Anyone make their own homemade yogurt?

Question

Between my 2 yr old and me, we eat tons of yogurt every week (Stonyfield). Should I consider making my own homemade yogurt instead? Do you make your own? If so, do you use a special yogurt maker or just a crockpot (or some other means)? Any tips/tricks?

Answer 1

In India, we all make our own yoghurt (even though many packaged varieties are easily available). Here's the simplest recipe --

Ingredients -- milk, a tablespoon or two of yogurt with live cultures (you can use regular plain store bought yoghurt for this, but not probiotic yoghurt)



Method --

* Gently heat the milk. The milk must at least reach 185° F for two minutes. The desirable temperature is 200° F. If the milk is not hot enough then the yoghurt will not be firm but will be stringy.

* Turn off the heat. Let it cool to tepid warm, cooling to 122° F but not below 105° F.

* Add starting culture. Mix well (I just pour the mixture from one bowl to the other till it looks mixed)

* Incubate in a warm place for 5 hours or depending on room temperature.

* Refrigerate when it looks set.



For more tips on the best dishes to make yoghurt in, its health benefits, and the negatives of eating store bought stuff, see

http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Yoghurt?utm_source=geetanjali_yahooanswers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=invite

Answer 2

Actually we make it all the time and don't even use a crockpot. I think in general we use a stainless steel pot. We boil milk and then add a tablespoon of already made yogurt into it when it is warm but not hot. If you add it when the milk is too hot it will kill the active culture. If you add it too cold it won't set.

Mix it in and cover it leave it in a warm place even a slightly warmed and then turned off oven overnight and if you did it right it will set up by morning. Since most of the yogurt from the store is pasturized you may want to add more than a tablespoon maybe as much as a quarter cup of starter yogurt. When it is set and soured enough for your taste put it in the fridge and then use a bit of that yogurt the next time you make fresh yogurt ( if within a few days but I know of places where they make fresh yogurt daily and their starter yogurt has been going from generations).

Answer 3

I had a friend from india, he said to put some milk in a jar and wrap it in a warm electric blanket over night and it'll be yogurt in the morning, I don't know if he said to boil the milk first or not

Answer 4

i suggest u make ur own yogurt because homemade things always taste better and its mch heathlier then buying it well i dont make my own but it would be nice to try!

Answer 5

My family use this one:

http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?ref=BR&uid=168-2214232-6981049&prodid=jbjd070055



But I left it in my home in China and didn't bring it to America. It works great.