Does anyone have a yogurt maker?

[LJSquishy]

I received a Kohl's gift card and am considering buying the Euro Cuisine Digital Yogurt Maker.

I generally make everything from scratch and yogurt is one thing I've been wanting to start making for quite some time now (since I prefer to use local 100% grassfed milk). I was planning to just use the crockpot method but it would definitely take a little more careful planning since my crockpot doesn't have an auto-shut off. I can't use the oven light method because the house we're currently in has an old oven that doesn't have a separate light switch (it turns on only when you open the oven door).

I typically hate having little gadgets that only serve one purpose, but this would be something I'd be using every week. We eat plain greek yogurt daily (so I'd probably end up straining the yogurt sometimes to make greek yogurt) and would love having plain regular yogurt sometimes. If you have a yogurt maker, do you like it? Hate it? Use the crockpot method instead?

 

[chris31997]

I use the crockpot method. Mine I can set it to high for 3hrs then it would turn to warm mode. Then sit there till I get to it.

I would use the a crockpot and use a timer while cooking and then leave it overnight in crockpot to set up. Jar it after 12hrs.

Compared to the one yogurt maker I saw, I can make more in my crockpot.

I use my yogurt for sour cream, ice cream, base for dressing

 

[Lilliputian]

I would suggest getting one that makes a big batch of yogurt instead of the small servings. You add your flavoring after the yogurt is made anyway, so you don't really gain much by having all those little jars. You just have more to wash, more containers to put in the fridge, and you always feel like you have to use a certain amount of yogurt.

I have one like the one you linked to, and I would get a large one that just made one container if I had to do it all over again. And since you seem like someone who pays attention to nutrition (since you mentioned grassfed milk), you may want to see which ones make GAPS-approved yogurt if you think that you might want to do the GAPS diet, or even incorporate some of the principles, at some point.

 

[LJSquishy]

Alright, I think I'm just going to try the crockpot method first and see how that goes. If it doesn't work out very well then I'll revisit the yogurt maker idea.

The jars that come with that specific yogurt maker would actually be helpful to us since my husband packs yogurt in his lunch...however, a mason jar accomplishes the same thing. I did read a few reviews saying that after using it for quite a while it seemed to kill the bacteria in the yogurt...not good! Most of the reviews, however, are excellent. I also read that you can use a 7cup Pyrex bowl (it's shorter and wider) to make a single large batch instead of using the glass jars if you wanted to.

 

[SMD]

You don't really need an oven light. I just wrap a glass jar in a towel for 8 hours overnight and the yogurt turns out fine. You could try putting the jar in a crockpot filled with warm water, turn it off and wrap that in a towel. Or heat the oven or clothes dryer slightly and put the jar and towel in there while those are off.

I did see a Greek yogurt machine the other day that makes the yogurt and then strains it. It was tempting, but then I decided that I don't want to clean it.

 

[PinballFamily]

Had to respond, OP! I have a very similar yogurt maker to yours (mine says "Dash" - but maybe it is the same company. Got it on mega clearance at Target awhile ago for $7!) I had been making yogurt in the crockpot and although it worked well, I find this machine much easier for us.

But I do use one big change - we don't use all the little jars. Instead, we use an Anchor Hocking bowl and that fits perfectly in the warmer instead of the seven little jars. It easily holds the five cups of milk, 1/2 cup or so of previously frozen yogurt for the starter, dash of vanilla, and cup of powdered non-fat milk we use to make our yogurt. I found the bowl for $4 at Marshalls or somewhere, but here's the bowl (it's a set but you only need one) so you can see what it looks like - http://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Hockin...04&sr=8-1&keywords=anchor+hocking+7+cup+round

Good luck - we love our homemade yogurt! Sometimes we strain ours out for Greek yogurt, but mostly now we just gobble it unstrained. Either way, it is yummy!

 

[BekkaF]

I love my Euro Cuisine. I had a $10 Kohls cash coupon, a Kohls $10 reward certificate, & the Digital Euro was on sale. Of course I snagged it. I for one love it. Following tips by others to attempt keeping an even temp; I did place paper towels on the bottom, and wrapped the incubator & second tier up with a heavy towel. I keep my house very cool during winters. I also had a heat proof thermometer in the incubator so I could see on going temps. There was fluctuation between 106 to 111; not bad at all. Might be different during the summer. I like not having to check up on the yogurt during the 8 hours I incubate; or lugging out a huge cooler. Never tried the crock pot method. I can clean house, get groceries, and cook meals during this interim. I have a nice thick yogurt and wish I could upload the most recent picture. The yogurt is smooth, thick (without straining), and tastes wonderful.

 

[msmama]

I know there's a way to make it in a cooler as well so try googling that (if you already have a cooler).

 

[DizMe]

I make my own yogurt all the time. My kids love it (and I won't buy junk like Yoplait). It's so easy!

I just put mine in the oven. My oven light doesn't come on with a switch either--it's always on when the oven is on but you can't make it come on otherwise.

All I do is preheat the oven until it's warm and then shut it off. I put the yogurt in mason jars, lids on, on a tray and keep them in the oven for 4 1/2 - 5 hours. Sometimes I have to turn the oven on again for a few minutes to get the temp back up a bit.

Supposedly, my oven will go as low as 80º but I discovered it's not a consistent temp. It zooms up, then drops down, and it ruins the yogurt so I just use the above method.

As a PP said, you can also use an ice chest but I can't remember what it is you put in to keep it warm. Basically, you just need your yogurt to sit for 4-5 hours at ~110º.

My recipe is simple: organic whole milk, small amount of sugar, which you leave out if you want plain (I use 1/4-1/3 c for a 1/2 gallon of milk). Bring to a boil and then let sit until lukewarm. Skim the top, add some culture (either some of your previous batch of yogurt or you can use a couple of spoons of store-bought yogurt with live culture in it), and I add 1 T of vanilla because that's what my family likes best. Pour into jars, put the lids on and proof. My girls love it best warm out of the oven

 

[CoP Luv]

I just made yogurt this mirning. We gave been using the Yogourmet yogurt maker for about 5 years on a weekly basis. It is super easy to make.

 

[aprilchem]

I love my yogurt maker - I have a Cuispro Donvier one. I have no idea how old it is; I got it at Goodwill about 5 years ago, and it appears that they might not make that brand anymore? Anyway, I've used it weekly for the entire time I've had it and it never fails me. I buy Fage unflavored yogurt as my starter and process for about 18 hours because we like our yogurt firm. It's delicious.

 

[LJSquishy]

I guess I'll update and let everyone know I did end up buying the yogurt maker and I LOVE IT!!! I use it twice a week and really enjoy having the little jars with the date dial on them. I bought an extra set of jars so I always have enough on hand to start another batch.

I use local organic 100% grass fed milk from Jersey cows...yummy! For my initial culture I used Maple Hill Creamery whole plain yogurt (also 100% grass fed organic) but now I just save about 3oz from my own yogurt for the next batch. I love the taste of grass fed milk...it's so much different than conventional milk.

I priced out the cost for me to make yogurt using my milk and it works out to about 24 or 28 cents per 6oz jar and a similar quality of yogurt (Maple Hill Creamery) costs $1.30 per 6oz cup at the store. I wish I would have done this years ago!

 

[sherry7]

You all have convinced me to find my yogurt maker in the basement, and try it out again. I've read lots of tips in this thread that I need to try.

OP, if you have a thrift store nearby, stop in and look. I was at our local Goodwill recently, and saw a EuroPro yogurt maker for $3.

 

[js]

Yogurt and fruit are my dinner five nights a week. I already have a Soda Stream not for saving money but fir convenience since with the exception if alcohol, I only drink seltzer lol Now, this talk of making own yogurt intrigues me. I do not like the taste of plain but like all flavors including vanilla. Like a PP, I like it firm too. I have a $75 Macys gift card I could use to purchase. I would like to do I think but want the easiest way to make. That is more important to me than cost. Could I do this and what would I need to begin? Mason jars? Thank you all!