How to make yogurt

at 1:32 PM

I was talking to a friend of mine and realized that I hadn't written about yogurt and how easy it is to make it at home and that most yogurt on the shelves in stores is really not yogurt but DESSERT.

Yogurt (a Turkish word),the root yog means to condense or thicken, is a bacterial process (fermentation). So why is most store-bought yogurt sweet? It has a lot of added yogurt. Natural yogurt is slightly tangy to sour, depending on the incubation period. My father used to make the best yogurt when I was growing up and he did the pinkie test (as you shall see later), I have since bought a food thermometer since I'm not as good as he is. He also used to make the best cheese which I will share the recipe with you. Basically if you can boil milk you can make yogurt and cheese.

You will need:

1. A gallon of whole or 2% milk (I don't like yogurt from fat-free milk)


2. 1/4 cup of starter (yogurt left over from last time, or store-bought plain yogurt)


3. Food thermometer


4. A few towels or blankets

Boil the milk to about 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it boil for about 10 minutes.

Cool the milk to 115-120 degrees Fahrenheit, any higher you kill the bacteria responsible for the fermentation (Lactobacillus), and much cooler than this range, the bacteria will not grow. You probably can get away with 110 degrees as well. The pinkie test: if you don't have a thermometer, after you cool the milk, test the temperature by dipping your pinkie into the milk; it should still be hot but not burning. For cooling the milk, I just fill the sink with cold water and place the pan in the water and check the temperature often.

Once at the right temperature, add your starter to the milk, give it a stir, put the lid on the pan, cover the pan with towels/blankets and leave it in a warm place and DO NOT TOUCH OR DISTURB IT OVERNIGHT (about 18 hours).

The next morning, transfer it to the fridge for a few hours before you enjoy it.

You can add splenda to the yogurt if you are absolutely addicted to the sugary stuff you've buying! In addition, you can add salt, pepper, and other spices, chopped cucumbers for a delicious side dish or dressing or dipping sauce for your veggies.

Note: your yogurt will not spoil overnight at room temperature. The Lactobacillus competes with the other bacteria that usually spoils food and will not let it grow.