Thursday, February 26, 2009

Making Yogurt


I made yogurt in my crockpot last night! You can't imagine my excitement when I uncovered the mixture this morning, half expecting a sour liquid mess to be waiting for me, and realized that it had indeed actually worked.

Mac was the first one up, and I fixed him a small bowl with raspberries mixed in. I told him it was unsweetened, and that he could add a little sugar or honey if he liked. He gobbled it right up, without sweetening it, and told me this was how they eat their yogurt in Spain. "If Mrs. O (his AP Spanish teacher) hears that you made this, she'll go crazy!"  

We go through quite a bit of yogurt around here, and making it this way is so much more economical, and so much better for you. 

Here's what I did:

Plug crock pot in and turn to low heat. Add 1/2 gallon (8 cups) whole milk. Let cook, covered, for 4 hours. Turn crockpot off, unplug it, and set lid ajar for milk to cool. Check often with a candy thermometer, while waiting for milk to reach about 115 F. 

When milk has reached desired temperature, remove two cups to a glass measuring cup. Whisk in 3 T dried milk, and 1/2 cup plain yogurt. (This acts as a starter. After you've made yogurt, you can use 1/2 cup of your own as a starter.) 

Whisk milk/yogurt mixture back into the warm milk in the crockpot. Cover. Wrap entire crockpot in bath towels for insulation. Leave sit for 8 hours. Uncover. 

You can now refrigerate your yogurt as it is, or place a coffee filter in the bottom of a colander, and place it over a bowl. Fill the colander with your yogurt, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for several hours. This allows the whey to drain from the yogurt, leaving you with a thicker product. 

To serve, eat plain, drizzle with honey, or mix with fruit or granola.  

I started this at 6PM, just as I was preparing dinner. I turned the crockpot off at 10 PM, and it took almost an hour to cool to the right temperature. It was covered and "put to bed" by 11 PM. This worked perfectly for me. Had I made it during the day, I would've been tempted to peek during the 8 hour resting time. This way, I just went to bed and woke up to yogurt! 




18 comments:

Unknown said...

I make yogurt home regularly. In fact, we rarely buy store yogurt. We buy the "culture" from an Indian grocery store and put it in a clean, dry container. Then we boil some milk and after it cools down, we add it to the culture and keep it outside for two days. Works very well for us and it tastes like the Indian yogurt we love. It might be a little too sour for your taste. :)

Katie @ Frugal Femina said...

I have often thought about making it at home. Every morning Bradley says, "Yogurt!!!" The crock pot method sounds like my cup o' tea!

Unknown said...

What a neat idea, yogurt in the crockpot! I'm going to try this. I've tried making it on the counter top, and it just doesn't stay warm enough to do right. Thanks for sharing! :o)

Tracy said...

Oh very yum. I've never been entirely happy with my own efforts to make it, but I do love to eat it!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

That sounds great! Have you ever mixed fruit in with it while it is being prepared or do you just do that when you serve it?

sherry said...

Earlier today I was reading about this process. Then I come to your blog and whadyaknow you've shared about it. :o)

Diane Shiffer said...

what a great idea!!

50s Housewife said...

Oh this sounds actually doable! Thank you!

Tracy said...

Mrs. Rabe,

Adding fruit thins the yogurt and is best left to the last minute before eating!

Meredith said...

We make yogurt often but I've never tried it in the crockpot before!

Thanks for such a good step-by-step lesson.

His Girl said...

I really want to do this! You're totally domesticating me :)

I was HOPING you'd rub off on me if I hung around here long enough.

Terri said...

I never realized making your own would be that easy. Unfortunately, no one here likes yogurt so while it sounds great, I'll probably never make it.

Jessica said...

Sounds yummy! I am going to try this!

the voice of melody said...

I've used my crockpot for several things but never to make yogurt! Glad it worked so well. :)

Anonymous said...

I've often wanted to make yogurt at home and I *love* that you can do it in the crock pot, thanks Tracy! (o:

Short Stop said...

My in-laws were here this weekend, and I was telling them all about this post. My MIL said that she used to use a yogurt maker? when the kids were little. But, used this same process.

I really want to try this. Lincoln LOVES yogurt!!

Susan said...

Hi Tracy, I haven't been around for awhile. Boy, this is something I will have to try. Did you keep track of the cost?
Susan

Tracy said...

Susan,

I got about 8 cups of homemade yogurt for LESS than $2!