How to Make Yogurt

Learning how to make yogurt can save you money and provide you with plently of yogurt for smoothies, frozen yogurt and all kinds of delicious dips, sauces and dressings.

The two magic temperatures you need to remember are 180 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, all you are going to do is heat the milk up to 180 degrees, cool it back down to 110 degrees and then add the culture.

The cultures do the rest of the work for you.

You probably already have all of the supplies that you will need to make yogurt and guess what! You don't need a yogurt maker! That's good news, right? I always like having one less thing to buy.

Here's what you will need:

A stainless steel or glass pot
A digital thermometer
A long handled spoon for stirring
A gallon of the best quality milk you can get
Plain yogurt with live and active cultures or some yogurt starter

The next factor to consider is the quality of milk. Your yogurt will only be as good as the milk you use to make it.

Yogurt can be made from all kinds of dairy milk including cow, horse, sheep, goat, water buffalo or even non-dairy milks like soy, coconut, pumpkin seed and almond.

Milk can really be a sensitive issue for many people. I'll just say that we try to get milk locally and from grass-fed cows and I believe it's worth every penny. However, when I started making yogurt, I use to get free commerical milk from state assistance. So, do the best with what you have, but realize that their is vast difference between commericial milk and real milk.

How to Make Yogurt Without a Yogurt Maker

You might find that you prefer not using a yogurt maker. I enjoy being able to make a really big batch of yogurt, not just a pint.

A yogurt maker simply holds the yogurt at about 100 degrees so that it can ferment. There are many other items that can do this.

A cooler filled with warm water
An oven with the pilot light on
A food dehydrater
A crockpot
A heating pad

I've even heard of someone setting a container of yogurt on top of their computer wrapped in a towel.

My favorite methods are the cooler and the crock pot. I can make a whole gallon of yogurt in my crockpot with minimal mess and the cooler is great too because it doesn't use any electricity.

I've provided a lovely step-by-step picture tutorial for making yogurt in a cooler here.

And you can find all the other yogurt making methods, plus the crock pot method here .

Okay, so here is the step-by-step instructions to learn how to make yogurt.

Step 1. Disinfect your supplies

Before you start fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil on the stovetop, let the spoon and jars set in it for several minutes and then pour the water out. Now, your supplies are disinfected.

Step 2. Heat milk to 180 degrees F.

how-to-make-yogurt Heat one gallon of milk over medium heat while stirring. This usually takes about 20 minutes.

I usually pour the milk in, turn on the heat and walk away since you don't need to begin the stirring right away. Once the milk begins to heat up and get frothy, I stand over it and stir to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of my pot.

I have learned to make yogurt without a thermometer, once you know how the milk looks at 180 it's easy. Right before the milk begins to boil, it is about 180.

Step 3. Cool the milk to 110 degrees F.

how-to-make-yogurt If you want you can set the pot of milk into a sink of cold water and stir the milk. This will bring the temperature down quickly (about 10 minutes).

Step 4. Add the culture

For one gallon of milk you will need 1/4 cup of plain yogurt or recommended amount of yogurt starter.

If you are using commericial yogurt, it is essential to get a good brand with live and active culture and no junk like starches, preservatives and colorings. Look at our best yogurt brands page to get some ideas.

Step 5. Find a warm spot so the cultures can do their work

Yogurt bacteria do their work best in a warm, draft-free place.

If you do use a yogurt maker get one with glass containers.

yogurt-maker

While the yogurt is incubating it needs to be kept at a contant temperature of 100-110 degrees F. It also needs to not be jostled about or stirred since this interupts the fermentation process. In about 6-8 hours (or overnight) you will have some wonderful homemade yogurt.

Enjoy!

It's so reward when you get into a groove and start making homemade yogurt that turns out perfectly each time. By the second time or third time, you'll never need to consult the recipe again. You can a make it a part of your daily or weekly routine and you and your family will enjoy all of the wonderful benefits.

Now, that you have learned how to make yogurt, you can learn some ways to modify this recipe to create flavored yogurt. .

See these homemade yogurt recipes including vanilla, coffee, lemon and tea-infused yogurt .

If your yogurt is not turning out quite right, check these trouble shooting tips or contact me .

Happy Yogurt Making!

yogurt-everyday