Yogurt Cheese Maker: Is it Really Necessary
Thinking of buying a yogurt cheese maker? I think they are worth it. They are under $20. and I use mine all the time, but I cannot use it to make large batches.
If you want to start making yogurt cheese you will find many uses for it.
You can use yogurt cheese as a low-fat substitute cream cheese, sour cream and even mayonnaise.
Simple instructions and recipes for yogurt cheese are included. If you are really ambitious, you can make your own yogurt and then make yogurt cheese.
Okay, here is the low down.
Pros and Cons of a Yogurt Cheese Maker
Yogurt is composed of coagulated particles called curds which are suspended in a watery liquid called whey. As the whey is drained off in a strainer, the remaining curds become a thick cheese-like consistency. This is yogurt cheese.You can make yogurt cheese by putting yogurt in several layers of cheesecloth or in a paper coffee filter set in a mesh strainer and then placing them over a dish to drain into, but these methods can be messy. This is where a yogurt cheese maker can be helpful.
Pros:
- Easy to clean and sanitize, dishwasher safe
- Easy to get the yogurt out when done
- Small size makes it easy to drain yogurt in the refrigerator (after letting the first of the whey drain off)
- Compact and easy to store when not needed
- The yogurt drains very well and is comparable to using a linen bag
Cons:
- Container is too small to hold all of the whey you drain. Frequent emptying will be required at first.
- The whey is cloudy with some yogurt that gets through. If you use the whey for lacto-fermenting, this may be a concern.
- Very thin yogurt may drain more through the mesh then in the bag.
- Slightly slower to drain. You cannot rush the draining. A linen bag can be squeezed periodically to push the whey out faster. But in a few hours it does have a nice creamy yogurt. For cheese, the wait is longer like with any other method.
- If you make more than around 3 or 4 cups of yogurt at a time, this device will not hold it all. You would need to wait to finish the entire batch or get more than one drainer.
- A reusable coffee filter with the fine gold mesh is about the same size and may work as well for less money
I hope this helps you decide if a yogurt cheese maker is for you. All of my yogurt cheese recipes are done by using the strainer/cheesecloth method so you can try it first to make sure you like yogurt cheese.
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