Fresh yeast is a living micro-organism that starts to ferment when flour or sugar are added to it. This releases carbon dioxide, which makes bread rise. Adding sugar to fresh yeast makes it easier to mix into the water and encourages it to ferment.

-Mash the yeast and sugar in a bowl using the back of a spoon until the yeast starts to dissolve.

-After about 30 seconds, the crumbly yeast will turn into a smooth liquid.

-Add water, following your recipe.

For dry active yeast you generally need to use 1/2 the quantity of fresh yeast stated in the recipe and for instant yeast you need to use 1/4 of the quantity of fresh yeast. So if the recipe has 30g fresh yeast then you can use 15g active dry yeast or 7g instant yeast instead.