Ok girls I am thinking of making my own yoghurt! - Am I mad

[murphyslaw]

Have you done this?

Seen kits in Lakeland and am tempted

I got a yoghurt maker for christmas but still not used it yet, will watch with interest!

bump

They are great (yoghurt makers) and the end result is lovely and thick. However, the packet mixes are quite expensive and don't work out any cheaper than buying yoghurt.

I'd love to find out how to make plain natural yoghurt from scratch.

I use an electric one (from Lakeland). You just put some live yoghurt in the pot (about 2 teaspoons) then top up with milk. The maker is on for about 8hrs or can be done overnight. You can use skimmed milk or even goats milk. You just keep a couple of spoons back to start the next batch.

Easy peasy to make your own yoghurt (although I haven't done it for ages).

Don't bother buying a packet mix - just buy a small carton of "live" yoghurt as a starter. Once you've made your first batch, you can use that as a starter for the next batch.

From what I remember, you need a sterlised container to make and store the yoghurt on. Heat some milk until just below boiling, leave it to cool until it's luke warm, stir in a couole of tablespoons of live yoghurt, mix, pour into your container(s) and leave overnight to develop. Then store in the fridge.

georgiemum - mine always seems a bit thin. i use ss milk and add powder to try and thcken it, but has not helped. do you know what i could be doing wrong?

in one of the early jamie oliver books he describes how to do it w/o machinery, just in a pan overnight. never tried it tho.

sorry about typing have dd2 asleep on me!

I brought an Easiyo yoghurt kit just before xmas and i haven't looked back since, its so easy and scrummy! It can be expensive to buy the easiyo sachets.... but if you use this recipe..........

You need

1ltr Skimmed, Semi Skimmed or Full Fat UHT milk
2 to 3 tblespns Semi Skimmed powder
2 tblespns live yoghurt (from previous runs, or from a purchased live yog such as Lidl's ProBiotic Yoghurt)

Add into EasiYo and pour in the boiling water and 6-7hrs a nice yog is produced!

It makes just as nice yoghurt that you can then flavour yourself with puree/honey/fruit ect.

I use mine 4-5 times a week becuase we eat ALOT of yoghurt so it have saved me a fortune and the children like to experiment with different flavours, Easiyo can also be used to make drinking yoghurt and custard and ice cream. (haven't donr them yet so noe sure how i think you have to buy the sachets.)

Poppycake - maybe try a different startet yoghurt? I found Rachel's organic worked well or live greek-style yoghurt.

I never added milk powder and yoghurt was always quite thick.

Try:

600ml (low fat) milk
3 dried milk powder
2 Tbsp (low fat) greek yoghurt starter (frozen)
you can use the full fat variety.

Using goat yoghurt as a starter gives it that nice 'tart' flavour (like Losely)

did I mention to use long life?

You can do it the old fashioned way using a thermos and a warm cupboard

Milk powder makes it alot more creamy so good for desserts with some vinilla essence in, otherwise it can be a bit sharp for my boys.

Sorry can I do yet another hijack - georgiemum is that yoghurt you buy frozen or should I be freezing 2 tbsps of yoghurt? Sorry if I'm being a bit thick! Then will try and see if I can get it to work better. I've tried a few different makes of yoghurt as a starter, but not with much success

How would you make fruit yoghurt without "bits"? Am assuming it would be a case of pureeing the fruit but anyone done it? My boys won't eat youghurt with bits of fruit, only completeyl smooth (in fact it's the only thing I can guarantee they'll eat)

If you need live yoghurt to start it off, how did someone, somewhere make the first yoghurt....?

You can use ordinary live yoghurt. I suspect the 'first' yoghurt was an accident!
I suppose you can make plain yoghurt and add some pureed of stewed fruit if the children won't eat 'bits'.

I used to make my own as follows:
You need about 1 1/2 pts milk and 1 tsp live natural yogurt, a large saucepan and a 1 pt wide necked food flask. (or whatever size your flask is, boil an extra 1/3 quantity of milk)

Bring milk to the boil and simmer until reduced to about 2/3 its volume (about 1pt). Allow to cool until warm (not hot, but warmer than tepid). Pour into thermos flask. Add 1 tsp natural yogurt and mix well. Leave for about 8 hours.

This method makes nice thick creamy but quite tangy yogurt. You need to stir it before eating.

You can make yogurt without reducing the milk, but it won't be very thick.

Reminds me, I must start doing it again! The yogurt was very nice.

I used to make my own as follows:
You need about 1 1/2 pts milk and 1 tsp live natural yogurt, a large saucepan and a 1 pt wide necked food flask. (or whatever size your flask is, boil an extra 1/3 quantity of milk)

Bring milk to the boil and simmer until reduced to about 2/3 its volume (about 1pt). Allow to cool until warm (not hot, but warmer than tepid). Pour into thermos flask. Add 1 tsp natural yogurt and mix well. Leave for about 8 hours.

This method makes nice thick creamy but quite tangy yogurt. You need to stir it before eating.

You can make yogurt without reducing the milk, but it won't be very thick.

Reminds me, I must start doing it again! The yogurt was very nice.

I puree fruit for the ds's yoghurt or make Vanilla with a few drops of Van essence.

I second georgiemum with lakeland yoghurt maker. I have two of the containers so I can always make up another batch. I use Yeo Valley when I need a new starter and sprinkle in milk powder.

I don't stir it and it seems to stay a bit thicker. I think you can strain through a muslin for thicker yoghurt - I tried this once but it was a messy affair and I also read that the liquid contained many of the vitamins.

I was buying organic yoghurts, as we all eat them, this thing paid for itself in weeks!

How did you get a spare container - do they sell them too?

We eat loads of yoghurt but I am the only one who likes the home made! I do like Losely though.

I love it - I also bought the £35 ice cream maker. Yum yum yum. It broke after about 3 months and the lovely people at lakeland sent me a new one (and didn't want to old one back - so I have 2 bases!!!)

Yes, they sell a spare pot...very useful

here