For anyone who wants to learn how to make yogurt from their raw milk, here are a few different methods I’ve found in recent research:
Crock pot method (note: I have not tried this personally, just heard about it): Pour desired amount of milk into crock pot and heat on low for two hours. At this time turn off the heat completely, leave lid in place, and do not disturb for about four hours. At this time mix in about a half cup per half gallon of milk of plain yogurt as a starter, then turn crock pot back on high for just a few minutes (3 to 5 minutes, no longer). At this point just turn off machine, unplug, and move somewhere out of the way, wrap crock pot with a blanket, and leave overnight or all day. At the end of this time you should have delicious yogurt to enjoy.
Another way of making yogurt is to use the Yogotherm Yogurt Maker which can be bought at Amazon (click image to check it out):
I think I am buying one of these for my husband for Christmas this year because he really loves yogurt and doesn’t want to mess with the crock pot method even though it sounds super simple. So since this is a kit that comes with what you need, it will probably suit him better. This yogurt maker seems to have good reviews from what I’ve read.
Basically I do not like to heat my raw milk and destroy the enzymes, but none of the kinder gentler methods of yogurt making have worked for us. What I keep reading now during my yogurt-making research is that the milk needs to be heated to 185 degrees F, and then heldt there for 10 to 20 minutes. The reasoning for this (so I have read) is it will prepare the whey proteins which are largely responsible for the thickening of the yogurt body. Apparently if you don’t do this the yogurt will not set up correctly (and that is the problem we keep having).
Well if anyone has any other good ideas for making yogurt from raw milk please feel free to post them.
