3 Days of Yogurt: Day One- What I Use

OK, let me start this off with a list of what I use to make the yogurt.

1. Crock Pot/Slow Cooker

I just noticed, after thirteen years, that what I'm using is actually a Proctor/Silex "Slow Cooker." Whatever.

I don't know what size it is. Maybe 4 quarts? I think I got this thing the year my son was born, 1998.

The knob on the front got broken somehow. 

2. Milk. 1/2 Gallon of Whole Milk. I have used milk from a local dairy, which is delicious, but pricey.  Most of the time I just use the Great Value milk I get at Wal-Mart.  Please use WHOLE milk. I am convinced that the fat in the milk is where the nutrition is, in those essential fatty acids.

Just regular ol' Wal-Mart milk.

One thing about the milk: it should not be "ultra-pasteurized."  I don't think the yogurt culture will grow in ultra-pasteurized milk. Now, I don't know that for sure, since I've never tried using milk that was ultra-pasteurized to make yogurt. I think I read that in the You Can Make Yogurt in Your CrockPot post.

3. Yogurt for starter.

 1/2 cup of plain yogurt.  Really plain. Just cultured milk. No added pectin or anything else. 

Nothing but cultured milk - no added pectin, etc.

The only plain yogurt I can find without added pectin or added anything else is this organic Stoneyfield Farm brand of non-fat yogurt. I'm sure any other brand would do, as long as it doesn't have added pectin.

4. Big Blue Beach Blanket

Any large towel will do for covering the crockpot during the incubation period.

5. Large bowl.

6. Large Colander

It's not pretty, but it works!

6. Flour sack towels

If you are going to make the thick Greek style yogurt, you will need something to strain the liquid from the yogurt.  The first time I made it, I used paper towels. They work, if that's all you have.  Cheesecloth is what is recommended. I had a hard time finding cheesecloth. Then when I found it, I tried to wash it and I ended up with what looked like the remains of The Mummy in my washing machine.

 I picked up these plain, white, flour sack towels (at Wal-Mart, of course) and I think they work very well.  These towels are not used for anything else but making yogurt.


7. A container for the final product.

What's left of my last batch of yogurt.

I use plastic containers with lids. 

I am always so excited when I make a new batch of yogurt in my own little kitchen. It's like a miracle every time!

 

Tomorrow: How I Make It

Wednesday: The Final Product