Yogurt: How to Make Yogurt at Home

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Making Yogurt at Home
Country Living Series

by Barbara J. Willenberg, Karla Vollmar Hughes, and Lyn Konstant
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Missouri-Columbia

Yogurt is a cultured dairy product that can be made from whole, lowfat or skim milk, including reconstituted nonfat dry milk powder. Although most yogurt in the United States is made from cow's milk, any type of milk can be used. In other countries, yogurt is made from the milk of water buffalo, yak, goat, horses and sheep. As interest in raising goats increases in the United States, so does the popularity of making yogurt from goat's milk.

If you like yogurt and eat it often, you may enjoy preparing yogurt at home. Depending on the form of milk used, you will probably save money, as well. The guidelines and procedures in this guide will help you make a quality product.

Equipment needed

With the exception of a commercial yogurt maker with an electrically heated base, most of the equipment needed to prepare yogurt can be found in any kitchen. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment before you begin preparing yogurt:

Double boiler that holds at least 5 cups.
Candy thermometer with a range of 100 degrees F to 300 degrees F.
Container for yogurt that holds at least 5 cups (glass, crockery, food-grade plastic or stainless steel), or use individual custard cups or jelly jars — then the yogurt can be eaten directly from the container in which it was made.
Other useful equipment: large spoon, large bowl, and aluminum foil or plastic wrap to cover yogurt containers if they don't have lids.
Incubator to maintain a constant temperature of 108 degrees F to 112 degrees F when incubating yogurt. The most foolproof method for incubating yogurt is in a commercial yogurt-maker with an electrically heated base. If you don't want to purchase a yogurt maker, experiment with the other methods of incubation described in Table 1 until you find one that fits your need.

Before you begin

Thoroughly wash equipment for making yogurt and container(s) with hot, soapy water. Rinse everything thoroughly and air dry. A dishwasher can also be used. Pour boiling water into the yogurt container(s) and leave until ready to use. Prepare the incubator following manufacturer's instructions (see Table 1).

Table 1. Incubators.

Method A: Prewarm oven to 200 degrees F and turn off. Use an oven thermometer to monitor temperature — do not let it drop below 100 degrees F. Turn oven on for short periods during incubation to maintain a temperature of 108 degrees F to 112 degrees F.

Method B: Line an ice chest (picnic cooler) with aluminum foil. Place four, one-quart jars filled with hot water (about 140 degrees F) inside the ice chest with the yogurt container(s) and cover ice chest with a tight-fitting lid. Allow space between jars and container(s) of yogurt.

Method C: Nestle several cardboard boxes inside each other, placing crushed newspapers between each box. Continue as directed in Method B for ice chest.

Method D: A simple way to incubate a small amount of yogurt is to pour the yogurt mixture into a wide-mouth thermos and cover with a tight lid. When the yogurt is ready, loosen the thermos lid before storing it in the refrigerator so the yogurt can cool rapidly.

Method E: Set filled container(s) of yogurt on a towel-covered heating pad set on medium heat in a sheltered corner on a kitchen counter. Cover the jars with several towels.

Recipe for plain yogurt

This recipe makes 4 to 5 cups. Yogurt can be stored in the refrigerator for about 10 days. This recipe can be doubled or tripled with no loss of quality, but make sure you can use that amount in 10 days or less. Adjust pan and container size accordingly.

1 quart milk (whole, lowfat, skim or reconstituted nonfat dry milk) Note: If you use home-produced milk, either from a cow or goat, it must be pasteurized (see Table 2) before preparing yogurt or any other milk product.
Nonfat dry milk powder — use 1/3 cup powder when using whole or lowfat milk, or use 2/3 cup powder when using skim or reconstituted nonfat dry milk
1/4 cup commercial, unflavored, cultured yogurt*
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar or honey (optional)
1/2 package (1 teaspoon) unflavored gelatin (for thick, firm yogurt only)

* Special hint: To make yogurt at home, an active (living) yogurt culture is needed as a "starter." Commercial, unflavored cultured yogurt, from the supermarket is usually used as a starter. Yogurt starter cultures can also be purchased at health food stores, but are quite expensive compared to commercial cultured yogurt. Once you start making yogurt at home, save some of your homemade yogurt to "start" your next batch. For best results, however, purchase commercial cultured yogurt to replenish a homemade culture every four to five batches.

For thin yogurt:

Place cold, pasteurized milk in top of a double boiler and stir in nonfat dry milk powder. Add sugar or honey if a sweeter, less tart yogurt is desired.
Heat milk to 200 degrees F, stirring gently and hold for 10 minutes. Do not boil.
Place top of double boiler in cold water to cool milk rapidly to 112 degrees F to 115 degrees F. Watch the temperature carefully as it falls rapidly once it reaches 125 degrees F. Remove pan from cold water.
Remove one cup of the warm milk and blend it with the yogurt starter culture. Add this to the rest of the warm milk. Temperature should now be 110 degrees F to 112 degrees F.
Pour immediately into the clean hot container(s), cover and place in prepared incubator. Close incubator.
Incubate about 4 hours. Yogurt should be set. The longer the incubation time, the more tart or acidic the flavor.
Refrigerate immediately. Rapid cooling stops the development of acid. Yogurt will keep for about 10 days if held at 40 degrees F or lower (normal refrigerator temperature).

For thick, firm yogurt:

Place cold, pasteurized milk in the top of a double boiler and stir in nonfat dry milk powder. Stir in sugar or honey if sweeter, less tart yogurt is desired. Sprinkle gelatin over the milk. Let stand for 5 minutes to soften gelatin.
Heat milk to 200 degrees F and hold for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring gently to dissolve gelatin. Continue from Step 3 under thin yogurt.

Calories in yogurt

One-cup (8 ounces) serving	Calories
Plain, made from whole milk	139
Plain, made from lowfat milk	144¹
Plain, made from skim milk	127
Vanilla- or coffee-flavored, made from lowfat milk	194²
Fruit-flavored made from lowfat milk	225 to 231¹
¹Calories vary with the amount of nonfat dry milk added to yogurt. ²With sweetener added.

Making yogurt in a microwave oven

Microwave ovens can be used both to heat milk for yogurt making and to incubate the yogurt. Check manuals that come with individual microwave ovens for directions.

Table 2. Home pasteurization of milk in a double boiler.

1. Heat water in the bottom section of a double boiler.

2. Pour milk into the top section; cover it and heat to 165 degrees F stirring occasionally for uniform heating.

3. As soon as milk reaches 165 degrees F, cool it immediately by setting the top section of the double boiler in ice water or cold running water.

4. Store milk in the refrigerator in clean containers.

Caution: Microwave ovens should not be used to pasteurize milk because of their uneven heating pattern, which could result in the survival and growth of disease-producing microorganisms in the milk.

Serving suggestions for home-prepared yogurt:

Serve on baked potatoes, fruit or vegetables as a low calorie substitute for sour cream.
For dip or salad dressing, add chopped onion, chives, curry powder, dried onion soup mix or other flavorings.
To make fruit-flavored yogurt, stir sliced or crushed fruit into plain yogurt. Nuts or raisins can also be added. Add sweetener to taste if needed. Plain yogurt mixed with applesauce is a quick and delicious treat.
Custard-flavored yogurt can be made by adding 1/2 teaspoon vanilla to 1 cup of yogurt. Sweeten to taste.
Frozen yogurt on a stick: Add 2 tablespoons frozen fruit juice concentrate, or 1/2-cup sliced or crushed fruit to 2 cups plain yogurt. Freeze in Popsicle molds or cups with plastic spoons or wooden sticks for handles.
Plain or fruit-flavored yogurt can be frozen in small containers and added to "brown bag" lunches to keep other items cold until lunchtime.

Peachy yogurt ice cream

1 cup whipping cream
1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
3 cups sliced peaches, slightly thawed if frozen
1/3 cup honey

Whip cream until stiff and set aside.

Place peaches, yogurt and honey in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Fold into the whipped cream, pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

When frozen solid, thaw slightly, then blend again in blender or food processor until smooth. Store in freezer containers. For best quality, use in several days.

Makes about 5 cups.

Variations

Substitute strawberries or pitted sweet cherries for the peaches.

Chicken with yogurt sauce

1 broiler-fryer, cut into pieces, with skin removed (about 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup sliced onions (divide into 1/4 cup portions)
1 35-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained (2-1/2 cups)
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon dried dill weed (or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (to taste)
dash pepper sauce (like tabasco)
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Lightly brown the chicken pieces in oil in a large covered skillet. Add half the onions and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. In a blender or food processor, combine tomatoes, buttermilk, dill, sugar, salt, pepper and pepper sauce. Blend until smooth and pour over chicken. Return to heat and bring to a boil uncovered. Reduce heat, cover pan and simmer about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and stir in the yogurt and parmesan cheese. Heat until the sauce is very hot; do not boil. Serve garnished with remaining onions and parsley. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Light microwave cheesecake

Lighter than traditional cheesecake, but just as delectable!

1 9-inch graham cracker crust
1 carton part-skim ricotta cheese (15 ounces)
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
3 egg whites
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
10 fresh strawberries (for topping)

In a medium bowl, combine all filling ingredients. Beat at high speed with a mixer until smooth. Microwave on high for 4 to 7 minutes or until very hot, stirring every 2 minutes with a whisk. Pour into prepared crust. Microwave at 50 percent (medium) for 7 to 15 minutes or until center is almost set, rotating dish one-quarter turn after every 3 minutes. Filling becomes firm as it chills. Chill for at least 6 hours. Garnish with fresh strawberries. Makes 10 servings.

Note: Mention of brand names does not imply endorsement of specific products.

Table 3. Yogurt problem solver.

Water separation of curds and whey:

Incubation time too long, allowing formation of too much acid. Shorten incubation time and refrigerate yogurt as soon as it becomes firm.

Insufficient heat treatment of milk. Either milk was not heated to 200 degrees F or it was not held at 200 degrees F as directed for thin or firm yogurt. Heat treatment changes the milk proteins so that the yogurt is firmer and whey does not separate so easily from curds.

Yogurt does not become firm:

Inactive culture. Commercial, unflavored yogurt used for starter must be fresh and contain live culture.
Incubation temperature too high or too low. Temperature must be between 108 degrees F to 112 degrees F for yogurt culture to grow properly. Temperatures above 115 degrees F cause separation or curdling and can destroy the active yogurt culture, while temperatures below 100 degrees F stop the growth..

Interfering substances such as detergent. Wash and thoroughly rinse all yogurt-making equipment and container(s) before making yogurt.

Off flavors:

Off-flavored milk. Use fresh milk with a good flavor and fresh dry milk powder.

Bacteria that cause off-flavors can grow along with the yogurt culture. To prevent the presence of unwanted bacteria, use a fresh, active yogurt culture (see recipe for plain yogurt), thoroughly wash and rinse all yogurt-making equipment and container(s), hold container(s) in hot water while preparing yogurt and keep container covered during incubation.

GH1183, Making Yogurt at Home — Country Living Series (XPLOR only).

Copyright 1999 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia. Please use our feedback form for questions or comments about this or any other publication contained on the XPLOR site.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Ronald J. Turner, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Missouri and Lincoln University, Columbia, Missouri 65211. • University Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran in employment or programs. If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need this publication in an alternative format, write ADA Officer, Extension and Agricultural Information, 1-98 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO 65211, or call (573) 882-7216. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

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Disclaimer: Throughout this website, statements are made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of food and/or nutritional products. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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