How to Make Yogurt
How to Make Homemade Yogurt in Less Time Than Cooking a Frozen Pizza
And Surprise – It’s Just as Easy!
Did you notice all the homemaking trends that flourished during covid? Maybe you jumped on the bandwagon too-sourdough bread anyone?
Whether you jumped on that bandwagon or not there is something you can make at home that maybe you haven’t even considered. Though not as flashy as sourdough, homemade yogurt is even easier and more delicious.
But, with a grocery store lined with hundreds of yogurt options, why bother making it yourself?
For starters, making yogurt is so easy. It has the same hands-on time as cooking a frozen pizza, and for about the same price! If you can stir and read a thermometer, you can make homemade yogurt.
So if you're wanting to introduce more homemade options to your family, the homemade yogurt recipe below is the perfect place to start.
The Perks of Making Your Own Yogurt
When you buy yogurt off the shelf you’re stuck with whatever amount of sugar or sweetener they use, by making it yourself you have total control over how much sugar goes into each batch.
By making a plain vanilla yogurt you have a blank canvas. You have all creative control as to what flavors you want and can change it up to suit your mood -fresh fruit, any add- ins you want to try, the sky's the limit and you get to cater to your cravings. This is especially helpful if you have picky eaters then everyone can have what makes them happy.
One batch makes about 3.5 quarts and with the cost around $5 so you really get more bang for your buck. Fresh homemade yogurt is 3 times cheaper than buying it at the store, total no brainer.
If It seems too complicated, let me assure you that it’s hard to mess up. I've made it many times and it's always turned out better than Yoplait. Give the yogurt recipe at the end a try, it's the foolproof recipe that I’ve made over and over.
Is Homemade Worth the Effort?
As humans we are creative beings and our brains crave making and creating.
You know that good feeling when you try something new or finish a project? Creativity brings out the feel good emotions that we all need more of, this leads to less anxiety and other negative emotions. Diversus health (1)
So why not give yogurt a try? You'll get a dopamine boost as well as having something tasty to eat. Win-win.
Does Making Yogurt Require Crazy Kitchen Tools?
Maybe you've always pictured yogurt being made at a production plant with people wearing full white lab suits and hairnets, right next door to where they milk the cows and make the cheese.
With an image like that no wonder we've all been intimidated.
The good news is you can make it in your pj’s and no one will ever know. And it's made with basic kitchen supplies that you either have, or can easily be shipped to you, or picked up at your local grocery store- yes even candy thermometers are at most grocery stores.
All you need is:
- a pot
- spoon
- whisk
- measuring spoons
- jars
- a candy thermometer, cheap to pick up or grab on amazon
- somewhere to incubate, I use an ice chest and some blankets or towel
But what even is* yogurt?
Yogurt itself can seem kind of elusive, like…
What is a culture?
What does “incubation” even mean or do?
And if I mess it up will I get food poisoning?
All valid questions, but it's actually quite simple.
A culture is just a fancy word for bacteria. When there’s a high volume of active cultures that sit at a warm temperature, *incubation,it makes yogurt. OSU(2)
Basically, incubation is having the yogurt sit at a warm temperature which allows the bacteria to grow properly. The probiotics in yogurt are what help us maintain a healthy gut, which means a better life. Times (3)
Once your yogurt is ready, keep it in the fridge til you're ready to eat it. The risk of food poisoning comes mainly from unpasteurized milk so just make sure the milk you buy is pasteurized and you're good to go. Then just treat your yogurt like any other dairy product and once you use it, put it back in the fridge- easy peasy.CDC(4)
Making yogurt at home has so many benefits:
- It gives you the control to decide how much sugar is added
- It’s budget-friendly and makes about 3X the cost of one store-bought pint
- One batch makes 3.5 quarts so one its one less thing on the grocery list
-Making a basic vanilla yogurt means you can add fruit or anything to suit your mood and cravings for the day
- You get a dopamine boost when you make something, giving you an overall happier mood
Easy Homemade Yogurt Recipe:
½ gallon whole milk or powdered milk to equal ½ gallon
1 can sweetened condensed milk or sugar to taste
½ c good quality yogurt (look for one with high active cultures I use Siggi's brand)
2-3 TBSP vanilla or to taste
A couple hours ahead of making the yogurt, set the ½ C. yogurt out so it gets closer to room temperature.
Cook the milk ( whisking pretty frequently and then non stop when it's close to temp) til it gets to 180 degrees.
Then take it off the heat. Let it sit and when it's cooled down to 118 degrees add the yogurt, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk, or sugar.
Whisk until creamy and smooth then put in quart jars and screw with lids and rings (one batch usually makes about 3.5 quarts.)
Then put in an ice chest and snuggle blankets around jars and close the cooler. This helps them stay warm and incubate.
Incubate about 8 hours or more if needed until it's set and firm. I usually turn them sideways and when only a little liquid moves it's ready, then move to the fridge until cold.
Now you can add in all your favorite toppings and enjoy!
You’ve Got This!
So throw on your apron - again no lab coat needed, and drop the old idea that yogurt making is hard, tricky, or complicated. Just making it once will have you hooked on homemade and you'll never go back to store bought again!
Sources-
1-https://diversushealth.org/the-mental-health-benefits-of-creativity/#:~:text=Being%20creative%20can%20increase%20positive,function%20of%20our%20immune%20systems.
2-https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/8836/fs173emakingyogurt.pdf
3-https://time.com/5236659/best-probiotic-foods/#:~:text=Why%20it's%20good%20for%20you%3A%20A%20fermented%20food%2C%20yogurt%20naturally,good%20bacteria%20in%20your%20gut.
4- https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foods-linked-illness.html
