But it’s got cultures or something like that and those are good for me, right? Right! If they are really in the yogurt you are eating, go ahead and take a look at the label on your yogurt I’ll wait. See any live ACTIVE cultures in it? The truth is that some brands do not even have active cultures (the good bacteria that helps your gut).
Specialty Organic yogurt can cost up to seven dollars a container (ouch!). I’m willing to bet no normal person wants to pay that much for yogurt. I certainly don’t- and you don’t have to!
Do You Need A Certain Type Of Milk To Make Yogurt?
Yes and no. You need real milk- not that fake plant version. Haha! Raw milk is the very, very best option when it comes to how to make yogurt from scratch. Raw milk can be really hard to find in some places, depending on your state’s raw milk laws. You can sometimes purchase a herd share from a local farm or homestead if you don’t have your own dairy animal.
If you can not find raw milk the next best option is whole milk (brownie points if it’s organic!), but again the most important part is that its whole milk. None of that skimmed milk nonsense. You can use cow, goat or any other milk along those lines to make your own yogurt.
To Make Homemade Yogurt You Will Need:
- raw or whole milk
- powdered milk (This is optional. It helps make your yogurt thicker if you are using something other than cow’s milk.)
- Freeze-dried yogurt culture (Cultures For Health has cultures you can purchase) or a plain organic whole fat yogurt with live active cultures.
- Crock-Pot
or another slow cooker
- Thick fleece blanket or other heavy blanket or several towels.
- A wooden or plastic spoon.
Making Homemade Yogurt
How To Make Yogurt Step 1:
Turn your crockpot to low and let sit and heat up (We do this while making dinner so it can be warming while we are busy with other things and as a result, it does not seem to take long).
How To Make Yogurt Step 2:
Pour the milk into a pan and let it heat to 175 degrees F (be really careful not to scald the milk or your homemade yogurt will taste funny. Afterward, pour the warmed milk into the crockpot and turn the crockpot off.
How To Make Yogurt Step 3:
Add the starter or room temperature yogurt with live active cultures.
How To Make Yogurt Step 4:
Cover with several layers of towels or blankets and let it sit undisturbed for 8 – 12 hrs with the lid on and covers wrapped/ No peeking now! You need to seal that heat in. When 8-12 hours are up you can unwrap and gently spoon into jars or place the whole crock into the fridge with the lid on.
How To Make Drinkable Yogurt
How To Make Thicker Greek Yogurt
Storing Homemade Yogurt
Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon of raw or whole milk
- 3/4 cup of powdered milk (optional)
- 1/2 cup of plain organic whole fat yogurt with live active cultures. Or Yogurt Starter Culture
Instructions
- Turn your crockpot to low and let sit and heat up (We do this while making dinner so it can be warming while we are busy with other things and as a result, it does not seem to take long).
- Pour the milk into a pan and let it heat to 175 degrees F (be really careful not to scald the milk or your homemade yogurt will taste funny. Afterward, pour the warmed milk into the crockpot and turn the crockpot off.
- Add the starter or room temperature yogurt with live active cultures.
- Cover with several layers of towels or blankets and let it sit undisturbed for 8 - 12 hrs with the lid on and covers wrapped/ No peeking now! You need to seal that heat in. When 8-12 hours are up you can unwrap and gently spoon into jars or place the whole crock into the fridge with the lid on.
I had heard of making yogurt in a crock pot and always wondered whether it wouldn't be too warm and kill the culture, but now I know: Turn it off and cover it to preserve the heat. That sounds super easy. I use a thermos for mine, which works mighty fine too. I'm curious about the metal spoon issue you mentioned. Can you point me to the research on that? I'd love to understand what's happening. I presume the metal acts on the live cultures somehow?