It may sound daunting at first, but making yogurt is actually a fairly easy task once you get a hang of the process. Doing so will allow you to save money, eat more healthily, choose your own flavors, and even help the environment by avoiding the disposable plastic tubs that store bought yogurts come in. If you want to learn how to make yogurt at home, this guide is for you.

How to Make Yogurt at Home

Whether you prefer sweet or plain yogurt, it is a simple product to make – as long as you have the right tools and freshest ingredients. Below is your step-by-step guide to making yogurt at home.

Tools

Before you can learn how to make yogurt at home, you will need to gather your tools. Your yogurt maker is the most important one for this process, but there are a few additional utensils you will need.

• Yogurt maker
• Measuring cup
• Whisk/cooking spoon
• Ladle
• Saucepan
• Medium-sized mixing bowl
• Instant-read thermometer

Ingredients

You will need the best and freshest ingredients possible in order to get great quality results. Be sure to read your yogurt maker instructions to get exact measurements for each of the ingredients.

Fresh milk (whole or 2% is best) .
Fresh plain yogurt (check the ingredients for live active cultures).
If you prefer, you can use 1 tablespoon of commercial starter culture instead of yogurt.

Method

Now you have all your tools and ingredients ready, you can begin making yogurt.

Step 1: Heat the Milk

To ensure your milk is free from any bad bacteria that may interfere with the yogurt making process, you need to destroy them with heat.
Begin by placing the instructed amount of milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
Wait until bubbles begin to form on the edges and steam rises off the milk. Do not allow it to boil.
When the temperature reaches 180°F, remove the saucepan from the heat.

Step 2: Cool the Milk

Allow the milk to cool to 110°F.
To speed up the cooling process, fill your sink with ice and place a large bowl on top. Transfer the milk into the bowl and wait until it reaches temperature.

Step 3: Temper the Milk

If you are using plain yogurt for your process, you will first need to temper it with the milk. Tempering is the process of gradually combining hot and cool ingredients together in order to keep them from cooking or curdling by slowly bringing them to the same temperature.
Begin by adding the required amount of yogurt to the medium mixing bowl.
Add 1/2 cup of the milk and whisk or stir the mixture until it is smooth.
Continue until you have added 1 1/2 – 2 cups of milk.
Add the remaining milk and stir until it is lump-free and creamy.
If you are using the cultures, then you simply add and stir.

Step 4: Add the Flavors

The beauty of making yogurt is you get to choose the flavors you prefer.
At this point you can add sweeteners such as honey, or flavors like vanilla extract
If you want to include cooked or pureed fruit, or jam, you might want to try leaving that until after the yogurt has been made, just to ensure you get the hang of this process first.

Step 5: Fill the Yogurt Containers

Remove the containers from your yogurt maker and ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and dry.
Ladle equal amounts of the yogurt mixture into the individual jars or the large single container depending on your machine.
Make sure to clean up any drips or mess on the outside of the containers.
Insert the containers into the yogurt maker with the lids off.
Put the cover on the machine.

Tip!

Place your yogurt maker in a spot that will not be bumped or disturbed as this can interfere with the incubation process

Step 6: Program Your Yogurt Maker

Follow your machine instructions to set the incubation timer and wait.

Step 7: Refrigerate Your Yogurt

Once your yogurt is ready, remove the container/s from the machine and add any fruit you like.

• Put the lids on the containers and place them in the fridge until they are chilled through – this will take at least three hours but can also be done overnight for convenience.
• If you want your yogurt to have a thicker consistency, place a cheesecloth over a strainer and position the strainer over a bowl. Pour the yogurt into the strainer and allow the whey to drip out until your yogurt reaches your desired consistency. If it gets too thick, you can simply add some of the whey back in and stir.
• Your yogurt can be stored for at least 10 days in the refrigerator.

Now you know how to make yogurt at home, you can begin creating a wealth of healthy and delicious dairy options for you and your family.