Yeast extract is a food flavoring made from the same yeast used to make bread. Itâs also added to some foods like soy sauce and cheese for a savory flavor. Yeast extract is also found in canned soups and stews, frozen dinners, and salty snacks. Yeast extract is made by adding sugar to yeast in a warm environment. As the yeast expands, the walls of its cells soften.
In autolyzed yeast, the enzymes found in the yeast itself are used to break down the proteins. In hydrolyzed yeast, these enzymes are added to the yeast. Yeast extract can be found as a thick gel or in a moist powdered form.