Homemade Yogurt

This is so easy it's kinda stupid! I have been making my own yogurt for about 2 months now and it just occurred to me post about it. Jacob and I did some basic figuring about the cost effectiveness of making your own yogurt. Here is the simplified version.

1 Gal of milk (safeway organic) $6

1 less than quart of safeway organic yogurt $7

4 full quarts of yogurt per gallon of milk makes each yogurt quart $1.50 each

$7 if they make it OR $1.50 if I do.

Now that is the simplified version, we went into how much each yogurt (starter package) plus the yogotherm (see link below) would set back each quart of yogurt and it still came out to be ridiculously cheeper to make it ourselves. Ok enough blabber... here we go.

Ingredients and Tools:

1 quart of milk (any kind)
2 Tbl. Dry milk powder ( optional, makes for thicker yogurt)
1Tbl. thickener like pectin or gelatin ( optional )
1 packet yogurt starter Or 2 Tbl. yogurt with live cultures
Big sauce pan make sure you have stirring room, so 2 quart or bigger pan
plastic or stainless steal spoon
Yogotherm or equivalent if your handy (see below)

Ok so heres the rub I use milk, dry milk powder, and I have only used 1 yogurt starter... the rest if the time I have used 2 Tbl. of yogurt left over from the previous batch. If you don't have or want to purchase yogurt starter you can just go to the store and buy a new yogurt and use 2 Tbl from it to start your yogurt. It really is extremely easy!!!

1. Heat milk and optional thickeners, mixed well to 180* stir often so the milk doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. I have found it is slow going until the milk gets to 160* then it leaps to 180* very quickly. Keep an eye on it and don't boil it, if you do... get new milk and optional thickeners.


2. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool to 116*


3. At 116* add the starter packet or the saved from last time yogurt ( I promise this does work ). Mix well and place in the Yogotherm for at least 6 hours or until desired consistency. I leave mine overnight.


Ok let me explain what the Yogotherm is. The inside is a plastic container roughly the size of a large cottage cheese container, with separate lid and all. The outside is a plastic lid and bottom fitted with styrofoam. About 2 inches on all sides even the lid. You could probably make something like this with a plastic container for the inside and a cheep grocery store "beer cooler." And it wouldn't be as expensive. Now don't get me wrong the Yogotherm is really not expensive be cause it isn't an electrical device like a lot of "yogurt makers". This baby doesn't plug in, it relies on the styrofoam to keep the yogurt at the correct temperature. The whole thing is $40 and I purchased mine from CheeseMaking.com.



The advantage to the yogotherm is even temperature control. With a homemade device you might have weird or different experiences. I love this little guy and think it was totally worth it!