Anyone make your own yogurt?

I've been doing it for awhile now, but I'm confused about one thing.

I read that the longer you let it culture, the more cultures grow, therefore the better it is for you. My DH and my girls have major digestion issues, so it's really good for them. However, is there a point where you can let it culture for TOO long? I've been working my way up for how long I let it culture, but I don't want to get to the point where I let it go for too long and ruin a whole batch of yogurt.

Right now I let it culture for 12 hours.

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

I heard that 24 hours is best, so I wouldn't go longer than that. I have done 20 to 24 hours regularly with no issues at all. I usually start it in the early afternoon and put it in the fridge the next morning. I have been making yogurt for months now and never had an issue.

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

Thank you! I will do it for longer next time. I thought I was pushing it at 12 hours!

Message edited 6/19/2012 4:27:40 PM.

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

Can you share how you go about making yogurt?? I'm curious. I eat Chobani every day...never thought of making my own!

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

I basically use this recipe:

Frugal Girl Yogurt

but she makes it a little harder than what it needs to be. Here's what you need:

-4 quart sized mason jars
-1 gallon whole milk
-1 plain store bought yogurt
- a few tablespoons of sugar
-hot water
- a cooler big enough for the mason jars

Pour the milk into a big pot and heat until its 185 degrees.

Put the pot of milk into a cold water bath until the temperature of the milk goes down to about 120 degrees.

Mix the sugar and yogurt into the milk.

Heat about a gallon of water to around 120 degrees and pour it into the cooler. Put the milk/yogurt mixture into the mason jars, seal them up, put them in the cooler and close up the cooler. Let it culture for however long you want. You can do it for as little as five hours (it will be sweeter but with fewer cultures) or as long as apparently 24 hours!!

FM me if you have questions! I also have a killer granola recipe that I mix it with, and strawberrry preserves! My kids LOVE it for breakfast!

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

Thank you Meaghan!

Re: Anyone make your own yogurt?

I make yogurt via the crock pot.
Set your crockpot on low (I set timer for one hour)
Heat milk to 185 degrees like above and put pan in a cool bath til it goes down to 100 degrees.
Once cool put 2 tablespoons of starter yogurt per half gallon of milk into a cup with a cup of the warm milk. (The very first time you make yogurt you will need to purchase full fat plain yogurt. I used organic valley. Once you made your yogurt, put away a couple of tablespoons of the yogurt to use for your next batch.) Mix well. Pour remainder milk into warm crockpot, then add starter yogurt milk mixture and mix. Cover crock pot and unplug. Wrap a heavy towel around crockpot and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours.
After I set it up for 12 to 24 hours I put the crock pot pot into the fridge. It's ready to eat. If you want greek yogurt then pour yogurt into a strainer with coffee pot liner and place in fridge overnight. The whey will drain out and what you have left is greek yogurt. You can use the whey for smoothies, baking, etc.