Does anyone make yogurt?

[tripletsmama]

Today was my first attempt at making yogurt. Didn't go so well! It was so runny. I googled how to thicken yogurt and it said with powdered dry milk. It was all grainy and just didn't taste right. Then it occurred to me I would have had to add it before it cooled...duh! I am going to try again tomorrow. Any tips for a thicker yogurt? I only incubated it for 4 hours. Maybe that was part of my problem too?

 

[Princess Serendipity]

Homemade yogurt is usually much less thick than storebought because of the thickeners they add.

However, you can make thicker yogurt by holding the milk at about 200 degrees for ten to thirty minutes. The longer you incubate it, the thicker it will be, but it will also be tarter and can get a grainy texture. I just strain mine with coffee filters (cheesecloth would probably be better) in a colander in the fridge overnight and all the whey comes out, so it's super thick.

 

[JessB320]

When I make it I use a little from my last batch to start the new batch. Whenever I use store yogurt to start a batch it comes out thin. We like very thick creamy yogurt so thus is what I find helps

- use yogurt from the last batch to start the new batch
- simmer the milk at 190 for around 20 min
- the fresher the milk the less tangy
- incubate for 8-10 hours ( this is where fresher milk helps it from getting to tangy)
- DONT TOUCH! Once you start to incubate dont move it, stir it anything just leave it!
- at the end you can always use cheese cloth and. Strain it for a bit as well if it's not thick enough

 

[tripletsmama]

Homemade yogurt is usually much less thick than storebought because of the thickeners they add.

However, you can make thicker yogurt by holding the milk at about 200 degrees for ten to thirty minutes. The longer you incubate it, the thicker it will be, but it will also be tarter and can get a grainy texture. I just strain mine with coffee filters (cheesecloth would probably be better) in a colander in the fridge overnight and all the whey comes out, so it's super thick.

How does the coffee filter/colander work? Can you explain this?

 

[tripletsmama]

When I make it I use a little from my last batch to start the new batch. Whenever I use store yogurt to start a batch it comes out thin. We like very thick creamy yogurt so thus is what I find helps

- use yogurt from the last batch to start the new batch
- simmer the milk at 190 for around 20 min
- the fresher the milk the less tangy
- incubate for 8-10 hours ( this is where fresher milk helps it from getting to tangy)
- DONT TOUCH! Once you start to incubate dont move it, stir it anything just leave it!
- at the end you can always use cheese cloth and. Strain it for a bit as well if it's not thick enough

Since I've never made yogurt before, I will have to use store bought as my stater. Any particular type/brand that works better?

If the yogurt gets too tangy, how would you sweeten it? I was thinking confectioners sugar? Regular sugar seems like it would be grainy? Unless you can put it in while the milk is still hot.

 

[lizabu]

My SIL makes homemade yogurt all the time. It's really easy. All you do is fill a pot with milk. Add a heaping spoonful of yogurt to it. Stir. Cover with a warm, damp towel. Let sit out on the counter overnight. In the morning you will have yogurt.

 

[sissy1]

Not sure if this will help...I make creole cream cheese, not yogurt, and I put a few drops of rennet in it (health food store). It thickens it up. Good Luck!

 

[tripletsmama]

My SIL makes homemade yogurt all the time. It's really easy. All you do is fill a pot with milk. Add a heaping spoonful of yogurt to it. Stir. Cover with a warm, damp towel. Let sit out on the counter overnight. In the morning you will have yogurt.

Wow! I was heating the milk, cooling it, incubating, then refrigerating. I didn't have experience, was just following a recipe I found online. How was the consistency of this yogurt? Similar to store bought?

 

[tripletsmama]

Not sure if this will help...I make creole cream cheese, not yogurt, and I put a few drops of rennet in it (health food store). It thickens it up. Good Luck!

Interesting! I will have to look into that.

 

[Squirlz]

My Wife makes yogurt and has written extensively about it on her site. You can find it here.

 

[JessB320]

Since I've never made yogurt before, I will have to use store bought as my stater. Any particular type/brand that works better?

If the yogurt gets too tangy, how would you sweeten it? I was thinking confectioners sugar? Regular sugar seems like it would be grainy? Unless you can put it in while the milk is still hot.

Do you have any of the first batch left? Use that even if its thin that's ok ! I use honey to sweeten mine. Wait until its completely done but still warm . I heat the honey a bit is its easy to stir in. Adding vanilla or almond extract at the same time is really yummy to!!

 

[lizabu]

Wow! I was heating the milk, cooling it, incubating, then refrigerating. I didn't have experience, was just following a recipe I found online. How was the consistency of this yogurt? Similar to store bought?

It will be the same as whatever yogurt you used to get it started. Homogonized milk will make a thicker yogurt than skim too. The way my SIL makes yogurt is the old school method. Basically the original way people have been doing it for hundreds of years.

 

[tripletsmama]

Thanks for all the info!!! The website really helped. I've got one batch incubating and another batch going the "old fashioned" way. DH will or sure be rolling his eyes when he gets home!! Surely with 2 different methods, one will be successful.

 

[mnrose]

4 hours is not long enough. I incubate mine (in my oven, with only the light on for heat) for 7-8 hours. I have found this ideal. I then cool in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours, and then "strain" it through a cheese cloth lined colandar for 2-3 more hours. This makes yogurt the consistency of greek yogurt, which I personally prefer. I get about one quart of yogurt from two quarts of milk.

Also, what kind of starter did you use? You must use a very high quality, plain yogurt as your starter. I used Mountain High the first time, and my own yogurt thereafter. 2 Tablespoons yogurt to 2 quarts of milk.

Finally, did you heat the milk to at least 180 degrees, and then cool to between 105-110 before adding starter? If your milk was too warm, you could have killed off the bacteria in the starter.

I make yogurt 2 times a week. It is ridiculously easy, and I've never had a batch be "bad."

 

[tripletsmama]

Would a colander with extremely small holes work the same as the cheese cloth in the regular colander? Or is it very important that I go buy actual cheese cloth? Batch 2 is currently incubating. I was planning to move it to the refrigerator at 11pm. That will be 7 hours.

I used plain oikos Greek yogurt as the starter.

According to my thermometer, the milk never got hotter than 200. I kept it at 200 for 30 minutes.

 

[mnrose]

I think you'd need to line it with something or the yogurt would run through. A thin cotton dish towel (flour sack variety) would work. And, truth be told, I use old burp cloths left over from my twins (cleaned and bleached of course!). it doesn't have to be cheese cloth.

 

[etoiles]

If you have a slow cooker to use, this recipe is the easiest I have found to make your own yogurt. It tastes fantastic too and you can add your own choice of sweetener or fruit once it is done.

 

[mnrose]

Oh...and one more thing. I heat the milk to about 180 degrees. I pour the milk into a stoneware crock and heat in my microwave for 16 minutes, 45 seconds (can you tell I've done this a lot?). Works perfectly, and I don't need to stir it or watch it in any way. It then sits on my counter for 45-60 minutes (depending on the ambient temp of the room) until it cools. Whisk in the yogurt starter, pop the lid on my crock, and put it into the oven. (Note: I preheat the oven to 170 degrees, and then shut it off, light on, put in the crock). Walk away for 7 hours. (I do this in the morning...so it goes in the oven about 8 or 8:30). Put it in the fridge. The next morning, I strain it. I do a batch every 3-4 days. I love yogurt and use it all the time.

I do not sweeten mine at all anymore. The sweetened stuff you buy now tastes disgustingly sweet to me. I do stir in fresh fruit, or a bit of granola to eat it. Of course, that adds sweetness....but not too much.

 

[minniecarousel]

People still make yogurt?

I got married in the mid-70's and received 2 yogurt makers as wedding gifts. In fact, everyone I knew who got married then received yogurt makers.

Good luck to all of you who make your own yogurt - it's not easy.

 

[tripletsmama]

I just took it out of the oven (only the light was on for heat) and moved it to the refrigerator. The consistency looks pretty good! I am going to stir some jam into it tomorrow for sweetness. I know my kids won't eat it as is. Can I do this in the mixer?