Make Your Own Yogurt

I'm making yogurt today. So I decided I'd re-post my yogurt recipe for Frugal Friday. (You can view the printable recipe here. This recipe was originally posted March 8, 2009.)

Ingredients:
½ Gallon whole milk
½ Cup powdered milk*
½ Cup plain yogurt (full-fat or fat-free)

Equipment Needed:
sauce pan
wooden spoon
candy thermometer
mixing bowl (not shown)
Crock-pot
large thick towel (like a beach towel; also not shown)

Directions:

1. Pour milk into medium pot over medium heat.
2. Stir in powdered milk; raise heat on stove to medium-high.
3. Heat milk to 190°; stirring often and checking temperature often. This will take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your stove.
4. While milk is heating - 1) plug in Crockpot; set on low; 2) Fill sink about 1-2 inches with cold water; place about 6 cups of ice in a bowl.
5. When milk reaches 190°: remove pan from heat. Pour ice into sink of cold water. Then, pour heated milk into medium-size mixing bowl.**
6. Cool milk to 110°: place mixing bowl into sink of cold water, stir milk occasionally, check temperature often. This will take much less time than the heating ~4-6 minutes.
7. When milk reaches 110°, remove bowl from sink. Pour milk into Crockpot.
8. Pour yogurt into Crockpot and stir.
9. Turn off and unplug Crockpot.
10. Wrap Crockpot in large, thick towel.
11. Do not disturb for 8 hours.
12. After 8 hours, yogurt should be thickened and ready to store.
13. Store yogurt in containers in refrigerator. It will thicken a bit more in the fridge.

Yields: 4 pints plain yogurt

To serve: eat fresh from the fridge, mix with your preferred fruit, or a few drops of vanilla. My kids prefer a tsp of splenda or sugar stirred in also.

Notes:
* Since powdered milk is rather granular I have found it helpful to run it through my food processor for several seconds for a finer texture. This makes for fewer "chunks" - which my children do not like.
* It is not mandatory to pour the milk into a second bowl for cooling. I do this because putting a hot pot in cold water will warp the bottom and I don't wish to warp my pots.

Here's how the prices break down for 1/2 gallon:
$0.60 1/2 cup yogurt
$1.49 1/2 gallon whole milk
$0.27 1/2 cup powdered milk =
$2.36 for 1/2 gallon of yogurt = ~$0.22/6 ounces; Cheaper than any sale I've seen.

If you've never tried making yogurt - give it a try. You'll be surprised at how easy it is. I certainly was!


For more great frugal ideas, visit LifeAsMom.
And for more recipes visit Food on Fridays @ Ann Kroeker
Recipe Swap @ The Grocery Cart Challenge
Friday Feasts @ Mom Trends
Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum