Recipe: Homemade Greek Yogurt in my Crockpot!

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My reticence to pay for delicious expensive things that I think I could make myself has struck again.

I've declared my love of Chobani yogurt.

I saw last year that The Crockpot Lady (Stephanie) had made yogurt in her crockpot.

I had to give it a try.

And it worked!

I did have one failure.. because I didn't follow instructions.  Just follow the instructions, and you'll be fine.  (Below is my failure.  I added the yogurt starter before waiting the 3 hours.  ooops. It was a complete loss).

Stephanie has simple and easy to follow directions on her site.

Basically, here's what I did:

Mix together in a crockpot:

8 c skim milk
1/2 c dry milk powder (to help thicken it)

Heat on low for 2.5 hours.

Unplug the crockpot.  Leave the lid on, and walk away for 3 hours, to let it come to the right temperature for the live cultures to thrive.

When that 3 hours is up, leave the crockpot unplugged.  Scoop out 2 c of the warm milk and whisk in 1/2 c plain yogurt with live active cultures.  (I used one 6 oz carton of Chobani).  When that is well mixed, whisk the milk/yogurt mixture into the rest of the milk in the crockpot.  Replace the lid, wrap well in a couple towels to insulate it and keep it at the optimum temperature and leave it overnight.

In the morning, you have yogurt!  (That's whey on top)

I strained it in my yogurt wave yogurt strainer to make it into Greek style yogurt.  You could use cheesecloth or a coffee filter, too.  I like the yogurt wave because it's enclosed and easy.  Only about half fit into it.  If I end up making yogurt often, I plan on getting a second strainer.  I strained while I was at work, and when I got home - Greek yogurt!  And you can use the whey in other things, like bread.  I'll have to try that.

This makes plain yogurt.

I stirred in some honey for the kids.

I think they liked it.

Just a little.