Follow this step-by-step guide to create your own batch of homemade yogurt.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 gallon milk (I use whole milk, but you can use any percentage of fat)
- 2 tablespoons prepared yogurt with live cultures
Instructions:
1. Boil the Milk
Pour the half gallon of milk into the Instant Pot. Close the lid and press the “Yogurt” button, then adjust until it shows “Boil.” The Instant Pot will beep when the milk reaches 180°F (82°C). This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour (or longer if you double the recipe, which is possible in the 8qt instant pot).
2. Cool the Milk
Let the inner pot sit inside the instant pot for 5 minutes. Remove the inner pot and let the milk cool to 105°-110°F. This can take 40 minutes to an hour on the counter or about 15 minutes if using an ice bath.
3. Mix the Starter
When the milk has cooled, take about a cup of the milk and mix it with your starter (2 tablespoons of plain yogurt). Whisk this mixture back into the pot of milk until it is well combined.
4. Incubate the Yogurt
Place the inner pot back into the Instant Pot. Close the lid, press the “Yogurt” button, and set the time for 8-10 hours (I usually stick with 8 hours and it’s perfect). The longer it incubates, the tangier the yogurt will be.
5. Refrigerate the Yogurt
Once the pressure cooker beeps and the yogurt cycle is complete, remove the inner pot, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before transferring the yogurt to a container or stirring it in the Instant Pot.
Optional: Make Greek Yogurt
After refrigerating the yogurt for 8 hours, you can stir and transfer your yogurt to a container OR strain it to make Greek yogurt. To strain it, line a strainer with cheesecloth, place it over a large mixing bowl, and let the yogurt strain in the fridge for 6-8+ hours. Be sure to put aside 2 tablespoons BEFORE straining it to use as your starter next time you make yogurt. I usually freeze the starter and thaw it in the fridge before using it.
Tips for Perfect Homemade Yogurt:
- Choosing Milk: Whole milk will give you the creamiest yogurt, but you can use fat content of milk you prefer.
- Starter Yogurt: Make sure the yogurt you use as a starter has live cultures.
- Flavoring Your Yogurt: After your yogurt is set, you can add sweeteners, fruit, or vanilla to taste.
Making your own yogurt at home is not only cost-effective but also ensures you know exactly what’s going into your food. Enjoy your homemade yogurt as a healthy breakfast, a snack, or use it in your favorite recipes!
Happy Yogurt Making!
Feel free to share your yogurt-making experiences in the comments below. If you have any questions or tips, we’d love to hear from you. Enjoy your delicious homemade yogurt!
If you’re interested in trying out the Instant Pot that we use for making this yogurt, you can find it here. Using this link helps support our page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
