Simple, Greek-Style Yogurt

If you’ve got cows, you likely already know the joys of making your own yogurt. It’s easy, delicious, and oh-so-rewarding! If you don’t have cows, we think this recipe will convince you that you need some.

The following excerpt is from Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman. It has been adapted for the web.

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Making Yogurt

Milk from a high-milk-solids breed such as the Jersey makes the best yogurt. Use whole milk and you’ll get a little “frosting” of yogurty cream on top. I often make mine in eight-ounce ceramic pots, glass jelly jars, or coffee mugs. Sometimes I just fill a large pan with milk.

I have uneven success with yogurt unless I first scald the milk to destroy the competing bacteria, but this does forfeit some of the essential value of raw milk. The important point is that the milk must be between 90°F and 115°F to make yogurt. So you can scald your milk, then let it cool to this temperature, or if you don’t want to destroy the probiotics in raw milk, you can simply warm your milk to this temperature.

For yogurt starter, for every two quarts of milk, use about one-quarter cup (no more; the organisms don’t like to be crowded) of your last batch of yogurt or of a first-class brand of fresh plain yogurt, or use a commercial starter and follow the packet directions. When your milk is warm, add the starter, and stir it in gently but thoroughly with a very clean spoon. Pre-warm the vessels in which you plan to set your yogurt, then pour or ladle it in and cover them. Find a spot in your home that will keep the yogurt cozy, without allowing it to fall below 90 ̊F or heat it above 115°F. It is worth a bit of trouble to find the ideal spot for incubating your yogurt. Once you hit on the successful combination of container and heat source, you can make yogurt quickly and easily, without having to give it much thought. The incubation should take about four hours. Try not to jiggle the yogurt while it is setting or it will be runny.