easiyo yogurt maker any good? or make your own? (merged)

zzzLazyDaisy

When I use a shop bought starter I always use yeo valley, and get the longest date possible, so it is as fresh as possible. After that I just keep some back from the last lot. I haven't had to use a shop bought starter for ages - it used to be when I was away on holiday or something like that, but then I was advised on here to pop some starter in the freezer and that works perfectly.

I use about 5/6 dessert spoons of starter to a litre.

Micro

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

When I use a shop bought starter I always use yeo valley, and get the longest date possible, so it is as fresh as possible. After that I just keep some back from the last lot. I haven't had to use a shop bought starter for ages - it used to be when I was away on holiday or something like that, but then I was advised on here to pop some starter in the freezer and that works perfectly.

I use about 5/6 dessert spoons of starter to a litre.

Daisy, I made my 7th litre in a row last night (makind sure that the starter is not more than 5 days old) and it still comes out as thick as blamaunge (i know thats prob not the right spelling but you get the drift). Thats it, thats the secret i.e. made sure your starter is fresh. Looked it up to - the live youhurt starts to die after 5 days.

BTW - ebay is the place to get your containers - there are literally 200's for £2.

MrsTinks

I'd just like to say I have joined the club I bought an Easy yo starter thingy today at the Good Food show (only thing there worth buying *sigh* it was a rubbish show this year!) and whilst I'll use the starter pack initially (well heck it was in the box after all!) then I want to continue without the horrendously expensive sachets afterwards - so I'll be stocking up on UHT milk by the looks of it!
Is the best way to use the culture from the first batch of sachet stuff and freeze it if I'm not going to finish it in the first 5 days?

Micro

MrsTine wrote: »

I'd just like to say I have joined the club I bought an Easy yo starter thingy today at the Good Food show (only thing there worth buying *sigh* it was a rubbish show this year!) and whilst I'll use the starter pack initially (well heck it was in the box after all!) then I want to continue without the horrendously expensive sachets afterwards - so I'll be stocking up on UHT milk by the looks of it!
Is the best way to use the culture from the first batch of sachet stuff and freeze it if I'm not going to finish it in the first 5 days?

Not tried the freezing thing myself but all I can say is the trick is to use fresh stuff. I appreciate that you might not use all of the litre in 5 days but just to it in half litres. Or half of the pack originally. When you do the water thing, if your dong half a litre then dont fill the water all of the way up. I must admit I dont even bother with that anymore I give my UHT a nice little warm up (to tepid) and then leave it in the airing cupboard over night. I'm not bragging but its nearly too thick in the morning - humm - that sounded a little odd !!

MrsTinks

Ah so you CAN do just half a pack? I asked the guy on the stall and he was ademant you couldn't (I was going to try anyway... because I'm like that lol) - I will trot off and do that I think and then trial and error my way forward... mmmm might be having fresh yog tomorrow morning I usually have to get up at 4am to feed the baby anyway so will check it then and put it in the fridge lol!

Sui_Generis

MrsTine wrote: »

mmmm might be having fresh yog tomorrow morning I usually have to get up at 4am to feed the baby anyway so will check it then and put it in the fridge lol!

You can leave the Easiyo for up to 24 hours it will just thicken. 8 hours is usually the minimum and I usually leave it for 12 overnight etc.

Micro

MrsTine wrote: »

Ah so you CAN do just half a pack? I asked the guy on the stall and he was ademant you couldn't (I was going to try anyway... because I'm like that lol) - I will trot off and do that I think and then trial and error my way forward... mmmm might be having fresh yog tomorrow morning I usually have to get up at 4am to feed the baby anyway so will check it then and put it in the fridge lol!

Yeah, course you can. Dont listen to that rubbish - they're just trying to get you to buy more. Just dont boil the little bacteria thats all - all the flask thing is there for is to keep the little fellas nice and warm. Just put about half of the hot water in or easier still leave it on radiator over night (give it a little warm in the microwave 1st and the little fellas will me well happy !! )

MrsTinks

Well I have made the whole batch for now - because I'm full of cold and have a sore throat and I can imagine this being gorgeous as a cool smoothie with some frozen berries and banana tomorrow morning for starters But moving forwards I'm only going to make 1/2 each time I think...

Another question - anyone know how young children you can feed this to? I have a 6 month old who'd probably adore this (and it would do her the world of good as she's just had a VERY long course of anti-biotics thanks to a UTI ) so I am thinking her gut flora is already a little weak poot mite... Could you give this to a 6 month old though?
I don't like giving her loads of shop bought meals generally and usually make her home made puree's but I am buying the yog style dessert thingies for her to vary things - but I'd so much rather give her HM yog where I know exactly what has gone into making it

Sui_Generis

MrsTine wrote: »

Another question - anyone know how young children you can feed this to? I have a 6 month old who'd probably adore this (and it would do her the world of good as she's just had a VERY long course of anti-biotics thanks to a UTI ) so I am thinking her gut flora is already a little weak poot mite... Could you give this to a 6 month old though?

The Easiyo book does show i being fed to a baby and states "it can help after a course of antibiotics" and goes on to say eat it during and after a course of antibiotics. Maybe their website gives more info?

MrsTinks

Sui - the only thing on there I could find was "the very young" - now... my idea of "the very young" and theirs could be totally different :rotfl:

I'll keep searching