a question about yoghurt

pavlovs_dog

can anyone tell what that watery stuff you sometimes get on the top of pre-packed yoghurts is?

is it indeed water, appearing through some sort of separation/condensation process, or something more sinister? is it safe to eat?

and does it occur on HM yoghurts too, or just shop bought ones?

Savvy_Sue

I think that's yeses to everything, atlhough it could be more of a whey than water. Anyway, it hasn't done us any harm, and when I used to make yoghourt it sometimes used to separate like that.

pavlovs_dog

cheers sue

i had been meaning to ask for ages and it kept slipping my mind.

Gingham_Ribbon

You can mix it in or pour it off if you prefer it nice and thick. It just seperates a bit.

I used to make joghurt too and it would be really thick with a smooth top and some watery stuff on top of that. If I could find a decent cheap food flask I'd be making it again. My son goes through gallons of the stuff!

Ticklemouse

Gingham_Ribbon wrote:

If I could find a decent cheap food flask I'd be making it again. My son goes through gallons of the stuff!

If you are anywhere near a Tradex, I saw some in there the other day for about £3. They were proper vacuum flasks too. They didn't appear to have a 'cup', just a handle on top, but obviously that's not inportant if you just need it for yog making.

Question from me too

I have my first ever batch in my mum's trusty old thermos food flask at the moment. Used skimmed UHT milk, warmed with 2 tbsp skimmed milk powder and 2 tbsp starter yog - how long do you reckon it will take as I don't want to be peeking too soon. I put it in at 1.45pm.

Ted_Hutchinson

Ticklemouse wrote:

How long do you reckon it will take as I don't want to be peeking too soon. I put it in at 1.45pm.

I've never used a flask as I've a little jar type maker. I start these start off warm and the thermostat keeps it warm constantly and that takes 4 hrs.
I think a flask will take longer as it isn't getting topped up with more heat so I wouldn't look before 6.30pm and even then it may still need a bit longer.

squeaky

In a different thread I seem to remember someone saying about four to six hours for a flask and I think they said certainly not more than six because it can get a bit sour. Hopefully that poster will wander along shortly to put me right

apprentice_tycoon

I use a flask and I'd say that 6 hours is about right - there are lots of factors that count like the temp of the milk when it went in and if the flask was pre-warmed but it should be fine.

Ticklemouse

Well, the milk was warmed until I could stick my pinky in for about 15 seconds and I warmed the flask first. However, I have munchkins to bathe now and then put to bed, so it'll be about 7.30 before I'm done - nearly 6 hours.

I'll let you know.....

Ticklemouse

OK - I looked about 7.15 and runny but still warm so left it until nearly 8. Tastes fine but still runny so now it's in the fridge, straining. I think next time I'll add more milk powder, what do you think?

Ted_Hutchinson

If the two tablespoons you used weren't heaped then making sure you used really heaped ones would make a difference. (full cream milk makes it even tastier and thicker)