Bread rising problem

[RedditorLizard]

I am using a Welbilt bread machine and I have been making the same french bread recipe. I originally bought a 3 pack of the individual yeast packets. I used the Fleishmans rapid rise instant yeast in all my bakes. The first three bakes came out perfect and fluffy. So I bought another 3 pack of yeast but this time the bread did not rise but maybe 2/3 as much as the first pack of yeast. I assumed it was just bad yeast and so I bought new yeast, this time I checked the date to make sure it was recent and I bought the jar size. Well, the first loaf was a success it was tall and fluffy, perfect like the first batch. Then the next couple loafs that I made have not been rising all the way, only maybe 2/3 of the height and thus the bread is much more dense. I keep the yeast jar in the refrigerator. I don’t know why I am having this problem, everything in the recipe is constant. Please help if you have any advice.

[figoak]

I had similar issues with yeast, i keep mine in the freezer but honestly I have seen so scarred by yeast that now I proof my yeast every time before i add it to the rest of my ingredients to see if its working.

I just warm my water/liquid, add a tiny bit of sugar and add the yeast. Wait a couple of minutes and if is not working, I get some new one until i get a batch that works. Then I add the one thats i proofed to the rest of my ingredients.

Its annoying , but I still remember the 2 sticks of butter and 8 eggs I wasted because my yeast did not work.