making yogurt in a yogurt maker recipes

Yogurt maker: pros and cons of using

Natural yogurt, known to mankind for six thousand years, does not contain pectin, gelatin, modified starch, milk powder, sugar, thickeners or preservatives. “White oxygen” (as the ancient Turks called yogurt) is obtained by fermenting milk with special yogurt bacteria, but since the result is a bland product “for everyone,” manufacturers began to mix it with fruit and berry additives and flavorings. As a result, we see on store shelves not yoghurts, but dairy desserts, so if you want to enjoy natural yoghurt and not a substitute, you need to buy a yoghurt maker!

What to cook in a yogurt maker?

This unique kitchen device is suitable not only for making yogurt, since the functions of the yogurt maker are much more interesting and varied than it seems at first glance. In it you can make deliciously tender fermented baked milk, healthy kefir, aromatic thick sour cream, soft crumbly cottage cheese and many fermented milk drinks with various additives. You can do wonders with a homemade yogurt maker! Fruits, berries, chocolate, nuts, muesli, bran, jam, sweet syrups and dried fruits will turn ordinary yogurt into a royal dessert.

Homemade milk is the best choice for those who have small children, and adults also want to eat tasty and healthy. The undoubted advantages of a yogurt maker are the ease of preparing fermented milk products, the convenience of storing the finished yogurt (in the same jars in which it was fermented) and the production of 100% natural “white oxygen”. The main disadvantage of the yogurt maker is its small size, so the yummy runs out too quickly...

Homemade yogurt vs store bought yogurt

The pace of life is high now. Some people think that it is faster and easier to purchase store-bought products, thereby saving time and effort.

Yes, making homemade yogurt takes hours and requires steps. How can you wait if you can just open a ready-made jar and drink it here and now!

Along with this, many agreed: when it comes to the quality of the product and the health of the family, you can try and wait!

In order to get a tasty and healthy drink at home, you usually use sourdough, for example, “Evitalia” and “Narine”, and milk.

REFERENCE. It is recommended to choose homemade milk from trusted sellers. Is it possible to buy directly from the farmer? Perfect! If you decide to use milk from a package, be prepared that you may not like the yogurt, and you will no longer be able to associate the concepts of “homemade” and “delicious” with each other. By the way, this is not a rule.

Some people use probiotic capsules instead of sourdough (Yogulact, Linex, etc.). It's more a matter of personal preference. Even Activia without additives will do if that’s convenient for you.

The finished yogurt can then be re-fermented several times, which is very economical.

If you do everything correctly, homemade yogurt turns out tasty and aromatic. There are no dyes or other substances in it that “kill” the naturalness of the taste and the entire emphasis is placed on its brightness. But you can get great pleasure by consuming a natural product, also created by your own efforts!

How to choose a yogurt maker?

A yogurt maker is a very simple device, so choosing one is not difficult, and different models of yogurt maker differ little from each other. This unit is a plastic container (square, round or rectangular) that holds glass or plastic jars with lids of 125-150 ml. Yogurt makers differ in the size of the container and the number of jars, which, of course, affects the cost of the device. It is better to take glass jars - at least you will be sure that during the process of heating the milk, harmful substances from the plastic are not absorbed into the yogurt. Some manufacturers produce yogurt makers in the form of a liter jar, which in some cases is more convenient, since there is no need to fuss and pour milk into small containers.

Many models are equipped with an auto-off timer or a sound signal, which allows you to select the desired time for preparing yogurt and take control of this process. Some housewives have a timer ticking in their heads, and they will never forget that yogurt is simmering in the kitchen, so they can easily do without an audio prompt.

Many yogurt makers have a delay start function, trays for draining whey, a measuring ladle, and jars with an expiration date indicator - for forgetful yogurt lovers. And most importantly, each model comes with a recipe book, thanks to which you can prepare delicious dairy desserts in the yogurt maker.

The best yogurt makers with glass jars

Devices equipped with glass jars are recognized as the safest for preparing fermented milk products. When exposed to high temperatures, glass does not emit toxic substances. Glass vessels are durable and bacteria do not accumulate on their walls.

BRAND 4002

A yogurt maker with a fairly large yield of product - about 2.5 liters - will be useful for those who want to stock up on their favorite treat for at least a few days. Or for families with three generations of relatives who cannot imagine their life without yogurt. The combined container is represented by 12 glass cups (200 ml) with plastic lids, as well as a plastic container. It serves as a tray for jars or as a separate cooking space. By default, the cooking time is 6 hours, it can be adjusted in the range from 1 to 12 hours. The temperature is constant, about 42°C. Device power – 50W. The service life of the yogurt maker declared by the manufacturer is 5 years, warranty is 1 year.

Advantages

• Large product yield
• Unusually bright and colorful instructions with cooking recipes. I want to try everything
• Manual marking of the preparation date of yoghurt using a rotary device on the lid
• Signal at the end of the set cycle

Flaws

• Manual shutdown with button

Galaxy GL2690

The simplest yogurt maker that even a child can handle: 7 jars for each serving and only one on/off button. The recipe is simple: pour milk (180 g into each container), add a spoonful of store-bought live yogurt (or yogurt starter from the pharmacy), close the large transparent lid and turn on the power button. All. After 7-8 hours, wonderful yogurt is ready. Country of origin: China. 1 year warranty.

Advantages

• Price
• Easy to operate yogurt maker
• Low power - only 20W. During the cooking cycle, electricity consumption is 140 W. Mere pennies
• Glass serving containers. No need to shift anything: we get 7 ready-made portions of the product

Flaws

• Doesn't always maintain a temperature of 40°C. The central jar often overheats (according to customer reviews)
• There is no timer, you need to monitor the yogurt “ripening” cycle yourself

Moulinex YG230/231

Equipment with a convenient display and a built-in timer will become your main assistant in the kitchen. Plastic lids can be marked, which allows you to control the expiration dates of the manufactured product. The set includes 7 jars made of high quality glass. The timer notifies you of the end of work with a special sound signal. It takes up to 15 hours to prepare dairy desserts. Most buyers agreed that the yogurt is fluffy and tasty. You can add pieces of fruit, berries, and nuts to the jars.

Advantages

• Easy to use
• High quality glass jars
• Sturdy body
• Price

Flaws

• Possible overheating

Steba JM 3

Quite a voluminous yogurt maker with a power of 25 W. The control of the device is push-button, there is an indicator for turning on and heating, and the display shows the remaining cycle time. The device has only one cooking program, but by selecting the necessary combination of time and temperature, you can get a whole range of fermented products, from fermented foods, kvass, to fermented baked milk, dairy desserts, yogurt, and cottage cheese. The device comes with 8 180 ml jars with lids, which can also be used to store cooked foods in the refrigerator. Made in China, 2 year warranty.

Advantages

• Adjustment of time (1-48 hours) and temperature (20-50°C)
• Glass serving jars
• Brushed stainless steel finish
• Sound signal for the end of cooking

Flaws

• Only one automatic program, for yoghurt

Do you need a yogurt maker at home?

A device for making yogurt is necessary if you are tired of synthetic products from the store, you are a gourmet and love natural food. Don’t worry that yogurt takes 6-8 hours to prepare, because you don’t have to stand at the stove all this time - you can go about your business, go to bed or leave the house.

You don't need many ingredients to make classic yogurt - all you need is milk and a starter, such as a jar of Activia without additives. Store-bought milk should be heated to 35 degrees, and homemade milk should be boiled and cooled to the same temperature. Next, you need to add the starter, beat everything thoroughly with a blender or mixer, pour into jars and select the desired cooking mode. It's elementary, Watson!

The best yogurt makers in 2021

Vitek VT-2600

This is one of the most affordable models on the market today. Its advantages also include small overall dimensions and an automatic shutdown function upon completion of cooking. The body elements and cups together with the bowl are made of high-quality food-grade plastic, which makes this product quite light. All control elements are quite simple and consist of several buttons and a rotary timer switch, designed for a period of 3 to 14 hours.

Using this design, you should remember that healthy yogurt is prepared at a temperature of no more than 45 degrees; you should not choose too high a temperature, as this will lead to spoilage of the food. An auto shut-off function is also provided. There is a light indicator of operation, the capacity of one jar is 165 ml, there are 6 jars in total. The power of the equipment is only 24 W. Cups can be washed in the dishwasher.

Advantages:

• Beautiful appearance;
• Weighs little;
• Automatic shutdown is provided;
• Takes up minimal space;
• Consumes little electricity.

Flaws:

• Often overheats the product, turning yogurt into sour milk;
• There is no board indicating the time until the end of work;
• There is also no sound signal;
• The plastic case sometimes makes strange sounds during operation.

Vitek VT-2600

Tefal YG 260132

This yogurt maker is distinguished by high quality workmanship and small size. It has a number of useful functions that allow you to prepare not only yogurt, but also several varieties of other dairy products - kefir, fermented baked milk, and so on. The design is characterized by a large bowl with a capacity of 1.75 liters, made of reliable and durable food-grade plastic.

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The yogurt maker operates in one of two automatic modes. There is a timer and automatic shut-off system. The plastic case contains a liquid crystal display with an operation indicator; it displays the time until the operation is completed. If desired, you can add fresh or frozen fruit to the prepared foods. The power of the equipment is only 40 W.

Advantages:

• Very convenient and easy to use;
• Does not make any extraneous sounds during operation;
• Cooks quickly and tasty;
• Capacious bowl;
• Easily prepares any fermented milk products.

Flaws:

• High price;
• Short power cord;
• The plastic of the case is sensitive to shocks and other physical influences.

Tefal YG 260132

Oursson FE0205D

This is an inexpensive but very functional design that can prepare a large number of different dishes at home. In total, the product has three operating modes - fermentation, kvass, tincture. The control is electronic, the body has a display with a cooking time indicator, the timer is designed for up to 204 hours. Upon completion of work, the yogurt maker emits a corresponding sound and light signal. The set includes two spacious bowls with a volume of 1 and 2 liters. The power is low - only 20 W.

The fermentation mode is intended for the preparation of fermented milk products; it can also be used for the preparation of yeast dough. The wine or liqueur mode is intended for liqueurs, liqueurs and other drinks containing alcohol. The kvass mode helps to obtain drinks that involve a certain fermentation process. All of them are fully automatic, the user does not have to monitor the temperature in the bowls or stir the ingredients. You just need to make the initial mixture, pour it into the bowl and select the required operating mode. Push-button control.

Advantages:

• Spacious enough, you can use it to prepare food for both a large and a small family;
• A large number of operating modes;
• Takes up little space.

Flaws:

• It often produces a higher temperature than is actually required, which can cause the dish to spoil;
• The bowls are fragile;
• The recipe book is limited to just a few cooking options.

Oursson FE0205D

Supra YGS-8014

It is one of the most capacious designs, which has four jars for products with a volume of 200 ml each. The yogurt maker has an automatic mechanical timer. This element is a great time saver.

The engine has low power, but it is quite enough to evenly mix even fairly thick products. In such a device you can prepare not only yogurt itself, but also a number of other milk-based products - kefir, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese, and so on. The power of the device is only 15 W, the timer is designed for a maximum of 48 hours.

Advantages:

• Compact dimensions;
• Well suited for a large family;
• Beautiful appearance;
• Acceptable power and low power consumption;
• Sufficient number of glasses;
• Cooks quickly.

Flaws:

• Short power cord;
• Cups made of fragile glass;
• It happens that the product overheats.

Supra YGS-8014

Tefal YG 500132

It has a pleasant design that will look organic in any interior. The device is equipped with a rectangular stand in which a heating element is installed, which brings food to the required temperature during the cooking process. The power is low, but it is quite enough.

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The control type is electronic, using buttons located on the side of the stand. The operating modes allow you to prepare not only yogurt, but also cottage cheese. The time remaining until the process is completed is displayed on a special digital display. When cooking is finished, the yogurt maker automatically turns off - this is very convenient.

Comparing Tefal and Redmond yogurt makers

It is advisable to use ready-made starter and pour the products already warmed up - about 40 degrees. You can immediately add fruits, berries and sugar if necessary. The set includes eight jars made of glass, and they are also equipped with screw caps. The capacity of each of them is 150 ml - in total, up to 1.2 liters of product can be loaded into the yogurt maker. To obtain cottage cheese, the kit includes another one-liter container. All these elements are located under a plastic cover.

Advantages:

• High build quality;
• Long service life;
• Interesting appearance;
• The yogurt maker is easy to use;
• Small dimensions.

Flaws:

• It takes quite a long time to prepare both yoghurts and cottage cheese;
• High price.

Tefal YG 500132

Galaxy GL 2690

It has a not very powerful heating element - only 20 W, but this will be quite enough for preparing large volumes of yogurt. The design includes seven glass jars with screw caps. Each of them holds about 200 grams of product, the total volume is 1.4 liters.

The body is made of high-quality plastic; on one of the sides there is a small electronic display that counts down the time until the end of cooking; there is also a convenient handle responsible for adjusting the temperature and other operating parameters of the device.

Advantages:

• Beautiful appearance;
• Small sizes;
• Does not overheat during operation;
• She performs all tasks assigned to her well.

Flaws:

• There is no container for preparing cottage cheese;
• Short power cable.

Galaxy GL 2690

Lumme LU-1480

This is one of the best yogurt makers in the inexpensive price segment, it has a rounded, streamlined shape, and is securely closed with a plastic lid, under which, during the preparation of yogurt, excellent conditions are created for the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition to the yogurt itself, you can use it to prepare baby curds, yogurt, fermented baked milk, kefir and other fermented milk products.

The device is small in size - it contains only four glass jars with lids, but they are quite enough for preparing products for a small family. The product consumes only 15 W of energy. The case is made of reliable plastic, resistant to various physical influences. There is a timer for up to 48 hours. The controls are mechanical and simple - anyone can understand it.

Advantages:

• Small dimensions, well suited for small kitchens;
• Large total volume of finished products.

Flaws:

• It takes quite a long time to cook;
• The lid is made of weak plastic and may burst during cleaning.

Lumme LU-1480

3. Moulinex Yogurteo YG 230

It has small overall dimensions, although it holds seven jars with a volume of 140 grams each. All of them are made of glass and equipped with tight-fitting lids. The power of the heating element is only 13 W, which makes it the most economical among all the best yogurt makers presented in our review. It doesn’t work too quickly – it takes about 7-8 hours to prepare yogurt. In this case, you don’t have to wash the yogurt maker itself: just rinsing the jars is enough.

Recipe. Homemade natural yogurt in a Moulinex yogurt maker.

The device has a display that shows the time remaining until the preparation process is completed. The design is equipped with a sound signal notifying the end of work. Immediately after this, the jars are taken out of the device, tightly closed with lids and put in the refrigerator - their average shelf life is 14 days. Before preparing yogurt, you can add fruits or berries.

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Advantages:

• Interesting appearance;
• The yogurt maker is easy to use and does not require any supervision during operation;
• Durable products.

Flaws:

• After a while it starts to overheat;
• Sometimes it is not too easy to achieve the desired thickness of yogurt;
• Short length of the supply wire.

Moulinex Yogurteo YG 230

Clatronic JM 3344

This model rightfully takes second place in our ranking of the best yogurt makers. It is simple and reliable, weighs little, and comes with seven jars made of glass, each with a volume of 160 ml.

The control is mechanical, heating is carried out in constant mode. The product is prepared very quickly, although the power of the heating element is only 14 W. There is an automatic shutdown system and operation indication, and there is also a timer displayed on a digital display.

Advantages:

• Excellent quality/cost ratio;
• The mixture does not overheat during the cooking process;
• Despite the low power of the product, it copes excellently with preparing yogurt and other similar products;
• Easy to use and clean.

Flaws:

• There is no sound signal indicating the end of work.

Yogurt maker Clatronic JM 3344

Clatronic JM 3344

VES VYM-3

The leader of our review has fully digital control and is additionally equipped with a 15-hour timer. For one product you can get up to one liter of yogurt. Under the plastic lid you can install seven included jars with a volume of 170 milliliters each.

The case is made of high-quality plastic, non-marking, and will not leave fingerprints on it. The containers are equipped with screw-on lids, which allows you to store yogurt directly in them.

The control panel has a liquid crystal display and an automatic shutdown system. In addition, there is an operation indicator light. The case is additionally decorated with beautiful stainless steel inserts and takes up a minimum amount of free space.

Advantages:

• Multifunctional device - you can prepare not only yogurt, but also other similar products;
• The instrument panel has a beautiful backlight, due to which even in the absence of lighting the product can be used with a certain degree of convenience;
• Good performance and high reliability;
• The device has good build quality, there are no backlashes or extraneous creaks.

Flaws:

• The interface is not very clear - it can be difficult to understand;
• The power cord is weak and sometimes breaks down.

VES VYM-3

Three secrets to making successful yogurt

• While the milk is simmering, you cannot move the yogurt maker - it must stand still, since bacteria really don’t like being shaken, and the yogurt may not turn out.
• Additives should be placed in the jar not before, but after preparing yogurt.
• It is necessary to maintain sterility - dishes, food and hands must be perfectly clean, otherwise the yogurt will quickly spoil.

Prices for yogurt makers are very different and depend on the brand - you can buy a model for 680 or 9900 rubles, it all depends on your capabilities and needs. Yogurt turns out delicious in yogurt makers of different brands - tested in practice!