Raw milk yogurt...what did I do wrong?

[Cristiaz]

I made my first batch of raw milk yogurt and it turned out awful. I followed the directions from a blog someone in this group gave me. Heres what I did. Heated the milk to 130 then cooled down to 110. I used my meat thermometer cuz there didn't seem to be a big difference in thermometers...does that matter? Once it cooled to 110 I put in freeze dried yogurt starter (I had no yogurt). I stirred it, then put it a cooler lined with warm towels for 12 hours, untouched. I took it out, put it in the fridge and in the morning I tasted it before giving it to DD and it was awful. I hate yogurt but DD loves it, I made it for her. I do know what yogurt should taste like and this wasn't it. Plus it was so thin and had a few chunky parts but thats it. I know raw milk/homemade yogurt would be thinner but not as thin as water. Any ideas on what I did wrong or any pointers??? PLEASE!!!! I want to try again really soon!

[durafemina]

what I do (for creamy, awesome raw yoghurt):

don't cook the milk!
stir some yoghurt starter into the milk, put in jar, immerse in just-boiled water in a thermos container.
leave in a warm place ~24 hours
remove to fridge and don't shake or stir until it has cooled

good luck

[Cristiaz]

Do they sell a big enough thermos? Where would I get one?

[durafemina]

they do here in NZ - or I know some people just put some boiled water in their cooler - just enough that the yoghurt jar isn't afloat

[Mere]

I use a heating pad. My method:

1. Mix yogurt from previous batch with milk in a jar
2. cover jar with coffee filter and rubber band
3. put jar in an insulated lunchbag, wrapped with a heating pad on medium setting
4. let sit for 18-24 hours
5. remove to fridge, let set for 3-6 more hours and voila! You've got yogurt.

I had to test (w/candy thermometer) which heating pad setting was correct...you want to aim for around 100 degrees.

[JennaH]

Hi Cristiaz, if you're using raw milk you don't have to heat or warm the milk at all, according to my mom who used to do it all the time w/raw goats milk. I haven't tried it yet because we don't get enough raw milk to spare for making yogurt (yet). She said just to mix the starter in with the milk and let sit in a jar or tightly covered container overnight or about 12 hrs.

Let us know what you try next and how it works out!

[Cristiaz]

Well, I like the thermos idea but can't find one anywhere big enough...still looking. Has anyone ever used a yogurt maker with raw milk? What if I didn't heat the milk first but used the yogurt maker to keep it warm for 12 to 24 hours? Or what if I just heat it to 100 degrees and then put in a cooler wrapped in towels?

P.S. I really appreciate all the input!

[EdnaMarie]

Subbing because I've tried like EVERYTHING suggested here, heating, not heating, boiling, not boiling, raw milk, pasteurized milk, yadda yadda yadda, and nothing. Just chunky milk.