I started making my own yogurt way back when in my crock pot. At the time, the million dollar question from friends and family was “why not just buy it?”
For me personally, so much pleasure comes from doing things myself ~ a pleasure you can’t really get by going to the store.
But let me be honest — I hate going to the store. It involves taking my kids. It involves them asking for things – naturally. It involves a lengthy drive there, in which one or two fall asleep, the others don’t want to be asked to help. I can’t put sleeping kids in the cart, nor can I carry more than 1 and push a cart. Not to mention my kids would rather play outside in the backyard than go ANYWHERE so staying home it is.
Going to the store simply results in me coming out with more than what I had actually intended. I just despise going to the store.
So we made our own yogurt in the crock pot for a long time – until, one day I got this Instant Pot. Then I started making it in there. And guess what? I found a new love for being in my kitchen more. I truly LOVE this post.
As much as I love making my own yogurt IN this pot, there is ONE disadvantage… when I make yogurt, I usually can’t use the pot for about 12 hours – which really makes it awkward when I want to make dinner. Because I really don’t have the funds to buy another pot .. I have to plan my yogurt making for days that I have a lighter dinner planned — salad, steamed carrots, etc.
So why make your own yogurt?
Ingredients in Store Bought Yogurt
Pick up store bought yogurt and you will find everything water to modified food starch, fructose, kosher gelatin (made from ground up animal parts), aspartame, artificial flavorings & more.
Not what anyone should really be eating.
When I make yogurt at home, the only thing that goes IN it is a gallon of raw milk. That is it.
If you are trying to live organically and provide the BEST food for your family, organic yogurt is the way to go.
Organic Yogurt, however, is not cheap in store… the individual cups are $1.50, the larger tubs of 32 oz of Stonyfield are upwards of $5 – $6. For the price of a gallon of raw organic milk ($10 is what we pay) we get our 5 pints of our OWN yogurt and 4 pints of whey – which is not only beneficial for our bellies but also helps support a local farmer that has the same mindset we do: better food… better health.
Making your Own is Easy
You can use a crock pot, but we opt to use our Instant Pot – since it helps us make some pretty fabulous dinners on a regular daily basis, it also works double duty.
To make your yogurt in the Instant Pot you can see our last tutorial – it’s so extremely easy. Convenient? It depends what you consider convenient I guess – for us, going to the store is not convenient so we prefer to do it at home.
You will want to start with milk from a farm that practices pasture raised farming methods – sure, you can pick up the milk at the grocery store but it’s highly processed (albeit Organic is better than Non-Organic, the Organic Grocery Store gallons are STILL processed…) – processing that milk takes out all the good enzymes and bacteria needed for your gut. That’s why most people have GI issues and have a hard time digesting milk.. it has been robbed of everything good.
If you can find a farmer that sells Raw Milk you are better to buy that and use that to make your own.
Think Raw Milk is risky? Read our last post... it’s no more risky than buying bagged salad, deli meat & eating out at a restaurant.
You can use the Whey
Having the whey is probably the second best part to making your own – while not everyone may opt to use it, it’s perfect for making breads, pancakes, or even Tea -it’s full of good bacteria and vitamins and a great way to bring your yogurt-making full circle. NO waste involved – you are making it work for you.
Read our last post for 20 ways to use your Whey if you opt to make your own yogurt.
In the end, making your own is spectacular – you can flavor it any which way you wish – you can incorporate the fruits of the season (if you can spot Organic Berries on sale at your local store then even better!)
Preparing your meals with ingredients you got straight from the farm is a small commitment in time – not only are they fresher, the health benefits are immeasurable.