. You don't think that she wanted you to eat your hat, do you?

bella s.f. -- sorry you've had trouble with this. I always use room temperature water with yeast, and haven't had issues unless the yeast is bad. But there was lots of great advice given here and I hope it will help the next time around!

Is it possible that higher chlorine levels or sodium levels in bell s f 's tap water are affecting the yeast? Tap water is chemically treated so differently in different parts of the country; I had to start using filtered water to soak and cook beans when I moved to another region. Would it be worth trying to proof it in filtered or bottled water?

I would like to correct a statement I made yesterday. I wrote "70F is way too cold for rehydrating dry yeast." What I meant to say was "70F is way too cold for proofing dry yeast."