Yogurt Making Made Easy

Yogurt making is simple and easy. Yes, you can make the best yogurt in no time at all and with a minimum effort.

Homemade yogurt is a treat since you decide what ingredients to use. No hidden surprises. You can even make organic yogurt. Really!

Make your own yogurt at home and enjoy this wonderful food full of beneficial bacteria. At least try it once! We'll help by providing you with a yogurt recipe as well as a few tips.

If you have a yogurt recipe or a recipe that uses yogurt...Share it!

You do not need a yogurt maker but it does simplify things quite a bit. Florence uses a Salton Yogurt Maker - actually two (large family). And she has been very pleased with it. Easy to use, easy to clean and you can find it for a fair price.

Make Your Own Yogurt

You will need:

2 quarts of milk

A thermometer

Plain yogurt of good quality or a yogurt starter

Gelatin - optional

A yogurt maker optional

If you choose not to use one, you will also need some quart size Mason jars.

Homemade Yogurt Made Easy

Gradually heat up the milk to 180 degrees.

Remove from heat

Allow to cool to 105 degrees.

Add 1/2 cup of plain yogurt - buy in a health food store for better success and look at the date, the fresher the better! Or add the starter in the recommended amount.

The ratio is 1/4 cup of plain yogurt to a quart of milk.

Place in your yogurt maker.

Allows to set 4 to 8 hours.

The longer the yogurt sits the thicker and tarter it will become. When it has set it will be obvious as there will be some yellowish liquid around the edges.

Refrigerate - it will set even more as it cools.

Congratulations, you are done!

Now, you may eat it plain or add berries, granola or other flavorings!!!

Make Your Yogurt: Alternative Method

I - Florence - have had some success by putting the milk into Mason jars and then placing the jars in warm water - 105 degrees or so - into a cooler.

Others have had success with heating pads and crock pots. I have tried both these methods and I like the cooler trick much better.

Homemade yogurt never turns out as "gel like" - thick - as store bought yogurt. The reason for this is that makers of yogurt - like Yoplait and Dannon - add lots of various ingredients to thicken their yogurt.

Most recipes call for powdered milk. We do not like it as it makes the yogurt powdery.

Yuck.

You can use gelatin to thicken your yogurt. You can find gelatin in bulk rather cheaply.

Put about 2 tablespoons on top of the cold milk. Let it sit five minutes and then heat up the milk. You may need to experiment to find a consistency you like - either more or less gelatin.

You can also strain the yogurt with cheese cloth for a thicker yogurt - or to make Greek Yogurt or Yogurt cheese.

Read others' comments and reviews.

Do You Use a Different Yogurt Recipe?

Do you have a different recipe? Which yogurt maker do you use? Maybe even a yummy recipe which uses yogurt as an ingredient? Share it!