Yogurt Making: 3 Tips for Making Yogurt at Home

You might not think much of the few dollars you spend on yogurt at the grocery store. But, did you know that it is a $7.24 billion industry?

Yes, all that yogurt adds up. So, why not try yogurt making at home to make the creamiest, most inexpensive yogurt you have ever had?

Read on for the top 3 tips to get started with your delicious homemade yogurt.

1. Your Milk Choice Matters

The first thing you should know when learning how to make yogurt is that you have many options for milk bases. And that the one you choose will determine its taste and texture.

The thicker the milk the more creamy the yogurt. This is because of its higher fat contents, which makes the end result richer. So, if you plan on making Greek yogurt then you will want to choose whole cow’s milk over skim milk.

Cow’s milk can be either pasteurized or unpasteurized. Or you can use goat milk if you would like.

There are also vegan options if you prefer not to use animal milk. The most popular alternative milk options are coconut, almond, soy, oat, and cashew.

2. Temperatures are Precious

Making yogurt is a science experience that needs to use exact measurements when it comes to temperature.

The milk needs to initially be heated to 180 F using the stove. Stir the milk occasionally to keep the temperature even throughout the whole batch. Keep track of the heat index with a thermometer.

Once it hits 180 degrees then it should be taken off the heat source.

Next is the cooling process. Remove the milk from its pot and pour it into separate glass jars. It can cool at room temperature or be sat in a cool water bath.

The perfect yogurt making temperature is 115 F, so once you reach this point began to add your starter. This is the optimal temperature for your bacteria to thrive similar to cheese cultures.

If the temperature lowers during incubation it will likely take longer for it to turn.

3. You Have Incubator Options

The most important part when answering the question of how is yogurt made comes during the incubation period. This is when the waiting occurs for the milk and culture to create a creamy yogurt.

You want the temperature of your culture to remain close to 115 degrees so an insulated incubator is necessary. However, you have several options, including:

• Oven- place the jars in an off oven with the light on
• Cooler- put the jar in warm water, replacing it when it cools
• Yogurt Incubator- use a container and device just for yogurt making
• Heat Pad- wrap the jars in an insulated heat pad

Once set, start the timer to wait at least 8 hours for your yogurt to form.

Yogurt Making Gets Easy

The more you try the more yogurt making gets easier. Once you get the milk choice, temperature regulation, and incubation process correct then you can start adding flavors to your yogurt.

For more at-home food ideas visit our Cooking Tips section.