Make Yoghurt

This yoghurt maker from Easiyo is one of those kitchen gadgets that you think might be gimmicky, but once you have one you wonder how you ever lived without it.

I've never been a huge eater of yoghurt before, but it is my husbands regular breakfast. I bought the Easiyo for him for Christmas with about 10 starter packs. Now I'm going to sing the praises of this amazing kitchen gadget!!

The Easiyo is pretty simple in its design. It is a thermos style system with a smaller container that fits neatly inside. In under 5 minutes the Easiyo is set up and ready to make yoghurt!! You simply take the starter packet and mix with water in the container, then fill the thermos to the designated mark, close it up with the container inside and let it sit. In 8-12 hours (or the next morning) you have 1kg of perfect yoghurt!

The thermos keeps the yoghurt cultures at the right temperature for long enough for them to make yoghurt without any additional heat source. Since getting the yoghurt maker I've done a little more research and found some people are making yoghurt in an oven at a very low temperature or with an electric heating pad or electric yoghurt maker. I love that this system doesn't require any prolonged use of electricity... just boil the kettle!

Since getting the yoghurt maker I've been experimenting with slight variations in the yoghurt making process. Making yoghurt with the Easiyo starter kits cost about $3.50-$4.50 but there are other ways of making yoghurt as well as long as you have a live culture to start.

Two ways I have been successful at making yoghurt is by using UHT milk (because regular milk needs to be heated then cooled which makes the process longer and less convenient) and either 3 tablespoons of the previous yoghurt, or 3 tablespoons of the Easiyo starter. So far I haven't had a failed batch, but I am very curious how long I could keep making yoghurt just through using the old yoghurt each time. That would make 1kg of yoghurt only $1!! What a huge saving!

Our Easiyo maker and the last batch of (almost gone) yoghurt

I purchased my Easiyo from GoldenGlow.com.au and if you sign up to their newsletter they give you a $15 off coupon. A limited selection of the starter packs can be purchased in supermarkets. Check the jelly/dessert aisle.

To learn more about making yoghurt from scratch check out the Sustainable Suburbia blog.