Yogurt Making Recs? Need Help! See post 12. Thx

[Violet2]

Okay, so I added up what we are spending on organic Greek Yogurt a month Ye gads.

I need to make my own.

So point me in the direction of a yogurt maker you like. I'm not seeing anything that says 'buy me, I'm the one that will save you tons of money a month'.

Thanks
V

[cristeen]

You *totally* do not need a yogurt maker.

A glass bowl, a heating pad and a towel works well for me. Or a crockpot and a mason jar, a cooler with some hot water and a water-tight container, etc. If your stove has a pilot light, then you can even do it in there.

Or you can also get a strain of yogurt that incubates at room temperature. You do not need another appliance.

[ParisApril]

Don't buy a yogurt maker!

I use a small cooler to "cook" my yogurt.

1. Heat 1 L/4 cups of milk to 180 degrees cool to 110.

2. Stir in Up to 1 Tbsp of plain yogurt into the milk. (too much starter makes a runny yogurt.

3. Put container into a cooler that has the extra space filled with warm 110 degree water. Put the lid on and let it sit UNDISTURBED(yogurt doesn't like to be moved when it's "cooking") for 6-8 hours.

4. Check the water every so often to make sure it is warm. Gently replace water as needed.

5. After 6-8 hours it should be done. If you let the yogurt sit longer it might start to sour in taste. Throw it in the fridge and enjoy. Don't forget to save some starter for the next batch!

April

[staceychev]

I agree with the PPs, but just wanted to ask: is organic greek more expensive than standard organic? Because you can always buy regular organic yogurt and strain it yourself.

[TheGirls]

I just made my own organic yogurt in my crockpot. It was super easy and the only cost was the milk! I made 1qt of yogurt a 1.5qt mini crockpot (they cost about $10 if you don't own one) but I know others make 1/2 gallon in a 4-5qt crock or a whole gallon in a 5-6qt crock. Depends on how much you eat yogurt!!

I poured 1qt of milk into the crock and ran it on low for about 2 hrs (I'd do a bit longer for a big batch- maybe 2.5hrs). Then let it cool for about 3hrs. Then mix about 1/4C of active organic yogurt (double/quadruple for larger batches) with a cup of the warm milk and stir that up really well, then pour back in the crock. Put the lid on and wrap it with towels (I put a folded up bath towel over it) for about 8 hrs or overnight. Then just put it in containers in the fridge. Or eat it right out of the crock. Very easy and yummy.

If you want greek yogurt you'll have to strain it too. I'd put some muslin cloth in a colander and pour the yogurt in there. Let it sit until it's thick enough for you. I think some people add gelatin when they add the yogurt too, a thickener. Never tried it, but it's worth experimenting because at less than $2/qt yogurt becomes very affordable!!

[Violet2]

My crockpot makes me nervous. The lid isn't super tight and I really wonder if it would stay insulated long enough in there.

I was trying to find a smaller crockpot.

The thing that worries me about the yogurt makers is that several reviews had the heating element melt the unit and become a fire hazard.

Also, you guys don't add any sugar? Just milk and starter?

Thanks!

V

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Violet2

My crockpot makes me nervous. The lid isn't super tight and I really wonder if it would stay insulated long enough in there.

I was trying to find a smaller crockpot.

Also, you guys don't add any sugar? Just milk and starter?

Does your crockpot have a "Warm" setting? For most, the Low setting is too hot for yogurt, but mine has a warm setting. I fill the crock with water, set it to warm, and put a mason jar with my milk and starter in. Leave the lid off and let it go for 24 hours. The warm setting keeps it warm enough to incubate, and the lid off prevents it from getting too hot.

And I don't add anything to it. Half the time I use yogurt it's for savory things - tandoori, tzatziki, dips, salad dressings, etc. So I don't want it sweetened. I sweeten it in the bowl if I just want it with some fruit.

[fruitfulmomma]

Also, you guys don't add any sugar? Just milk and starter?

If you want it sweeter, you'd do it after it was done. We usually just add whole fruit jelly to ours.

I've done crockpot yogurt once and I covered it in a bunch of towels to hold the heat in. It turned out pretty good but runny, so I'll have to work on it.

[staceychev]

I've done crockpot yogurt and yogurt-maker yogurt. The crockpot method was much more of a PITA because I kept having to turn it off and on to maintain the heat (even with it on low), but the yogurt turned out much better, actually.

I don't add anything except milk and either a powdered starter or a bit of existing yogurt.

[shaper]

I have a Waring Pro, which I love, except that it only does ~1 litre at a time. Still, great yogurt. Some people also use dehydrators, if you have the box kind, like an Excalibur. I make SCD compliant yogurt, so I let it ferment the whole 24 hours. It's thick and creamy and not overly tart, imo.

I make plain yogurt (just milk and starter) when I want to be using it to make veggie dips and whatnot, and for regular breakfast yogurt, I usually add honey and sometimes almond extract (or vanilla extract). YUM.

So much better than commercial yogurt, and so much better for you, too.

[Violet2]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Does your crockpot have a "Warm" setting? For most, the Low setting is too hot for yogurt, but mine has a warm setting. I fill the crock with water, set it to warm, and put a mason jar with my milk and starter in. Leave the lid off and let it go for 24 hours. The warm setting keeps it warm enough to incubate, and the lid off prevents it from getting too hot.

And I don't add anything to it. Half the time I use yogurt it's for savory things - tandoori, tzatziki, dips, salad dressings, etc. So I don't want it sweetened. I sweeten it in the bowl if I just want it with some fruit.

I got a small crockpot for $10 and am going to try the water/ jar method sometime this week. So any add'l tips would be great!

V

[staceychev]

I haven't made yogurt in a while, but I blogged about it. Seems it was a "crockpot batch," too, so maybe something that I learned will help you out:

http://staceychev.wordpress.com/2008...lts-round-one/

[Violet2]

The little crockpot is waaaaay too hot on warm. The oven light is too cold (only 80F)

I've been all over the kitchen with a thermometer.

Suggestions?

V

[Stacey247]

I have used this setup a lot:

Electric heating pad set on low, covered with a kitchen towel. Set a jar of yogurt to be incubated on towel, cover with another towel and then put a stock pot over the whole thing. Takes about 8 hours.

[ParisApril]

I tried to use my crockpot yesterday on warm to see if it would work and it didn't! Well it didn't make yogurt anyway. It was cooking in the crockpot at 120 degrees and when it was done it had seperated and was quite runny but it smelled okay. So I tossed it into a strainer and strained it overnight in the fridge and this morning I have 2 cups of "cream cheese"!

I'm going to stick with the warm water cooler method. Unless I need more cream cheese!

ETA: I just found this site about how to make your own cheese. http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/200...e-ricotta.html

[TheGirls]

I should clarify that when I use the crockpot, I don't leave it on!! It would be way too hot. I just turn it on at the beginning (before adding the starter) to heat everything up. Then I turn it off, let it cool a bit, add starter, and wrap up with towels. It's still warm 8 hrs later. A larger crock would hold more heat in because there's more mass there... My yogurt was about the same consistency as regular store bought yogurt, so not that runny. I've only done the one batch (still eating it) so maybe it was a fluke. I'll find out soon, it's almost time for a new batch.

I don't add sugar during cooking. Just a bit of honey if I'm going to eat it alone ro with granola. I use it for savory things too, so definitely don't want it sweet.

I've never done a yogurt maker but I really can't imagine it being much easier. I only touched it twice during the process (once to turn the crock off, once to add starter).