Homemade Yogurt

[Shireshome]

Does anyone else make homemade yogurt? I have been making it for about 6 months now, I love making it and never would have guessed I could do it with just a few things I had lying around the house. I do have a question for anyone else that makes yogurt. Have you ever over boiled your milk? I have done it 5 times now, the first time was on accident but the other 4 times I did it on purpose. It makes a very think yogurt, not like Greek yogurt, more like cream cheese only not as creamy, a more dry consistency. My whole family loves it that way. Another odd thing about it is that it isn't "tangy" either it almost has a whipped cream feel to it. Anyway I wondered what others thought as I can't find anyone else on the internet writing about it.

Also if you haven't made your own yogurt before and want to try I can give tips and recipes. I make 3-6 Quarts a day and you wouldn't believe how easy it is and the best part is you don't need any special equipment!

 

[sianara]

Hi yes I make it too! I started back in May 2011 and do it almost weekly. I have to admit I bought a yogurt maker.

Here's my basic recipe that I heat in the microwave:

4C 1% milk
1/3 C powdered milk
1/2 C plain yogurt (as starter)

In microwave safe glass container heat the milk in 2-3 minute intervals until it reaches a temp of 180-185. (I test with a candy thermometer)

When 180-185 has been reached, whisk powdered milk in. Place glass container in large bowl in sink and carefully add cold water and ice cubes to it being careful to NOT get any into the yogurt!!! The purpose of the ice and cold is to rapidly bring the temp down to 108-112. Whisk occasionally and keep monitoring the temp closely. For me it usually takes about 10 minutes.

When 108-112 has been reached, carefully mix the plain yogurt in whisking thoroughly.

Poor cooled mixture into a heated glass container that has been warming in yogurt maker. Cook for 5 hours or until desired texture has been reached. Refrigerate overnight before straining to make greek yogurt.

Enjoy!

I have found heating in the microwave is the only way to go for me. I do not have the patience to do it overnight and I do not like a tangy yogurt. This recipe give a nice somewhat firm yogurt. I usually add local honey, nuts, raisins, dried pineapple bits and a little coconut to it for a delicious and filling lunch or snack.

 

[sianara]

Here is my thread about homemade yogurt:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=513158

 

[Shireshome]

Great! I actually have a yogurt maker as well but I can't makes enough for my family of 6 in the small maker so I started doing it with a pot and heating pad. I don't always like going over night with it either, but I usually have mine done in 4 hours on the heating pad so unless I've had a long day I generally don't go over night with it. For some reason the yogurt is much thinner when I used my yogurt maker and I never understood why

Thanks for you link it's always fun to find like minded friends.

 

[sianara]

In my experiments I found adding a 1/3 c instead of a 1/4 c dried milk helped to thicken it up a lot. Also I usually use a plain Greek yogurt as my starter. I purchased a dried starter and use it only if I don't have any plain yogurt. I'm pretty much the only one that eats it in my house so the 4 c works for me but I have an elderly friend that eats it plain so from time to time I make a double batch and give her half. Then we go on and on about how much we love it while her daughter (my friend since jr high) just shakes her head (cuz she HATES yogurt of any kind lol).