How to Make Your Own Yogurt at Home

Cooking workshop at the Volksuniversiteit in Rotterdam.
Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Once the milk reaches 180°F, remove it from heat and let it cool to about 110°F.
  3. 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. 
  4. Pour the yogurt mixture back into the pot with the rest of the milk and whisk gently. 
  5. 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.
  6. After incubation, refrigerate the yogurt to stop the fermentation process. Chill it for at least 2 hours and enjoy!