People who have made yogurt...

[RioG]

Help!

So I tried it for the first time today, found a recipe on epicurious.  I was using my crockpot as the "incubator".  Lowest temp was 130 (recipe called for 115) but thought it would work anyway.

So it's been in there for 90 minutes (recipe says to incubate it for 5 hrs min) and I just came home from being out... only to find it bubbling in there.  Turns out the 130 was Celcius which is 270 Farenheit.

So I just turned it off.  Is it ruined?  Does that kill off the cultures?  Any ideas?

[witchypoo]

oh, i'd throw it away and start again.

[RioG]

oh, i'd throw it away and start again.

I can't... I used my last 3 tbsp's of yogurt in this attempt.   fuck.  I hate wasting food.

so what will be wrong with it?  will it actually go bad?   it looks kind of nice and thick in there right  now...

[witchypoo]

well, it's dead.  you can eat it, i suppose (i'd probably use it to make bread), either straight or as part of a sauce.  but it's dead, dead, dead.

[RioG]

well I wanted it for smoothies so I guess I'll still use it and buy more for my next attempt,  for which I will use the oven.

[RioG]

Just bumping this to crow about my yogurt success.

I just heated the milk to 180, kept it there for 25 minutes, cooled to 110 in an ice bath, stirred in 3 tbsp. of the stuff I had in the fridge, poured in Mason jar and left all yesterday and overnight.

This morning it is lurvely, thick yogurt.  Yay me!  I'm thrilled because yogurt is very expensive and I'm trying to save money.  So if I buy the milk at Costco where it's half the price of the milk in the grocery store... super cheap yogurt.

[GreenMan]

I've made crock-pot yogurt with this technique. The advantage is that I don't have to monitor the temperature or anything, just follow the procedure. It works!

Oh and, meant to say: Yay on getting homemade yogurt, however you did it!  It's awesome.

[Ice Cream]

Just bumping this to crow about my yogurt success.

I just heated the milk to 180, kept it there for 25 minutes, cooled to 110 in an ice bath, stirred in 3 tbsp. of the stuff I had in the fridge, poured in Mason jar and left all yesterday and overnight.

This morning it is lurvely, thick yogurt.  Yay me!  I'm thrilled because yogurt is very expensive and I'm trying to save money.  So if I buy the milk at Costco where it's half the price of the milk in the grocery store... super cheap yogurt.

Put it in a coffee filter and let drain for Greek yogurt. 

[RioG]

I tried that ice cream but just ended up with the filter falling into the jar.  I need to figure that out better because now that I've stirred it it's too thin.  will be ok for smoothies but Clara won't be able to feed it to herself.   I read cheese cloth but it seems too thin even for that.  maybe I need bigger coffee filters?
greenman I didn't monitor the temp other than when cooking and cooling the milk.

[Run Amok]

I have used a strainer lined with coffee filters. Works ok. You lose some.

[nadra24]

I strain mine in cheesecloth that is folded into two layers.  I put the cloth into a strainer and put the strainer over a bowl.  Dump the yogurt into the cloth-lined strainer, and then the whole thing goes into the fridge for a couple of hours, or until it reaches your desired thickness. 

[RioG]

I strain mine in cheesecloth that is folded into two layers.  I put the cloth into a strainer and put the strainer over a bowl.  Dump the yogurt into the cloth-lined strainer, and then the whole thing goes into the fridge for a couple of hours, or until it reaches your desired thickness.

thanks!  will try that.

[Ice Cream]

I have used a strainer lined with coffee filters. Works ok. You lose some.

yes.

[ecodork]

Nadra, do you re-use your cheesecloth?

[caribougrrl]

when you strain it, Rio, keep the liquid (whey) not just for starting new yogurt, but for fermenting other home made goodies (like mayonnaise)... or use it other ways you might use buttermilk (bread, marinades, etc.)... no need to waste it!

[nadra24]

Nadra, do you re-use your cheesecloth?

Yes, I rinse it out and then throw it in with my laundry. 

[Eco Ellen]

I don't know why but the idea of making yogurt grosses me out.

I eat yogurt, though. 

[witchypoo]

I don't know why but the idea of making yogurt grosses me out.

I eat yogurt, though. 

i don't care for homemade yogurt.  never have. 

[Natasha]

I can't make mine turn out without powdered milk.

[Ice Cream]

I can't make mine turn out without powdered milk.

if you use full strength milk, you don't need it.  If you use reduced fat, it's essential, I was told. 

[Natasha]

if you use full strength milk, you don't need it.  If you use reduced fat, it's essential, I was told. 

I do use whole milk, so not sure why it failed the once. I just use the powdered milk now as more of a fail-safe measure.