Homemade Yogurt with Salton Yogurt Maker Instructions

Is there any reason why lactose-free milk would pose a problem in yogurt making?

I've done a lot of experimentation, learning to make yogurt. The easiest method I've found so far is to heat the milk to at least 185°, using a 2 quart Pyrex batter bowl in the microwave on high for 17 minutes. I have a small microwave, so you may need to adjust the time. I then set the bowl in the sink and put some ice in the sink. It takes about 15 minutes to reach 112-115°, which is when I remove the skin that has formed (kind of scooping it up in one piece with a dinner fork). Then I mix about a half cup of yogurt from my last batch with a half cup or so of the warm milk, and stir that into the rest of the milk. I have a Dash yogurt maker, which I preheat for 5 minutes, pour in the mixture, set it for 12 hours, and done!.

Before I had the yogurt maker, I warmed my crockpot with hot tap water for 10 minutes or so, dumped the water, dried it thoroughly, poured in the yogurt mixture, wrapped it in a towel and used that to incubate. It worked just fine.

I prefer Greek yogurt, so I strain it. The Dash yogurt maker comes with a very fine mesh strainer. Before that, I used a piece of muslin to line a colander. Danvier also makes a larger mesh strainer for yogurt, which is available on Amazon.

Here are two key tips for great home yogurt making:
-Heat the milk to just below scalding (195F) and hold it there for ten minutes before cooling and culturing. It will make noticeably thicker yogurt without having to add powdered milk or gelatin, etc. It's OK if the milk bubbles or scalds a bit, just watch it carefully to avoid the mess of boiling over.
-A good culturing temperature is 110F. At temps over 120F the cultures begin to stress and die off, while lower temps can encourage undesirable microbes or weaken the culture.

Home made yoghurt is a tradition,
This is how we do.
5 lt milk and half 3 spoon yoghurt
boil the milk, let it jingle a bit.
there will be a skin on top (cream) don't break it.
let it cool. check it's temperature by your wrist if it is hot
enough not to get burn it is ready .
just from the corner of the milk break the creamy skin.
leave the yoghurt from there and without breaking try to stir.
put the lid on, cover it with a kitchen blanket overnight in the corner of the kitchen top. Voila it is ready to eat in the morning.. with a deliciaously creamy top...

Yoghurt has a variety of use in the middle east and half of the asian cultures due to lactose intolerance for milk. It is invented out of neccessity. the yoghurt is a home remedy in case of mild poison cases. It is suggested to consume as much as if this the case.Has a cleanse effect.
It may be spread over mild burnings, even sun burnings with a cooling effect and it's shelf life very long in fridge more than 1 week, and after 1 week when it taste became sour, you can blend it with water drink plain, or add a kick of black pepper ans salt or simply drink it by adding different spices or juices to make your very own favourite "indian lassi".
one more, actually water blended yogurt 1 to 1 is one of the techniques to have butter. Just shake it for half an hour
Voila, you have your very own fresh butter... a comment from boshphorus... :)

I'm so elated! Followed this recipe, only instead of using a yogurt maker I've incubated my yogurt using the oven with the light left on. I do actually have a "warming" temp but it doesn't say how hot it gets.. to risky for me! Anyways, after only 2.5 hours it's starting to thicken nicely and has a very faint yogurt taste! I used a 100g pot of activia vanilla yogurt instead of the starter. I'm going to add stewed fruit to this for sure! /squeal.

So sorry for the typo - will correct this asap.

40 ounces of milk = 5 cups of milk NOT 9 cups of milk

Wow, this sounds awesome. Is there a vegan version of this recipe?

Hi, Merrill. I took your advice and used starter (instead of Greek yogurt like you said) and it came out so nice and thick. just like you promised (and I like)! Thanks again for the advice and wonderful recipe!

What's the ideal temperature of the warming space? I have a warming drawer on my oven and will try it there on low today. I figure if it's too warm I can accommodate by opening it slightly.

I have made my own yogurt for a long time. I heat the milk to 180 degrees, cool it down to 115 and then add about 2 tablespoons of yogurt from the previous batch. While the yogurt is heating & cooling, I scald a 1 liter glass-lined thermos (stainless steel thermos does not work for this) to kill any residue from the last batch of yogurt making, and to warm the thermos. After about 15 minutes, I pour out the hot water and let the thermos sit, until the yogurt is ready. The inoculated milk goes in and 8 to 12 hours later out comes yogurt. Refrigerate before serving.

Bought my machine three days ago and am on my third batch already. I love it! Traveling abroad, the yogurt always seems so much better. Now I can make it at home. I am playing with different flavors. So far my favorite is made with a T of lilikoi (passion fruit) butter. Flavor is great. A thin crust forms on the top similar to Brown Cow yogurt, but not as thick. I love the ability to make multiple flavors within the same batch. While you clearly don't need a yogurt maker to make homemade yogurt, the machine certainly controls the temperature and time variables to insure a great yogurt.

Being $ challenged my set up is mostly Goodwill scores:
I warm a gallon of milk in 8-quart stockpot sitting in a boiling ball jar canning pot. The water acts like a restaurant steamjacket kettle reaching temp quickly.No worries about burnt milk, boil over, etc.
I whisk a half cup n/f dry milk in (it creates a silky texture at finish)
Chill to 115 degrees in a sink of water/ice.
Place 6 24-oz ball jars in towel lined sink, spoon in contents of jar from last batch evenly in empty jars.
Pour in 115 deg milk in jars, seal them.
Place jars on walgreens heating pad, cover with a fluffy towel.
& 7 hours later, place in fridge.
Next a.m. voila ! My starter is now 2+years old,very tart & yummy.Stands up to sweet home-canned fruits, dulce, honey, etc.began with Traders Joe's Greek Yogurt.
Now making a gallon at a time, lasts me 4-6 weeks.Follow all canning hygiene protocol.
Tried the 7oz maker(from Goodwill,$6), way too prissy and small, guess I worked in too many restaurant kitchens and am used to larger amounts, scale of prep.

I had a yogurt maker and personally wouldn't recommend buying one, since most of "the equipment" needed to make yogurt is already in most kitchens. I make 2 quarts of plain yogurt every week with minimal work. to do so you will need three wide-mouth,1 quart glass canning jars, 1/2 gallon of organic milk...yogurt sets better when made with organic milk...of whatever fat content you desire, 8 ounces of plain live culture yogurt (I use Chobani) and a small cooler that will easily accommodate the three canning jars, but not much more. Pour approx 3 3/4 cups of milk in two of the jars. Heat the jars, one at a time, in the microwave for approx. 3-4 mins, or until the milk reaches 160 degrees (use an instant read thermometer). Remove and heat the other jar of milk. Let the milk cool in the jars on the counter to 118-120 degrees. Whisk 4 oz of plain yogurt to each jar of warmed milk. Place the uncovered jars in a small insulated cooler along with a jar of very warm water. Close the cooler and let sit, undisturbed on the counter, 8 to 12 hours. I usually let it sit from 7pm until 6 the next morning when I get up. Carefully remove the jars of yogurt. The yogurt will be warm and needs to chill in the fridge before eating. Do not stir it or you will break down the fragile structure. Flavor the yogurt before eating. I hope you enjoy this and find it useful.

My favourite flavour is Maple Vanilla--just replace the honey in the recipe above with organic maple syrup. I use a Waring Pro, available from Costco, but it comes with plastic jars. Glass ones would certainly be preferable.

I love the suggestion of the crock pot! Brilliant! I've been wondering what to do with that thing.

I eat a lot of yogurt on a daily basis and have become addicted to it over the years. I love the idea of making my own - thanks for this motivation! I'd be interested in hearing what brand/model you have too. I really love the honey-vanilla and espresso flavors you've created here!!

I am quite space constrained but have discovered my oven doesn't stay warm enough for incubation, so I'm a huge fan of the crock pot / slow cooker: boil on the stove (dissolve in milk powder for greek-style thickness), cool until warm enough to touch, stir in starter, and then into the crock pot on the "keep warm" (not low) setting for 4-8 hours. Works brilliantly!

I wish I hadn't tossed my yogurt maker from the 1970's. It was a Salton, kind of a big thermos that plugged in...I think my ex-husband swiped it! Anyhow, I'll buy one is the food52 shop can suggest one.