gærens

Gærens is the genitive form of the Danish and Norwegian noun gær, meaning yeast. It is used to denote possession or association with yeast in phrases such as gærens rolle i gæring or gærens næringsstoffer. In these languages the possessive is formed by adding -s to the noun.

Gær refers to a group of unicellular fungi that ferment sugars. Yeasts are primarily in the phylum Ascomycota, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the best-known species for baking and brewing. Under anaerobic conditions, many yeasts convert sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide produced in bread dough causes leavening, while ethanol is a key product in beer and wine production. Some yeasts also contribute aroma and flavor compounds.

Production and handling: Industrial yeast is cultivated, harvested, and formulated for consumer use as active dry yeast, instant yeast, or fresh yeast. Dry and instant forms have longer shelf life; fresh yeast is more perishable. Storage typically requires cool, dry conditions. Activation often involves dissolving the yeast in warm water (with a small amount of sugar for some types) to wake the cells; instant yeast requires little or no rehydration.

Applications: The primary uses are baking and beverage fermentation. Yeasts are also employed in biotechnology for producing enzymes, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals, and they serve as model organisms in genetics and cell biology research.

Safety and regulation: Yeast products are generally regarded as safe when used as directed and are subject to food-safety standards in many countries.