I received one of these as a gift. The process seems quite labor intensive and there's no real $savings for 2 cups of yogurt. Am I missing something?
1076631
Forgot to mention, I find the taste much better, smoother & I love adding fresh fruit in the morning.
1076632
It depends on what you define as real savings. I do save some money. The important factor for me is that the yogurt tastes so much better. Once I got down the routine, the steps are fast with long waits in between.
1076633
I don't think it's labor intensive at all. Once you get doing it, it only takes a few minutes. I make yogurt twice/week (we eat a lot for breakfast) and it is well worth the effort because it is so much better than store yogurt.
1076634
It is relatively labor intensive, what with heating up and cooling off the milk. Whether it's cost effective depends on how much you spend on your milk.
1076635
It takes all of 10 minutes to heat the milk, and another 10 to cool it down, and you can be doing other things at the time. Then you let it sit in the yogurt maker for 8 hours or so, throw it in the fridge, and strain it if you want. The yogurt is so fresh tasting and delicious. If you strain it to make greek yogurt, you get a lot of whey (liquid) that you can use for baking - whey stays good for a long time. I think if you are one of those people that enjoys making their own food and cooking, and eating yogurt, you'll enjoy making the yogurt. It's unbelievable easy to clean too.
1076636
If you buy a gallon of milk, for say $4.50 (depending on where you live and the type of milk you buy--whole milk, 2 percent, etc.), you will get several cups of Greek yogurt out of that one gallon. If you spent that same amount for Greek yogurt at the grocery store, you'll end up with fair less. As for this being labor intensive, it depends on your perspective. All told, I don't think this takes more than 10 minutes of my time, if I don't count the time it takes to heat the milk, cook it down, or having it cook in the maker. I don't count that part because I can be doing other things. Put simply, if you eat lots of Greek yogurt, then you'll save money making it yourself. But if you eat it occasionally, then, no, using the Storebound Dash will not be worth your time.
115276
I simply throw a cotton dish towel over my yogurt maker and make sure it is sitting on one and not on the cold counter, though this is not the model I use. I bought this one as a gift for my sister.
2117780
i agree that the jar is not very accurate by the measurement. but i never had 2.5 cups of leftover! that's a bit too much... i usually put in 6oz yogurt (1 of those store bought, or one jar from last batch), then add 18 oz of milk. that'd do. once you do a few batches, you'll have a pretty good idea of how much you need to put in there. Or you can always use the cups that come with it to measure. that'd never go wrong.on a different note, if you ever have extra leftover mixture, just drink it. :) I like it that way anyways. sometimes if i made the yogurt too sour, i just add some milk, and do a yogurt drink. you can use that for smoothy as well. don't waste it~ :) i agree that the jar is not very accurate by the measurement. but i never had 2.5 cups of leftover! that's a bit too much... i usually put in 6oz yogurt (1 of those store bought, or one jar from last batch), then add 18 oz of milk. that'd do. once you do a few batches, you'll have a pretty good idea of how much you need to put in there. Or you can always use the cups that come with it to measure. that'd never go wrong.on a different note, if you ever have extra leftover mixture, just drink it. :) I like it that way anyways. sometimes if i made the yogurt too sour, i just add... » Read More i agree that the jar is not very accurate by the measurement. but i never had 2.5 cups of leftover! that's a bit too much... i usually put in 6oz yogurt (1 of those store bought, or one jar from last batch), then add 18 oz of milk. that'd do. once you do a few batches, you'll have a pretty good idea of how much you need to put in there. Or you can always use the cups that come with it to measure. that'd never go wrong.on a different note, if you ever have extra leftover mixture, just drink it. :) I like it that way anyways. sometimes if i made the yogurt too sour, i just add some milk, and do a yogurt drink. you can use that for smoothy as well. don't waste it~ :) « Show Less
975026
Yes, it brings cost down drastically! Instead of paying a minimum of $2.95 for e10 g (that is the cheapest that I have found) of yogurt starter for each 2 quarts. I Use 2-3 tablespoons or as little as 2-3 small teaspoons from your previous batch. Using tablespoons will just make your yogurt thick, add milk if too thick. I also use 2 cups of powdered milk, which helps making it thicker and of course adds more protein- but it is soo good!Remember you can only reuse your previous yogurt only 3 times. Than start a new batch with yogurt starter.
1625833
This might not be an heirloom starter. Go to Cultures For Health and search around for heirloom yogurt starters. They can be used over and over indefinitely, with a pack of cultures in the freezer as a backup in case you cannot continue. The investment is about $12. But considering you can use the yogurt you just made to make more yogurt forever and ever, it pays for itself quickly. The only stipulation when making a new batch of yogurt from the previous batch is that it needs to be done within 7 days to keep the cultures healthy.
412061
This is simply a straining device. It will separate solids from liquids...liquid falling through the fine wire mesh strainer thereby thickening the yogurt above. I have not used this to make non-diary yogurt.
1098050
It's just as wonderful making the yogurt in the glass insert as with the plastic insert. The choice of container does not affect the quality at all. I alternate between them, starting my next batch (in the OTHER container) when the first batch is getting low, so as not to ever be without my yummy yogurt.
194702
Do you really need this maker, I just boil the milk and then add a tablespoon of shop purchased yogurt and add it to the luke warm milk and then leave it overnight and you will get yogurt ready the next day. This process is ideal during summer and during winter I just warm the cooking range for about 5 min and then place the container in there and by the next day your yogurt is ready. I am doing this for the past 20 years. You don't need any maker to make your yogurt, save the money for something better.
1111938
Much easier, I'd say. You can make up to 2 qts. in a single, large container rather than have to fuss with individual small jars. In fact, that's the main reason why I chose this particular model. I've used the type that comes with the little jars, and sometimes you want to use more yogurt than comes in a little jar--say for a family recipe, or just because you like yogurt.
856786
I used the same exact products and here I am trying to figure out why this second batch in my new yogurt maker is grainy, bitter and even adding 2 tsp vanilla doesnt seem to help it. The whey was all seperate when I removed to the fridg so sorta though oh oh! Im even using a termometer and follow all the directions but now thinking even tho it didnt boil maybe it was to hot. A real science to this after all.
1637649
I've been wondering why that requirement as well. I've made the yogurt without preheating the milk, being careful to thoroughly mix in the yogurt first, and it came out a little lumpy. But since I'm making it for my dog, and she doesn't mind the lumps, that is the way I'm making it now.
86371
Yes I would say your machine is defective. I believe your temp needs to be 110. I had an old machine and it registered only 100 and it didn't work to make yogurt.
723889
The little jars are silly. I retired them and the cover lid after the first batch. Now I re-use two large 32 oz standard yogurt containers. Two of them fit well, then I am adding a third 16 oz container. (Three large containers will not quite fit. I just cover it all with a clean kitchen towel and leave it for 8-10 hours. Works great! I also noticed that the milk will contract when it becomes yogurt so you will have less volume of yogurt than of the starting milk. I measure up full containers when I start, then add another cup or so of milk to be heated.
767764
This appliance does not heat the milk initially. You must do that separately first. It is meant to hold the yogurt cultures at the ideal warm temperature for proper fermentation and then cool them.
2117783
I had the same problem! I'm very frustrated that the recipe calls for more milk than the yogurt maker can actually make. Wasteful.
2029426
I saw your post about the yogourmet yogurt maker. I also want one I can use with the SCD . Have you found a more suitable one yet?
1058585
I've heard it will not get as thick and may take longer to thicken but they do give a book with some tips. My biggest concern over this yogurt maker is I had to make it every day because it really doesn't make enough for my family. But for one person it would last a couple of a days.