Is yoghurt worth making yourself?

Belisarius

I'm sorry if a similar question has already been posted, but I couldn't think of an appropriate search term. Please direct me elsewhere if this has been asked already.

I see a lot of threads on here about making yoghurt, and have been toying with the idea as I eat a lot of natural yoghurt. Unfortunately, I don't have an airing cupboard to put the flask in, and my house is very cold, so assume I would have to buy a yoghurt maker, unless anybody has any bright ideas!

My main question, before I make this purchase, is whether or not it's financially worth it? I can buy two 500g cartons of plain yoghurt at Lidl for £1, while £1 would buy me 2 litres of milk from Poundland. I'm using these shops as I can get to them on foot (ie -this is the cheapest I can possibly practically get hold of).

How much yoghurt would I get from two litres of milk? Is it worth it, considering I could buy 1000g of yoghurt for the same price?

debtmuncher

its only worth it if you like the taste of it. think there is a yoghurt thread just further down the page.

always worth a try doing it in a flask with some previous yoghurt and milk to see if you take to it.

horsechestnut

I tried making yoghurt in the airing cupboard, but it didn't work for me!!!
I bought myself an Easiyo yoghurt maker from Lakeland (it was on offer at the time and I had just got my money from Quidco).
This makes 1 litre at a time.
It is a simple plastic jar which you put inside the insulated container, which in turn you fill with boiling water, and leave over night.
Make the first batch up with the mix provided, then I keep back about a quarter of the newly made yoghurt and freeze it. Defrost it and use it as the base for the next lot. I have been doing this for over a year now and I am very happy with the result.
I use the yoghurt base, add 4 tablespoons of dried milk and then top up with long life milk and give it a good mix.
I do think that it saves a little bit of money (I used to buy Lidl's yoghurt) but it is very convenient having all the ingredients at home and not worrying if you have to go to the shops on a rainy day.

purpleivy

horsechestnut wrote: »

I tried making yoghurt in the airing cupboard, but it didn't work for me!!!
I bought myself an Easiyo yoghurt maker from Lakeland (it was on offer at the time and I had just got my money from Quidco).
This makes 1 litre at a time.
It is a simple plastic jar which you put inside the insulated container, which in turn you fill with boiling water, and leave over night.
Make the first batch up with the mix provided, then I keep back about a quarter of the newly made yoghurt and freeze it. Defrost it and use it as the base for the next lot. I have been doing this for over a year now and I am very happy with the result.
I use the yoghurt base, add 4 tablespoons of dried milk and then top up with long life milk and give it a good mix.
I do think that it saves a little bit of money (I used to buy Lidl's yoghurt) but it is very convenient having all the ingredients at home and not worrying if you have to go to the shops on a rainy day.

You can also make just a small amount if that is what you need. I used to always put my 1l yoghurt maker on full, but nowadays I tend to do half at at time.

thriftlady_2

Belisarius wrote: »

How much yoghurt would I get from two litres of milk? Is it worth it, considering I could buy 1000g of yoghurt for the same price?

You would get 2 litres of yogurt from 2 litres of milk. So you would halve the price of your usual yogurt.

You will need to buy a small pot of plain live yogurt to start your yogurt off. After 6-8 batches you will need fresh starter but you only need a couple of tablespoons to start a new batch and you can freeze the extra from the pot in ice cube trays. So you could probably get 3-4 'starters' from one 150 ml pot.

I generally use UHT milk which is a little more expensive than fresh but I find it gives more reliable results and you do not need to heat it first and wait for it to drop to the correct yogging temp.

Adding a little dried milk makes it thicker.

I use a bulk yogurt maker which makes one litre at a time rather than lots of little pots. I find it very reliable. There are ways of keeping yogurt warm while it is incubating though so a machine is not essential. I find it makes life easy though, and it isn't too expensive.

thriftlady_2

purpleivy wrote: »

You can also make just a small amount if that is what you need. I used to always put my 1l yoghurt maker on full, but nowadays I tend to do half at at time.

Thanks Purpleivy for pointing out that out:T
I really don't know why I don't do that as we do struggle to use up a litre. I suppose it is because I don't want half a carton of UHT milk left to use up as I hate the taste of it unless it has been yogged. But I could easily use it in baking or of course I could freeze it for the next batch of yogurt.

RachelW1987

You could use up the Yoghurt by making coleslaw too

6tbsp youghurt
2 tbsp Mayo
1/2 tsp Mustard
1/2 white cabbage
2 carrots
1 Red Onion or plain onion

Needs to be used in 3 days but its lovely and a bit healthier than shop bought coleslaw

purpleivy

thriftlady wrote: »

Thanks Purpleivy for pointing out that out:T
I really don't know why I don't do that as we do struggle to use up a litre. I suppose it is because I don't want half a carton of UHT milk left to use up as I hate the taste of it unless it has been yogged. But I could easily use it in baking or of course I could freeze it for the next batch of yogurt.

I felt a bit silly putting that in writing, thinking someone would jump down my throat and go derrrrrrrrrr! I have a degree, but it took me a looooootttt of years to figure that the thing works part full!

purpleivy

thriftlady wrote: »

You would get 2 litres of yogurt from 2 litres of milk. So you would halve the price of your usual yogurt.

You will need to buy a small pot of plain live yogurt to start your yogurt off. After 6-8 batches you will need fresh starter but you only need a couple of tablespoons to start a new batch and you can freeze the extra from the pot in ice cube trays. So you could probably get 3-4 'starters' from one 150 ml pot.

I generally use UHT milk which is a little more expensive than fresh but I find it gives more reliable results and you do not need to heat it first and wait for it to drop to the correct yogging temp.

Adding a little dried milk makes it thicker.

I use a bulk yogurt maker which makes one litre at a time rather than lots of little pots. I find it very reliable. There are ways of keeping yogurt warm while it is incubating though so a machine is not essential. I find it makes life easy though, and it isn't too expensive.

Hmm, I use uht, partly because it's cheaper, only 45-50p per litre, also you don't have to heat it first as you say.

Belisarius

thriftlady wrote: »

You would get 2 litres of yogurt from 2 litres of milk. So you would halve the price of your usual yogurt.

You will need to buy a small pot of plain live yogurt to start your yogurt off. After 6-8 batches you will need fresh starter but you only need a couple of tablespoons to start a new batch and you can freeze the extra from the pot in ice cube trays. So you could probably get 3-4 'starters' from one 150 ml pot.

I generally use UHT milk which is a little more expensive than fresh but I find it gives more reliable results and you do not need to heat it first and wait for it to drop to the correct yogging temp.

Adding a little dried milk makes it thicker.

I use a bulk yogurt maker which makes one litre at a time rather than lots of little pots. I find it very reliable. There are ways of keeping yogurt warm while it is incubating though so a machine is not essential. I find it makes life easy though, and it isn't too expensive.

That's really useful info. Thanks for actually answering my question I will have a think about it all.

thriftlady_2

purpleivy wrote: »

Hmm, I use uht, partly because it's cheaper, only 45-50p per litre, also you don't have to heat it first as you say.

Where d'you get it at that price Purple?