runny yoghurt

apprentice_tycoon

Hi Math, I really don't think that you can freeze yogurt to eat, just to use as a starter for the next batch

HOLsale

i've tried many times to make yogurt with only partial success

recently i finally used the bel yogurt maker i was given a few years ago. it's the thermos type with it's own thermometer

i thought with using the thermometer i'd have better luck but my first batch wasn't thick enough tasted of good quality yogurt but it was more the consistency of a smoothie than yogurt

i'd added some milk powder to help thicken it up and it was suggested that i omit this for the next batch

well i made some last night sans milk powder. i made it EXACTLY to the letter (uht milk heated to 50C as per the instructions, used the thermometer it came with) pour that into the container with the 1 dessertspoonful of live yogurt (probiotic stuff from lidl) then pop the lid on, put it in the thermos casing

i also put it on top of a towel (in case it needed to be wrapped up) AND i put it near the heater so it was certain to stay warm all night (my kitchen stays a reasonable temp, you don't notice it being hot or cold it's just 'right' if you see what i mean)

this morning... same thing!

WHAT am i doing wrong? as far as i can tell my yogurt SHOULD be turning out ok... i'm confuzled and frustrated, help!

squeaky

A quick search on "yoghurt" shows twenty threads, of which I think this one (that I have just merged you with) is the most helpful.

Good luck

HOLsale

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

Hi Math, I really don't think that you can freeze yogurt to eat, just to use as a starter for the next batch

you can however make ice lollies from yogurt, i do it all the time

ChocClare

HOLsale wrote:

i've tried many times to make yogurt with only partial success

recently i finally used the bel yogurt maker i was given a few years ago. it's the thermos type with it's own thermometer

i thought with using the thermometer i'd have better luck but my first batch wasn't thick enough tasted of good quality yogurt but it was more the consistency of a smoothie than yogurt

i'd added some milk powder to help thicken it up and it was suggested that i omit this for the next batch

well i made some last night sans milk powder. i made it EXACTLY to the letter (uht milk heated to 50C as per the instructions, used the thermometer it came with) pour that into the container with the 1 dessertspoonful of live yogurt (probiotic stuff from lidl) then pop the lid on, put it in the thermos casing

i also put it on top of a towel (in case it needed to be wrapped up) AND i put it near the heater so it was certain to stay warm all night (my kitchen stays a reasonable temp, you don't notice it being hot or cold it's just 'right' if you see what i mean)

this morning... same thing!

WHAT am i doing wrong? as far as i can tell my yogurt SHOULD be turning out ok... i'm confuzled and frustrated, help!

Use more starter, I'd say. I have an Easiyo set (which is just a big yoghurt pot which you put inside a thermos filled with boiling water) and I put two TABLESPOONSFUL of Total Greek yoghurt (because I like that one, but I've used others) and fill the container up with cold full-fat UHT milk straight out of the fridge; put the container in the thermos and go to bed. In the morning it's always really thick and I'm not poncing about with thermometers, which I know would be a recipe for disaster for me. You shouldn't need to heat UHT milk unless that's the heating element of your set, in which case I'm surprised 50 degrees is hot enough. But try more starter anyway - I've had thinner versions when I haven't quite had 2 tblsps of yoghurt to start with, so I'm sure that's probably why.

HOLsale

ChocClare wrote:

You shouldn't need to heat UHT milk unless that's the heating element of your set, in which case I'm surprised 50 degrees is hot enough. But try more starter anyway - I've had thinner versions when I haven't quite had 2 tblsps of yoghurt to start with, so I'm sure that's probably why.

funny i used to have an easiyo and bought it to make my own vs buying the packets, couldn't get it to work in that either!

i'll try more starter, cheers for that

as for the heating, i HAVE to as this doesn't have a compartment for hot water... you heat the milk, pour into the pot, put the lid on and slide it into a snug thermos it's from the 70's really OS eh?

i'll use a good helping next time meanwhile it'll go nice in our curry tonight, if i can find a muslin cloth or a clean pair of tights i will try making some 'paneer' cheese out of the yogurt... i did this with all the failed lots i made in my easiyo (which is long gone) i simply let it drip through the muslin in a warm place over night and in the morning i had a soft homemade cheese not unlike paneer

i cooked extra chickpeas so i can make up some sort of curry and we can have sag paneer as a side dish with the bag of spinach that's been in my freezer since the dawn of time (what possesed me?!)

here's hoping my next batch is perfect! thanks!

thriftlady_2

angelatgraceland wrote:

I always make my yoghurt with long life full cream milk and it NEVER goes runny. 100pc sucess! May be a little more expensive but with no waste I think you will find this is the answer.

I do this too and always have success,Ialso add 1/2 a cup of dried milk to the starter for extra richness.

vivaladiva

I'm so pleased with myself - I made yoghurt overnight.:j
Only thing is it's not really thick. Should I give it a bit longer, or do I need to modify my recipe? It's probably acceptably thick but personal preference would like a bit thicker IYSWIM.

squeaky

Hiya,

I've added you on to an ealier thread that's wortha read. it may well help you out.

Good luck

vivaladiva

Thanks Squeaky.
I used semi-skimmed milk. I guess that was the problem. Presumably if I add some more milk and some flavouring I'll have drinking yoghurt. DS2 will be delighted.