Yogurt finds its way into meals at all times of the day, topping overnight oats at breakfast, playing a major role in an Instagram-worthy smoothie bowl at lunch and offering a tasty dessert at dinner. Although usually considered a healthy food, the reality is many yogurt brands utilize additives that counteract the raw goodness. To avoid consuming unwanted sugars and artificial flavors, make your yogurt at home with one of the best yogurt makers.
In the same way popcorn makers and waffle makers make a well-loved food an easy-feat at home, yogurt makers enable anyone to turn milk into something much more exciting in just a few steps. Basically, you’ll need to prepare the milk, add starter (good bacteria), pour the mixture into the maker, let the machine do its thing for eight to 12 hours and then cool the results in the fridge. As well as feeling like a top culinarian, there are a few other benefits of investing in a yogurt maker:
Health – By making your own yogurt, you stay in control of the ingredients. While you can add sugar if you wish to, a yogurt maker also gives you the opportunity to steer clear of it. Also, when selecting the milk, you can opt for plant-based alternatives, such as soy and almond instead, which some people consider to be healthier alternatives to dairy.
Cost-Efficient – Although you’re looking at an initial investment of $20 to $100, making your own yogurt can be a very cost-efficient move. Depending on the yogurt you usually buy, the milk you choose to use and the maker you decide to buy, it’s possible that making your own yogurt at home can be up to 80 percent more cost-efficient than relying on store-bought yogurt.
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Eco-Friendly – Aside from the sugar included in brand name yogurt, the environmental impact of store-bought packaging can be hugely detrimental to the environment. The best yogurt makers utilize reusable jars which eliminate the need for disposable plastic containers.
If you enjoy eating yogurt, you need a yogurt maker. We’ve rounded up the eight best yogurt makers available to order online. There is a range of appliances included, some dedicated to yogurt making and others which branch out further to producing foods such as black garlic and sweet wine among others. You’ll also find some yogurt makers which include multiple jars. These are fantastic for making multiple flavors at once. Whichever you choose, you’ll be enjoying healthier, cheaper and more eco-friendly yogurt in no time.
1. Euro Cuisine YM80 Yogurt Maker
BEST OVERALL
Made with BPA-free materials, the Euro Cuisine YM80 Yogurt Maker is a great choice for your home kitchen. Seven dishwasher-safe glass jars, which fit inside the maker, are included with each order. There is also an upgrade option, which includes a further seven jars for an additional $20. In addition, this yogurt maker is super convenient. An indicator light on the side shows when the maker is powered on, and time marks from one to 12 show how long until your yogurt is ready. This maker measures 9.5 by 9.5 by six inches and can make up to 42 ounces of yogurt in one batch.
2. Dash Yogurt Maker
BEST BUDGET
Making yogurt is a three-step, cost-effective process with the Dash Yogurt Maker. With just 10 minutes of prep time and eight to 12 hours of cooking, you can produce up to one quart of yogurt per batch. Weighing only one pound and with a small footprint, this maker is ideal for small apartments. Plus, all the accessories can be packed inside the base for easy storage in your kitchen cupboards.
3. Euro Cuisine GY50 Yogurt Maker
BEST FOR GREEK YOGURT
As the leading brand when it comes to yogurt makers, Euro Cuisine has the production of all types of yogurt covered. The Euro Cuisine GY50 Yogurt Maker is focused on producing greek yogurt, and so it doesn’t require any power. It includes an ultra-fine strainer that will help you create an ultra-pure product. Measuring 10 by 5.25 by 7.75 inches and featuring a completely flat lid, this maker is easy to stack and store in the kitchen cupboard when it’s not in use.
4. Country Trading Co. Yogurt Maker
BEST NON-ELECTRIC
No electricity is required when using the Trading Co. Yogurt Maker, so you can feel comfortable leaving it while you’re at work or overnight. This compact, stainless steel design produces one quart of yogurt per batch and is completely plastic-free. A recipe book to help you create a mix of both dairy and plant-based yogurts is included. Plus, this yogurt maker’s stainless steel appearance means you can leave it fashionably on the counter or store it away between uses.
5. Euro Cuisine Green Yogurt Maker
MOST USER-FRIENDLY
With a capacity of more than double some other makers, the Euro Cuisine Green Yogurt Maker can produce up to two quarts of yogurt in each batch. A glass storage jar with a lid, a stainless steel thermometer and a cotton bag for making cheese are all included. All materials used are BPA-free, and the maker itself weighs four pounds. It also has timer marks on the side to indicate when your yogurt will be ready.
6. BAR Yogurt Maker
MOST VERSATILE
The 360-degree heat conduction utilized by the BAR Yogurt Maker makes it suitable for cooking a range of culinary delights. It contains a stainless steel inner pot, which is ideal for maintaining a constant temperature of around 104 degrees, the best temperature for yogurt making. It also features a user-friendly, LED touch screen panel on the front with large buttons for controlling the appliance.
7. Instant Pot DUO060 Pressure Cooker
BEST REVIEWED
Available in three, six or eight-quart capacities, the Instant Pot DUO060 Pressure Cooker can be ordered to suit the demand of your household. It’s extremely popular with customers and has over 154,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating. Although this smart appliance is not a dedicated yogurt maker, it features 13 preset programs to suit different cooking requirements, including yogurt making.
Over 154,000 reviews!
8. MLGB Black Garlic Fermenter
LARGEST CAPACITY
Although the MLGB Black Garlic Fermenter is not primarily designed for yogurt making, it’s able to maintain a constant set temperature which makes it suitable for making yogurt, fruit wine, kimchi and sweet rice, too. It features a surrounding heater that maximizes efficiency and ensures electricity consumption is kept to a minimum without compromising on quality cooking. With a capacity of six liters, this appliance is well-suited to large households with a lot of hungry bellies to feed.
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