I've been really into making my own yogurt lately and both the kids and I are loving it. Here is a quick run-down of the process in case you're interested in giving this a try. You'll need:
| - yogurt maker
- milk (cow, goat, or soy)
- candy or yogurt thermometer (you might get one w/your yogurt maker)
- yogurt culture
I got my yogurt maker on eBay for about $12 It is made by Salton but there are a few other brands that are also great. I use the Yogourmet starter which I buy at Wholefoods for about $4/box (one box makes approx 1.5 gallons of yogurt) The process involves heating milk until just boiling, cooling it to a certain temp and then adding the yogurt starter/culture. Add flavor, sweetener, etc and transfer to a maker. Seemingly intimidating, but in reality not hard at all. |
Length of time that you incubate your yogurt in order for the cultures to grow will depend on your yogurt maker, and the volume of yogurt you make. I make vanilla every time and then I can through in granola or blueberries or whatever. My yogurt has milk, cultures, sugar, vanilla extract and that's it. It cheaper for me than buying the same amount
pre-made from the store, I can always have it ready and in my fridge and my family loves it.
3 comments:
I think this is smart because I hate that I cannot find yogurt in the store without all the additives. I will have to go to a Wild Oats or something to find a decent type of yogurt. We could get Finnish yogurt in Russia and it was THE BEST!!
I have a yogurt maker, but the health food store down the street doesn't carry yogurt culture. (If I had money, I'd buy a Sweet Peas Market so I could burn it to the ground.) I have heard that you can use yogurt you buy at the store as your starter, but that intimidates me and I am too lazy to look it up on the computer even though I am on it right now.
I haven't made yogurt since my oldest was a baby and I tried using pie filling as a sweetener. HATED IT! I could never get it to taste the way I wanted to, but I also couldn't give my yogurt maker away on the slim chance that I would, one day, attain magical yogurt making powers. Maybe I will try again.
i started making yogurt over the summer also, but instead of a yogurt maker i've been using a thermos (from the thrift store) with good results. thank you for the starter tip - we have a whole foods opening soon in our area. can't wait to try the starter.
Post a Comment