Sunday, January 14, 2007

More on Yogurt

Reader Jill would really like to make yogurt, but she's afraid to try. Jill, I'm encouraging you to go for it! As a matter of fact, I'm so much encouraging you to go for it that I spent a portion of time this afternoon experimenting with making yogurt without a yogurt maker, and I'm pleased to say that I had fabulous results.

Check back here tomorrow for details on how I did it and a modification of the yogurt recipe published here.

4 comments:

jill said...

After watching the girls devour store-brought yogurt in record time (I bought 5 little things on sale, gone within 12 hours), I've decided to get the yogurt maker you recommended from amazon. Can't order it for a few more weeks yet but that's ok.

One final question: do you know if can I use powdered milk (made up, of course)? We have a neighbor who gives us bags and bags of it which I use for cooking and baking.

Thicket Dweller said...

Jill, after doing a little checking around, it appears that you can use "good quality" powdered milk to make yogurt. Check out this website for instructions: http://www.manytracks.com/Homesteading/yogurt.htm

I also found a very informative recipe for powdered milk yogurt here:

http://waltonfeed.com/grain/ldscn/87.html

I found, too, that while the yogurt maker is very convenient, I was able to fiddle with my gas oven and incubate a batch of plain yogurt for four hours which came out just great. My best friend is my thermometer, so if you don't use a yogurt maker, definitely use the thermometer.

One note: the first recipe linked above says to use glass containers. It actually doesn't matter, as long as the container is clean. I've been using a used 32 oz yogurt container to incubate mine, and it works just fine.

jill said...

Thank you so much! The waltonfeed info mentions use of an electric oven which I've not seen elsewhere and that gives me added courage. I've added plain yogurt to the grocery list. Look for results from me in the next week to 10 days.

You are a wealth of info and I appreciate all the sharing you do!

Thicket Dweller said...

It's my pleasure, Jill!