Slow Cooker-Crockpot Yoghurt

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I know this isn't at all related to TMX, but I just have to share my exciting news.  I made 2L of very yummy yoghurt overnight in my slow cooker.The recipe was really easy so I thought I would share the link.  I haven't tried to make yoghurt in my Thermie, so I would be interested to hear what other people think of this recipe idea compared to the TMX EDC one.

Basically I just poured 2L (8 cups) of full cream milk into my slow cooker at 5pm and turned it onto slow.  At 7.30pm I turned it off and left it for 3 hours.  At 10.30pm I took out 2 cups of the warmed milk and mixed it in a jug with half a cup of Jalna natural pot set yoghurt and then mixed it back in with the rest of the milk.  I then put the lid on, wrapped the slow cooker in a thick beach towel and went to bed.  In the morning there was 2L of yummy yoghurt waiting for us.  You can add pureed fruit and maple syrup or honey to sweeten.  Yummo! 

Here is the recipe link:
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

[cookie1]

Congratulations Chelsea. Yoghurt can be hard to get exactly right. I'm afraid I still use Easi-yo and occasionally make my own natural yoghurt in the Easi-yo thermos thing.

[gertbysea]

I have never owned a crockpot or a yogurt thingy. Poor me But since I have had my TMX I have made lots from the EDC without a failure. I just cook it and dump it into my Thermoserver overnight and in the morning I have lovely creamy yogurt which I just put in a plastic container on the fridge and it lasts for weeks. When it is getting low I use that yogurt as a starter.

Easy peasy.


Gretchen

[Thermomixer]

Thanks for the recipe - always something new!!

[Ceejay]

Thanks!  Might have to try this one! 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I have never owned a crockpot or a yogurt thingy. Poor me But since I have had my TMX I have made lots from the EDC without a failure. I just cook it and dump it into my Thermoserver overnight and in the morning I have lovely creamy yogurt which I just put in a plastic container on the fridge and it lasts for weeks. When it is getting low I use that yogurt as a starter.

Thanks Gretchen.  Don't worry too much about not having a crock-pot - it took me ages to find mine in the back of my cupboard  .

I think the methods are quite similar - using the yoghurt as a starter, then saving your own yoghurt as the starter, leaving it overnight etc.  I think what appeals to me about using the slow cooker/crock pot is the greater volume (we go through at least 1.5kg a week with eating, cooking and soaking grains etc) and also freeing up the TMX.  I can't imagine when my TMX would be free twice a week for the time required to make the yoghurt (aside from the middle of the night  ).  I realise that there are variables, but roughly how long does it take to get down to 37^o?

[gertbysea]

Yes you are right about the time waiting to cool. I think about 40 minutes. That is a lot of yogurt for a week. You all must love it. I think we should all have two jugs don't you? Even two machines especially when cooking a box of tomatoes  and you want to make something else. I would keep one in the laundry just for making those things that use varoma and are noisy or take a long time. Better start saving now.

Gretchen

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

40 minutes isn't too bad Gretchen.  I was thinking it was a lot longer.  We do go through a lot of yoghurt in our house.  All four of us eat it daily and I cook with it a lot also.  My oldest son needs a high calcium diet after having a rough start in life and my youngest son (still a toddler) won't drink milk, so I tend to rely on yoghurt and put it in everything I can.   

[cathy79]

Chelsea, thanks for posting this.  All the other recipes I've seen have powdered milk in them, something I avoid.  Look forward to giving this a try.  I'll probably mix in some homemade strawberry jam as I don't add gelatine to it and so it's runny enough for this.

[faffa_70]

The TMX yoghurt that is on the yoghurt post can be made without powdered milk, I have been making it for a couple of months without. Hmm have I updated that post?? Better check lol. You can also make it with hilo milk it is just a little more tart. Will check that I have updated that as well  Mind you for the school holidays I would be thinking about making it this way as my kids go through three times the amount 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Is the TMX yoghurt quite runny without powdered milk Kathryn?  This yoghurt is pretty runny and I noticed lot's of people on the slow-cooker blog are using powdered milk to thicken theirs.  Is there any natural product that can be used to thicken yoghurt?

[faffa_70]

I don't know if I could honestly say Chelsea. My first lots of yoghurt even with the powdered milk were a little runny and it has thickened over time with the culture improving (well that was what I was led to believe would happen and it has). My yoghurt is really thick now even without the powdered milk but not sure if it would be that way when first starting out if you know what I mean  The first thing I do when I make a batch is put aside my starting amount for the next lot so that I always have it and the kids don't eat it all on me  I would give it a couple of batches before I added anything to it to try and thicken it and see if it happens naturally as you improve your starter 

[~Narelle~]

Could you try it with a tiny bit of agar?  You wouldn't want much though.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I would give it a couple of batches before I added anything to it to try and thicken it and see if it happens naturally as you improve your starter 

Sounds like good advice - will do that. Thanks 

[cathy79]

Well my first batch is ready.  A bit thin, but I can see what's going to happen.  Will try and use it up in smoothies etc so we get to the good stuff quicker.  I'm really excited about the cost savings here!  2 litres of milk approx $2.20 = 2 litres of yoghurt.  And yoghurt is between $4-$5 for 900gm, or about 1 litre.  So approx 1/5th of the price .

Any yoghurt baking recipes?