Making your own yogurt at home is cost-effective and a fun way to control the ingredients and flavors, ensuring a healthy, customized option. The process is surprisingly simple and requires minimal equipment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your own yogurt.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of milk (whole or 2% works best)
- 2 tablespoons of existing plain yogurt with live cultures or a yogurt starter culture (available at health food stores)
Instructions:
- Pour the milk into a heavy saucepan and heat it over medium heat. Monitor the temperature with your thermometer. You want to heat the milk to 180°F.
- Once the milk reaches 180°F, remove it from heat and let it cool to about 110°F.
- Place the 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt or starter culture in a small bowl. Add about ½ cup of the cooled milk to the yogurt and whisk until smooth.
- Pour the yogurt mixture back into the pot with the rest of the milk and whisk gently.
- Transfer the milk mixture to a container or containers, depending on whether you want one large batch or individual servings. Cover the container(s) and place in a warm area to incubate for about 6-12 hours. The longer it incubates, the tangier and thicker the yogurt will be.
- After incubation, refrigerate the yogurt to stop the fermentation process. Chill it for at least 2 hours and enjoy!