Slow start on my JAO..

Hey everyone!

So I started two new batches of JAO tonight, one of them is a variation b/c I felt like trying something different. The other is the same as the normal JAO but with vanilla, just to try it out. I had success doing a Blackberry variant--it came out great and I didn't have enough to go around to friends of mine that didn't get to try it! The variant I'm trying this time is with lemons instead of oranges, and I switched the optional ingredients around a bit.

Other than what I've just mentioned, I have done the recipes exactly as directed. I have had success with all my previous batches of JAO, even the variants--the problem I'm having this time however, is that the fermentation seems to be starting VERY slowly. I know that some take longer to start, and that you just need to be patient, but I'm just curious to get anyone's input who might have had the same issue, and if they've found it to be a problem with their bread yeast? I wouldn't normally be concerned, and I know I've "voided the warranty" by changing things up..lol..but all my previous JAO's have not taken this long to start bubbling and going crazy. It's been almost 3 hours since I added the yeast.

The yeast I used is, of course, Fleischmann's, and I've had it laying in a drawer for a few months now, maybe 5 or 6 months. I figured that shouldn't matter as long as it's not expired, right? The expiration isn't until over a year from now.

I wondered if temperature might have something to do with it too, but while it's chilly outside we keep the temp fairly even in here, with the thermostat around 74 or so.

Any input is welcome of course, thanks everyone.

Ah okay, awesome--I had no idea that I should keep it in the fridge, I think I just figured that if they kept it on a shelf in the store, that a drawer would be fine. I'm going to pick up some new bread yeast next time I do a batch and just keep it in the fridge from now on.

I did wind up adding another teaspoon in each and that seemed to get it going a bit, so I think it must have been just a bad idea to be storing the yeast in the drawer.

Thanks again! Everyone here is always so helpful.

Well that much I figured, but I was using yeast that was previously unopened. Like usually when I buy Fleischmann's, it's 6 packs all attached by perforated seams or whatever. I dunno, maybe it was just a bad few packs, aside from the first that I used from it, or...well I dunno. Maybe I should invest in a container of said yeast? I've seen that they are sold in containers too.