Convert Instant Yeast — Cups, Grams & Ounces
1 cup of instant yeast (also called fast-action yeast) weighs about 149 g, which makes a tablespoon 9.31 g and a teaspoon 3.1 g. Small amounts are easier to measure with spoons than to weigh.
💡 Tip: Instant yeast mixes straight into dry ingredients with no blooming and is slightly stronger than active dry, so you can use a touch less.
How much does a teaspoon of instant yeast weigh?
| Amount | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 0.78 |
| 1/2 tsp | 1.55 |
| 1 tsp | 3.1 |
| 2 tsp | 6.21 |
| 1 tbsp | 9.31 |
| 2 tbsp | 18.6 |
| 1/4 cup | 37.3 |
| 1/3 cup | 49.7 |
| 1/2 cup | 74.5 |
| 1 cup | 149 |
Instant yeast: no proofing needed
Instant yeast weighs the same as active dry — a 7 g packet is 2¼ teaspoons, about 3.1 g per teaspoon — but its finer granules let you mix it straight into the flour with no proofing step. It's also sold as fast-action or rapid-rise yeast; they're all the same thing.
Because it starts working faster, keep an eye on the rise and don't over-prove the dough.
Grams of instant yeast in teaspoons and tablespoons
| Grams | Amount | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1/3 tsp | 0.04 |
| 2 | 5/8 tsp | 0.07 |
| 3 | 1 tsp | 0.11 |
| 5 | 1 5/8 tsp | 0.18 |
| 7 | 2 1/4 tsp | 0.25 |
| 10 | 1 1/8 tbsp | 0.35 |
| 15 | 1 5/8 tbsp | 0.53 |
| 20 | 2 1/8 tbsp | 0.71 |
| 25 | 2 2/3 tbsp | 0.88 |
| 50 | 1/3 cup | 1.76 |
| 100 | 2/3 cup | 3.53 |
Is instant yeast heavy or light for its category?
A cup of instant yeast weighs 149 g, which puts it 4th by weight among the 9 spices & leaveners on this site. Its nearest neighbours are ground cinnamon at 125 g and vanilla extract at 208 g per cup.
It weighs the same per cup as active dry yeast (149 g), so those two swap one-for-one whether you measure by cup or by scale.
Common questions about measuring instant yeast
- How many grams is a teaspoon of instant yeast?
- 1 teaspoon of instant yeast weighs about 3.1 grams, and a tablespoon about 9.31 g.
- How many grams is a packet of instant yeast?
- 7 g, the same 2¼ teaspoons as active dry yeast.
- Is instant yeast the same as fast-action yeast?
- Yes — instant, fast-action and rapid-rise are the same type; mix it straight into the flour with no proofing.
- Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry?
- Yes, 1:1. Instant works a bit faster, so watch the rise, and you can skip the proofing step.
- How much instant yeast per cup of flour?
- Roughly ½ to ¾ teaspoon per cup of flour for a standard dough.
- Do I need to dissolve instant yeast first?
- No — add it directly to the dry ingredients. That's its main advantage over active dry.
- How many grams is a tablespoon of instant yeast?
- About 9.31 g per tablespoon — there are 16 tablespoons in a cup.
- How many teaspoons is 5g of instant yeast?
- 5 grams of instant yeast is about 1 5/8 tsp.
- Why do my numbers differ slightly?
- Grind fineness and settling matter at this scale. A finely ground, freshly opened jar packs denser than a coarse or long-settled one, and at teaspoon quantities a small difference is a large percentage.