When I made the “how to make your own yogurt” post, someone left a comment about their Cuisinart yogurt maker. You think I get you in all kinds of trouble with the things I share but you readers sometimes cause me to rush out and buy things too. I’m not much of a shopper so I don’t always know that’s out there . . and some things are just worth having! After reading her comment about the Cuisinart yogurt maker, I looked at it. It sounded like it would be useful but I’ve pretty much committed to not buying anything else. There’s just too much “stuff” in this house and I’m seriously trying to buy only things that I convince myself I cannot live without.
For a few days I thought about the automatic yogurt maker. Here’s how I convinced myself to order it:
- The cost of making yogurt means it just makes a whole lot more sense to make it at home than to buy it already made, even when it’s on sale.
- When making it either in the cooler, thermos or crockpot, I needed to keep the temperature pretty constantly at 110º, which meant checking it several times during the incubation/fermentation period.
- I like for mine to ferment for 6 hours so that meant timing the process so I would be home and awake at the 6 hour mark. On weekends, when Vince is home, I can never count on being home when I think I’ll be home. If it’s allowed to ferment longer, it continues to get more tart. Once the fermentation period is over, the yogurt needs to be refrigerated.
This all meant that the process needed to be started by noon or I’d be dealing with it late into the evening. The Cuisinart yogurt maker seemed so much easier! Pour the heated and cooled milk into the container, set it and forget it.
I love it! I am so glad I got it! Really, I just heated the milk to 180º on top of the stove, like I always do. Then let it cool on the top of the stove to 110º, add in the culture, just like before but now I pour it in the yogurt maker’s container.
The maker is pre-set to ferment for 8 hours but it’s very easy to change it. I set mine to 6 hours.
The best part of all . . once those 6 hours have passed, the yogurt maker keeps it cool until I get it out and put it into containers to store in the fridge. I don’t have to be here when it’s done. I don’t have to be awake.
When I awoke this morning, this is what I found!
This is 2 pints, plus the starter for next time.
My morning breakfast: Yogurt, cinnamon pears I canned last year and rolled oats.
This little yogurt maker is going to get used a whole lot.
Sherrill says
Can you add fruit while it’s making or is that done afterwards?
JudyL says
I’m not sure if you can but I do it afterwards because I like different fruits in mine . . not the same thing all the time. Any that we don’t eat goes to the chickens and they like theirs plain. 🙂
Sandra Clarke says
Hi Judy, Does the home-made yougart taste a lot better than the bought , or is there not much difference? Enjoy your blog.
Penny says
Hi Judy
Oh my, do you share a lot of good stuff on your blog!! I eat a lot of yogurt daily. Yet always run out before my next trip to the grocery store just don’t want to fill my frig w/ yogurt only. Like you I didn’t want to be tied down to the method you were using! This is very interesting and I like the idea of fresh yogurt. What ingredients do you use to make your yogurt ~ anything special? Do you think I could make a greek type yogurt? Does the yogurt maker come with a recipes book? Thanks ~ Penny in So CAL
Susan says
I had to laugh when i saw this post! My husband said i was a bad influence.
I am glad you are enjoying the yogurt maker. I love mine. Speaking of gadgets, thank you for the post on pressure canning chicken. I pulled out my little pressure canner (only 4 quarts) and canned my 1st 2 chickens. Even better, I never put the canner away and now my tomatoes are all being turned into spaghetti sauce with meat.
Thank you for the inspiration!!!
Susan