Which yeast species is used as bakers’ yeast?

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The yeast species used as bakers’ yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.12

This single-celled fungus is essential to the baking process because it ferments sugars in the dough, producing carbon dioxide, which acts as a leavening agent to make the bread rise. While ethanol is also produced during this fermentation, it evaporates during the baking process. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is typically supplied to bakeries in the form of compressed cakes or dry granules.132