We are yogurt eaters.
Like, big time...we eat yogurt everyday! We especially like to eat it in our smoothies. I've made yogurt in my crockpot before but I'd heard of making yogurt in the dehydrator and since I just love my dehydrator I really wanted to try it!
What You Need:
- 1 qt. milk (raw or whole)
- 2 T. cultured yogurt
- dehydrator
Start by pouring your milk into a sauce pan. You will need to stir this constantly until it gets up to temperature.
You are looking to get your milk up to 180 F. This is the point where the milk will froth.
Once you get the 180F, remove the milk from heat and stir until it comes down to between 110 - 120F. Add in your cultured yogurt. (or yogurt starter) Make sure that your yogurt starter was a room temperature before you add it in. Stir well.
Place in containers that will fit in your dehydrator. Mine came with these containers that fit right on the shelves. Make sure you add lids or cover the containers.
Set your dehydrator at 110F. I set my timer for 7 hours but it actually needed 9 hours.
If you aren't a fan of the *lighter* yogurt, you can strain and make it thicker after it has finished. Store in the fridge.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
We make our own yogurt too….our vanilla is really like a dessert. I add some gelatin to the milk before I boil it, some sugar and vanilla once I take it off the heat. It is creamy and thick and doesn’t last long.
Wow, plain gelatin? I’ll have to try that one of these times. I make my own and strain it for Greek yogurt. But it’s never creamy like store yogurt. Any ideas? I like using 2%.
The way I get the thick Greek yogurt is to go about heating the milk, adding the starter that same as above. I then pour the liquid mixture into a bowl with a sealable lid. (I use a ton of yogurt so I use a half gallon of milk and 1/2 cup of yogurt)
I wrap that bowl in some warm towels and put it somewhere it will stay reasonably warm for 14 hours or so. It should be all jelled up by then. What I then do is put some folded paper towels over the top, covering all the yogurt. Let them soak up the top layer of yogurt and get wet, stick it in the fridge for a few hours. After that it should be a *little* bit firmer. Leave the paper towels over the yogurt. Place some clean dish towels or face clothes on top of the paper towels and seal up…back into the fridge.
Every few hours you can change out the cloth towels. They will be quite wet. Do that a few times and then peel back the paper towel. VIOLA, it is think can creamy just like sour cream. When you use some, smooth the top of the yogurt back down and put a paper towel over it again.
Home made is soooo much better! I use the crock pot & oven light method. Whole milk works better then 2% & you can also use powdered milk to thicken also. There is so many ways to do it without a maker, just experiment till you find the best method for you.
Ive been wanting to do this but I don’t have the cups for my dehydrator! I need to read this post. Can you do it without the cups?
Misty, as long as you have some kind of container that will fit in your dehydrator it will work. Doesn’t need to be anything special.
When I used to use my dehydrator I also used the trick of adding some powered milk to thicken 2 percent. Works great.
So thankful to read these comments. I tried making yogurt last week in the crockpot. Mine turned back to liquid when I tried to add fruit to it—even though it spooned out creamy and thick. I used 2%…will try gelatin and whole milk next. Any suggestions for adding fruit/flavors without thinning?
I prefer to add the fruit afterwards when the yogurt is done. But that’s mostly because we eat most of it plain so I don’t add a lot of fruit anyways….
I’m not a fan of adding powdered milk only because I don’t like the taste of it. Many don’t mind it though.
Question. I’ve made yogurt in my yogurt maker but never in the dehydrator. If anyone has used both methods, would you mind telling me your preference? Would you say one works better than the other? Should I rid myself of an appliance I don’t need and stick with the dehydrator?
Thanks!
I’ve in the market for a new dehydrator. Which one are you using? Thanks!
I have this one: http://amzn.to/PTA3eI I LOVE it!
Off topic here but have you made “Craisins” w/ it? Thinking about purchasing a dehydrator…my little ones love Craisins but they are so high to buy in the store.
I haven’t yet but I’m sure you can!
I liked your idea of making yogurt in the dehydrator, but am concerned about your use of plastic with a heat source. I always use glass, corning ware or pyrex in cases like this. BPA is everywhere so do be cautious with the items
you use. I do love your site and have learned so much from it.
I bought my husband a yogurt maker awhile back. He loves it and will eat a jar of yogurt w/ mango juice for breakfast every day w/o any problems.
the problem… is me.
It’s just… gross. It has the consistancy of honey w/o the stickiness.
I know people say to add milk powder, but what I really really want is for it to be the consistancy of the custard yoplaits. that’s really the only way I’ll eat it. Does anyone have any ideas?
(I’m thinking of putting up a blog post of my own about it)
Thanks!!