You don’t have to be an expert when it comes to how to make easy homemade yogurt. Homemade yogurt is pretty simple to make and walks you through the simple process step by step (with a very easy video). This is an easy way to create yogurt right at home, claim some as your own, and avoid the high costs of commercial products at the store. If you’ve never created homemade yogurt before, maybe because you thought it was too hard, this is to tell you now that you really can do it. I’ll show you the simple steps to follow to create yogurt that will have people (even you!) asking you where you got it from!
To start creating homemade yogurt, you need to find a good yogurt maker, or even better, a “no-heat” type of yogurt maker. These types have been designed to be low maintenance. Next, you’ll need to purchase a thermometer and to do this, you’ll need to visit the local drugstore or pharmacy (if you’re buying the yogurt online, make sure you check with the seller to see if their yogurt thermometers work). Once you have these two items, you’re ready to get started.
To measure the temperature of the milk, you will need to bring your mixing bowl to room temperature. Bring your heated milk to a gentle boil. Then carefully place your towel in the bowl to protect it from rising water vapor, while you gently stir the contents of the pot. You can also use a thermometer attachment on your food processor if you’d prefer a digital reading (this is usually accurate for low-fat varieties).
When you blend your yogurt, add your water or milk mixture and stir until smooth and thick. If your consistency is too thick, add another four hours and let cool 3 hours before you spoon into your molds. Once you’ve made your delicious and thick yogurt, wait another day before you eat it. Allow it to thoroughly ripen in the refrigerator. It usually takes about four to six weeks for your yogurt to become ready to eat.
If you will use a glass or plastic container to store your yogurt in, one of the simplest methods of keeping it fresh is to fill a small ball jar with your yogurt and some air. This makes it very easy to take out and serve. When you first start using your newfound homemade “pasteurized” (not heat milk), you will probably find that the container will leak slightly. To remedy this, simply pour a bit of water into the ball jar and cover it up. This way, no air is trapped inside, and your bacteria-filled delight will remain as cold and as delicious as when you first brought it from the fridge.
To make a softer consistency, stir your yogurt into a large bowl and add one or two cups of warm milk. The warm milk will soften the thick yogurt, which will, in turn, help it set. You can then add the rest of the ingredients and stir to mix all of the ingredients together.
Another easy way to get the consistency you are looking for is to first begin by stirring through some of the yogurts and then adding a little bit of the heated milk. You will notice that it is easier to stir and blend the milk this way. Next, add the rest of your ingredients and continue to stir until you achieve the consistency you desire. If you prefer to use pasteurized milk and prefer a more curd-like texture, you can substitute about one-third of the milk with a combination of skim milk and whey.
Now, you have created a delicious and fresh homemade yogurt. To enjoy it, you must keep it in its original glass jar in a cool, dark place. It will continue to set for at least 2 hours, so be sure to stir regularly. If you store it in a closed container, you can store it in your refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
