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Yogurt is a delicious and nutritious dairy food that has been enjoyed for centuries. Making yogurt at home is easy and allows you to control the ingredients. With a good yogurt maker, you can produce creamy homemade yogurt that beats what you can buy at the store.
A yogurt maker is an appliance that incubates and ferments milk into yogurt. It provides the constant low heat needed for the milk to transform properly with the yogurt cultures. This gives you consistent results every time. Best Yogurt makers take the guesswork out of yogurt making and allow you to customize flavors and textures.
When choosing the best yogurt makers, you’ll want one that is easy to use, makes yogurt of the right consistency, and provides features that match your needs. This guide covers what to look for and reviews the top yogurt maker models for home use.
What to Look for in a Best Yogurt Makers
Incubation Method
Best Yogurt makers work by incubating and heating milk during the fermentation process. Different models use different heating methods:
- Water bath – The milk jars sit in a water-filled reservoir. The water is heated to keep the temperature ideal for yogurt culturing. This gentle heating prevents scorching.
- Electric heat – Heating elements are built into the unit to warm the milk directly. This allows for precise temperature control.
- Thermal conduction – The walls of the Best yogurt makers conduct ambient heat into the interior. No water or electricity is used for regulating temperature.
- Water bath heating is usually preferred since it provides very even, gentle heating. Electric and thermal conduction models can work too but may require more monitoring.
Number of Jars
Best Yogurt makers are available in different sizes to hold multiple jars. Common capacities are 1-quart, 2-quart, 4-quart or larger. Think about how much yogurt you normally eat or want to make at one time. Larger families may want a yogurt maker with more capacity.
Timer and Automatic Shutoff
Incubating yogurt takes between 6 to 12 hours. Best Yogurt makers have timers to indicate when the yogurt is done. Auto shutoff turns the heating off after the timer ends so yogurt doesn’t over-incubate. This prevents having to monitor the process and provides hands-off convenience.
Temperature Settings
Yogurt ferments best between 110°F to 115°F. Look for a Best yogurt makers that maintains this temperature range and allows adjusting it if needed. Some have different presets for making Greek or alternative milk yogurts that require different temperatures.
Design and Ease of Use
Choose a Best yogurt makers that is easy to use with clear controls. It should have cord storage and be easy to clean. If it uses jars, they should be sturdy and reusable. Snap-on lids make sealing easy. The housing should close securely during incubation.
Best Yogurt Makers
Here are the best yogurt makers to consider for all types of yogurt making at home:
- Overall Best: Euro Cuisine YM80
- Type: Electric heat
- Capacity: 7 6-oz. jars
- Features: Timer, automatic shutoff, makes Greek yogurt
- This Euro Cuisine yogurt maker delivers excellent performance for most home needs. It incubates up to seven 6-oz jars of yogurt at a time.
The electric heating provides precise temperature control between 104°F to 108°F. You can adjust the temperature as needed for different yogurt types. It has a large LED display with timer and auto shutoff for perfect yogurt incubating every time.
Two settings are available: regular yogurt and a higher temperature Greek yogurt mode. The sleek white and stainless steel design looks great on the counter. It comes with seven reusable BPA-free plastic jars and lids.
For flexibility, consistency, and ease of use, the Euro Cuisine YM80 is the best yogurt makers overall. It takes the uncertainty out of yogurt making so you can create sweet, tangy homemade yogurt.
- Best Large Capacity: Cuisinart CYM-100
- Type: Electric heat
- Capacity: 2 quarts
- Features: Timer, automatic shutoff, nighttime mode
- With its extra-large 2-quart capacity, this Cuisinart model is perfect for larger households or making big batches for meal prepping. Despite the large capacity, the unit has a compact footprint.
The CYM-100 precisely controls the temperature between 105°F to 120°F using electric heating technology. It has simple dial controls and an LCD display that shows time and temperature.
Use the automatic timer for perfect yogurt culturing then the auto shutoff kicks in. There is also a nighttime mode that gradually lowers the temperature after fermenting to extend the life of the yogurt.
This versatile machine makes all types of yogurt including Greek style. Everything is dishwasher safe too. If you need to make large volumes of yogurt, the Cuisinart CYM-100 is the best choice.
- Best Budget: Dash Greek Yogurt Maker
- Type: Water bath
- Capacity: 12 oz.
- Features: Automatic shutoff, carry handle, recipe book
- With its low price, the Dash Greek yogurt maker is perfect for yogurt lovers on a budget. It may be affordable but doesn’t compromise on features or performance.
This compact maker uses gentle water bath heating to incubate the 12-oz capacity jar. It maintains the proper 110°F temperature for up to 12 hours for making standard, Greek, or alternative milk yogurts.
The automatic shutoff means you don’t have to monitor it. Just load up the BPA-free jar, activate the machine, and your homemade yogurt will be ready in 6-12 hours. A recipe book is included for yogurt inspiration.
For small households getting started with homemade yogurt, Dash is an outstanding budget-friendly option.
- Best Design: Mueller Austria Multi-Purpose Yogurt Maker
- Type: Water bath
- Capacity: 1.1 quarts
- Features: Timer, automatic shutoff, night light, eco mode
- With its brushed silver finish and illuminated touch controls, this Mueller yogurt maker is as stylish as it is functional. The elegant design looks great displayed in any kitchen.
It uses water bath technology to gently incubate up to seven 6-oz glass jars. Jars have snap-on lids for quick sealing. The temperature range is 104°F to 108°F, ideal for consistent yogurt culturing.
Settings include a 12-hour timer, auto shutoff, eco mode to conserve energy, and a cool blue night light. The LCD screen is easy to read and navigate. Everything disassembles for simple cleaning too.
If you want a yogurt maker that is as beautiful as the yogurt it produces, the Mueller Austria model is a fantastic choice.
- Best Large Capacity: Tribest Yolife YLG-50
- Type: Water bath
- Capacity: 50 oz.
- Features: Glass jars, auto shutoff, make nut milks, silicone lid
- With its massive 50-oz capacity, this Tribest Yolife model is great for large batches and big families. Despite the large capacity, the unit has a compact 15-inch by 11-inch footprint.
It uses gentle water bath technology to keep the temperature ideal for incubating. The Tribest Yolife includes two heavy-duty 17-oz glass jars and lids made from food-safe silicone.
Settings provide precise temperature adjustments from 95°F to 115°F. You can make yogurts, soy yogurts, almond milk yogurt, rice milk yogurt, and more. It also lets you make fresh nut and seed milks.
If you need large capacity yogurt making with flexible settings, the Tribest Yolife YLG-50 is an excellent option.
- Best for Kids: Nesco YA-27YR yogurt maker
- Type: Water bath
- Capacity: 4 half-pint jars
- Features: Bear shape, automatic shutoff, recipes
- This cute yogurt maker from Nesco is perfect for getting kids involved in yogurt making. It is shaped like a smiling bear and comes in colors like blue, pink, green, and yellow.
Inside the fun bear housing is a water bath yogurt maker. It can handle up to four half-pint sized jars. Temperature and time settings provide consistent results for creamy yogurt every time.
The bear yogurt maker does require some minimal adult supervision but is easy enough for older kids to operate. Recipes and activities make learning about yogurt fun.
Letting kids make their own yogurt with the Nesco YA-27YR teaches kitchen skills while producing a healthy treat. Your children will love their cute bear yogurt maker.
- Most Versatile: Instant Pot DUO Plus Mini Yogurt Maker
- Type: Electric heat
- Capacity: 8 jars
- Features: Pressure cooker, sauté function, makes soy yogurt
- The Instant Pot DUO Plus Mini is the ultimate 2-in-1 appliance combining an electric pressure cooker and yogurt maker. Having all these functions makes it extremely versatile.
The inner pot removes to convert the Instant Pot into an incubator by adding yogurt starter to heated milk. It fits up to eight 4-oz jars for yogurt making. The electric heating provides precise temperature control from 95°F to 108°F.
When you aren’t making yogurt, the Instant Pot works as a 3-quart pressure cooker with sauté, warm, and slow cook functions. You can pasteurize milk for yogurt in the pot too.
For maximum usefulness, the Instant Pot DUO Plus Mini combines a multi-cooker and electric yogurt maker into one appliance.
- Best Glass Jars: Euro Cuisine GY50
- Type: Water bath
- Capacity: 7 jars
- Features: Extra jars, automatic shutoff, recipes
- This Euro Cuisine model comes with seven durable tempered glass jars instead of plastic. The elegant glass jars give a premium look and feel over plastic containers.
It provides water bath heating that gently incubates the jars. Settings allow customizing time up to 15 hours and temperature between 100°F to 108°F. The LCD control panel is easy to use.
The GY50 includes seven extra glass jars so you always have clean containers ready to go. With its dishwasher safe jars and automatic shutoff, this yogurt maker provides fuss-free homemade yogurt making.
How to Make Yogurt in a Best Yogurt Makers
Making yogurt at home using a best yogurt makers is easy if you follow these steps:
- Heat Milk
Start by heating milk to 180°F on the stove top. This pasteurizes the milk to kill bacteria that can compete with the yogurt cultures later. Cool the milk to 115°F. - Add Starter Culture
Whisk plain yogurt with active cultures or powdered yogurt starter into the cooled milk. This adds the live cultures that ferment the milk into yogurt. - Incubate
Pour the yogurt mixture into the jars and seal lids. Place jars in yogurt maker. Turn on and set temperature to 108-112°F. Let incubate 6-12 hours. - Refrigerate
Yogurt will thicken as it incubates. When time is complete, refrigerate yogurt in sealed jars for 6 hours before eating.
The longer yogurt incubates, the tangier and thicker it gets. For Greek yogurt, strain the finished yogurt in cheesecloth overnight in the fridge to remove more whey and thicken further.
Experiment with milk types, flavors, and incubation times to customize your homemade yogurt. Always use yogurt starter from a previous batch to make the next yogurt. Enjoy your fresh homemade yogurt!
Benefits of Making Your Own Yogurt
Here are some of the great reasons to get started making yogurt at home using a Best yogurt makers:
- Control ingredients – Make yogurt with the milk and sweeteners you prefer. Avoid thickeners, preservatives and artificial flavors found in store brands.
- Probiotic boost – Use yogurt starter with live active cultures to get more probiotics into your diet. This aids digestion and gut health.
- Cost savings – Homemade yogurt costs a fraction of what you’d pay for prepared yogurt. The yogurt maker pays for itself over time.
- Creative flavors – Flavor and customize yogurt easily by adding fresh fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, etc. Be as creative as you like.
- Better texture – Get the thickness and creaminess you want by adjusting incubation time. Store-bought yogurt is mass-produced for shelf stability.
- Fun activity – Making yogurt at home is an enjoyable kitchen project for the whole family, especially with kids Best yogurt makers.
- As you can see, best yogurt makers provide an easy and cost-effective way to make your own yogurt. In no time, you’ll be churning out quart after quart of deliciously tangy yogurt from the comfort of your kitchen.
The Bottom Line
Investing in a Best yogurt maker for your home opens up new possibilities for creative yogurt making. You can produce healthy probiotic-rich yogurt with the flavors and textures your family loves. Best Yogurt makers take the effort out of homemade yogurt by incubating it to perfection.
This guide covered all the key factors to consider when choosing the best yogurt makers. Models with water bath heating, large capacities, auto timers and shutoff deliver the most convenience and flexibility. Top brands like Euro Cuisine, Dash and Cuisinart offer quality construction and performance.
With your new yogurt maker, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. You can completely control ingredients and customize flavors for yogurt that beats anything from the store. Your family will love the fresh tangy taste. Experiment and find your perfect homemade yogurt creations.
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