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Ive had my Instant Pot for a little over a year now and by far the one thing I have made the most in it is yogurt! Whenever I share a snippet of the process in my , I receive requests for the recipe.
So here we go!
Is Instant Pot Yogurt Worth The Effort
Pros
- Its cheap! Generally speaking, milk is less expensive than yogurt.
- Most of the preparation time is hands-off.
- You control the ingredients and sugar content.
- You add your own flavors, from vanilla to honey to jam to spices.
- Its satisfying in a thrifty way to use your last batch of yogurt to start your next.
Cons
- Store-bought yogurt is way easier.
- If youre in a pinch, the 8-10 hour process might not be feasible.
Can You Make It With Flavored Yogurt
No. This recipe requires either a yogurt starter or plain yogurt that has live cultures. Yogurt that has live active cultures will say Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Streptococcus thermophilus on the label. Without the live bacteria, this recipe will not work.
If you prefer a flavored yogurt, before refrigerating it you can stir in a teaspoon of vanilla extract for a little bit of flavor. You can also stir in sweeteners like honey or maple syrup if you like.
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How Long Should You Ferment Homemade Yogurt
This answer will depend on your final desired results! If you want a less tangy or thick yogurt, ferment for around 8 hours. For a thick, tangy, and probiotic-rich yogurt, go closer to 24 hours. After 24 hours, you start to hit the law of diminishing returnsyou begin to get bacterial die-off because the more aggressive bacteria start to beat out the other probiotics. After about 36 hours, the whole shebang is so volatile that it wont last long in the fridge anymore. 24 hours is the way to goset a timer!
How To Store Homemade Yogurt
Any food safe containers with an airtight lid will work! Canning jars, mixing bowl with a lid, and yogurt tubes or pouches are all great options. I ordered some of these cute yogurt containers for myself!
When storing your Instant Pot yogurt covered in the refrigerator, it should stay good for about 2-3 weeks. If you add fruit or syrups, then it will keep for about 4-10 days.
If the Instant Pot yogurt isnt thick enough for you, try using a milk with higher fat and protein next time. Also, you can strain the yogurt to make it thicker.
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Perfect Condition To Set Yogurt Or Dahi
The whole science behind the fermentation process sounds quite simple however, to ensure that it works just right, you need to be able to control the entire process. You need to be able to control the:
- Quantity and quality of ingredients
Lucky for us, the Instant Pot takes care of both the time and temperature for setting the dahi. The Instant Pot acts as an enclosed controlled environment, with just the right temperature and an option to track time, making it much easier to control the fermentation process.
Incubating Instant Pot Yogurt
- Incubating the yogurt for 8-10 hours will give you a tart, but not overly sour yogurt.
- For a milder tasting yogurt, try incubating for 6-8 hours. For a more tart yogurt, incubate longer.
- The longer incubation time, the more beneficial bacteria in the yogurt is produced.
It is a good idea to start the yogurt process in the evening. While you are sleeping, the yogurt can incubate.
Pro Tip: For yogurt that is lower in carbohydrates, incubate for 12-14 hours and then strain the yogurt for 4-12 hours. This will greatly reduce the sugar from the milk.
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To Make Greek Yogurt:
After the yogurt is made place cheese cloth over a fine mesh strainer and set it on a large bowl. Pour the yogurt into the strainer and allow it to strain for at least 2 hours or up to 6. . Scoop out the thick Greek yogurt and store in a container in the fridge for 7-10 days.
Whey from the yogurt will drain into the bowl and it can be discarded or saved and used for protein smoothies or shakes.
Can I use skim milk?
Yes! You can make non-fat yogurt in the instant pot using skim milk, but because skim milk is missing the fat that helps thicken the yogurt, add an extra tablespoon of yogurt starter for every quart of milk. So, for 1 gallon of skim milk and 6 tablespoons of yogurt starter.
Troubleshooting: Yogurt is runny and didnt set up.
This can happen if too much starter is added, or if the yogurt has not incubated for long enough. Leave it incubating, checking it every hour. It could also be from adding the starter when the milk was too hot, killing the active cultures.
Add flavors and mix-ins:
One your yogurt has chilled, add flavors, sweeteners or toppings, like:
- Vanilla extract
Best Time Of Day To Start Making Yogurt
This will be different for everyone of course, but this is what that looks like for me. I start it at 5 a.m. . By 8 a.m. it has gone through the boil and cool down phases and is ready to incubate for 8 hours. My yogurt is done by about 4 p.m. at which point I cover it and refrigerate overnight.
The next day I pour it into the Euro Cuisine Strainers. Depending on how busy I am that day, I will let it strain for a few hours or more. There have even been a few times it strained for 2 days before I got to it. That’s okay! Just add whey back into it to thin it out. So yes, it’s a process, but very hands off and the chilling and straining parts are flexible.
Some people start it in the evening and let it incubate overnight, which works great too! Find the best time for you!
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How To Make Instant Pot Yogurt In 5 Simple Steps
Over all the process of making yogurt at home is simple and straightforward, its just not quick.
Now lets get down into the more detailed instructions they are quite important to yogurt success:
Instant Pot Greek Yogurt
February 12, 2016 By Jill Selkowitz / Updated July 21, 2021 / As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases see all disclosures.
Instant Pot Yogurt Thick and Creamy Yogurt is so simple to make in 8 easy steps. Add one more step to make it Instant Pot Greek Yogurt. Keto and Low Carb yogurt instructions too!
Instant Pot Greek Yogurt
For the very best and most popular Instant Pot Yogurt recipe, look no more.
After reading about yogurt failures, I did extensive experimentation to recreate and figure out all the issues, so that you will will make the best yogurt in your Instant Pot or GoWISE USA on the very first try. This method and all these tips and findings are my unprecedented and original work from February 2016.
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Electric Pressure Cookers That Make Yogurt
It might happen that one day you want to buy a new electric pressure cooker and making yogurt is one of your needs.
It is obvious that you would search for a pressure cooker that can make yogurt.
However, once it happened to me, I realized how hard it was to find a good electric pressure cooker with a great quality like the Instant Pot that would let me make yogurt with ease at the same time. It also became hard for me to find out too many models which would provide me with the means of making yogurt with ease.
Contents
Your Instant Pot Type Matters
I have an 8-quart Instant Pot which is bigger than the standard 6-quart size most people have. In most recipes, it doesnt make a difference, but for making yogurt with the boil method, I found that it did. On the first step in the boil method, you heat the milk to between 180 and 212 degrees F. I had a hard time getting the temperature right.
If I opened my unit to check on it before the boil setting ended, I would lose too much heat that would take long to rebuild again.
If I ran the full cycle it would boil hard, which made my end result more like a custard than a yogurt. Because of this, I eventually switched to the cold start method, which for me was easier and gave me a better result.
It’s also worth noting that you should not make yogurt in an Instant Pot without the yogurt button. Making yogurt in an Instant Pot without a yogurt setting/button comes with food safety concerns and could produce yogurt that is not safe to eat.
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The Cold Start Method
The second method you can use to make yogurt in the Instant Pot is the cold start method. In the cold start method, you do just that start the mixture cold, whisking in a little starter yogurt. No boil setting, fussing with thermometers, or stopping and opening and restarting again to try and hit the correct temperature.
For this method, its important to use Ultra-Pasteurized milk or Ultra Filtered Milk, or it wont work. The milk needs to have been heated to a higher temperature first so that the yogurt thickens, and the right bacteria grow.
Eliminating two whole steps from the process worked better for me, my Instant Pot and my schedule. The drawbacks of this method are that you might have to culture your yogurt a bit longer and that it can be finicky with the type of milk you use.
How To Make Instant Pot In Jar Pot
Another great way to make Instant Pot yogurt is right inside little portion sized jars. Its really super convenient.
That way your Instant Pot isnt out of commission during the chilling period. And my daughter loves taking these little yogurt jars to her preschool even.
I am using the glass jars that one of the good brands of yogurt here in Mexico came in. You can find something very similar here.
You also can use little mason jars. To make sure they wont break in the process check that they are suitable for canning.
There are also sets of plastic containers for sale just for the purpose of making yogurt in the Instant Pot. But I am not a fan of heating any kind of food in plastic heating plastic makes it leach into the food.
The steps of making Instant Pot yogurt in jars are essentially the same, just a little differently executed.
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Ingredients To Make Instant Pot Yogurt:
- Organic whole milk While you can make homemade yogurt with skim or non-dairy milk I prefer to use organic whole milk as it results in a creamy full flavored yogurt.
- Plain yogurt with live cultures The key to making yogurt is using an active culture as a starter. If you have a yogurt starter, feel free to use the proportions that came with it as they will vary. If using store bought yogurt, make sure to check the label and ensure that it says contains live cultures.
How To Use Leftover Whey From Making Greek Yogurt:
The byproduct from making greek yogurt is whey. The whey is the liquid byproduct that is leftover after making yogurt. A normal batch of homemade yogurt will leave you with 2-4 cups of pure whey. Many people want to use the whey instead of throwing it out. Fortunately there are many health benefits to be found in the consumption of whey. Whey protein contains high amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and B vitamins like riboflavin, pantothenic acids, and vitamin B-12, which makes it an excellent source of energy.
Our favorite way to use up Whey:
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How To Make Greek Yogurt And Vanilla Yogurt
Instant Pot Greek Yogurt
- Prep: Line large mesh strainer with cheesecloth folded 4 times or single layer of coffee filters. Place on top of a bowl making sure there is enough space for draining the whey.
- Strain for 4 hours: Add desired amount of yogurt, place in the fridge and strain for 4 hours.
- Stir and enjoy: Greek style yogurt will be thicker along the walls. Just stir after adding to a jar. We love-love making my moms strawberry yogurt with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a healthier alternative.
Yogurt That Smells Like Ham
I know you might be saying, Dont knock it until youve tried it. And I am being a bit hard-headed about not giving my poor Instant Pot a chance with yogurt.
To my credit, I did give another appliance an opportunity to make yogurt once. I had a Vitaclay multi-cooker appliance that could be a slow cooker or rice cooker or yogurt maker. How cool, I thought!
That particular appliance managed the first two tasks well enough, but the one time I tried making homemade yogurt, not only was it runny, but it tasted likeham. Just my luck that the last recipe I made in the unit was ham and beans!
I know the Instant Pots stainless steel insert wont absorb odors like the clay insert in question, but the sealing ring does. I do have an extra sealing ring for sweet recipes and keep it separate from my main savory ring, but I always forget to swap it out.
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Do I Need A Thermometer For Instant Pot Yogurt
- Yes. If you just rely on the functions of the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, you wont know if the temperature of the milk reached the optimal number. Therefore, using a thermometer, will let you know and if you want to continue to heat the milk more, you have the knowledge.
- There will be hot spots, so stir the milk first and then use your Digital Thermometer to check the temperature of the milk.
The Sauté function can be used if needed to get the milk up to temp. Just make sure to use a whisk continuously, until the Digital Thermometer reads at least 180 degrees its important.
Pro Tip: Make sure to have a good working digital thermometer.
Whisk Milk for a Quicker Cool Down
The best way to cool down the milk for yogurt is to place the cooking pot into the kitchen sink full of cold water.
Duo Mini For One To Two Persons
One of the best things about the Instant Pot range is how much time they can save you, and this Duo Mini model doesnt disappoint.
With a 3Qt capacity, it may not be the biggest cooker around, but this makes it ideal for one person or a couple. Imagine sharing a gorgeous homemade yogurt in front of a fire on a winter night.
Like all Instant Pot models, this tiny wonder has been designed with safety and efficiency in mind. It can cook up to six times faster than regular pressure cookers, which makes it ideal for the couple or the single person with a fast and busy lifestyle.
The seven included programs are powered by the latest micro-processor, so its going to be easy to use and fast. There are programs for making yogurt, steaming, warming, making rice and porridge, slow cooking, Saute, Soup/Broth and more.
Due to its small footprint and sleek design, the Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 fits easily in a small kitchen. For anyone with a small apartment in the city where space is hard to find, this wondrous little pressure cooker can seriously replace so many other kitchen appliances.
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Love This Instant Pot Yogurt
Why not try a few of my other delicious recipes that would pair perfectly with this homemade yogurt!
- Want to create a cozy bowl of yogurt? Try my Banana Bread Granola.
- This jam is sweet, fruity, and packed with a vanilla punch! Try my Vanilla Bean Strawberry Jam.
- 1/2 gallon organic whole milk
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurts with live cultures
What Ingredients Do You Need To Make Yogurt
Lets talk about the two ingredients youll need: milk and a yogurt starter culture.
- Milk: I recommend starting with organic, grass-fed whole cows or goats milk . You might be tempted to go for a lower milkfat, but really, you want the whole kit-and-kaboodle herethats what makes the end result creamy, thick, and packed full of good-for-your-gut probiotics. You can use raw milk, pasteurized, or ultra-pasteurizedall three will work just fine here.
- Yogurt starter culture: Youll need to inoculate your milk with some starter bacteria to get the yogurt-making process going, and there are two ways of going about this. You can either use premade plain yogurt with active cultures or you can use a freeze-dried yogurt starter culture.
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