Making yogurt in a water bath involves using controlled heat to incubate the milk and starter culture, resulting in delicious homemade yogurt. Here’s how you do it:
Steps to Make Yogurt in a Water Bath
1. Prepare the Milk and Starter
- Begin by heating your milk to the desired temperature to kill any unwanted bacteria. Let the milk cool to around 104˚F.
- In a separate bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons of yogurt with live cultures into the cooled milk. This yogurt acts as the starter for your new batch.
2. Transfer to Sterilized Jars
- Pour the milk and starter mixture into sterilized glass jars. This helps prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria.
3. Set Up the Water Bath
- Prepare a water bath. You can do this in a large pot or use a sous vide machine, which allows for very precise temperature control.
- If using a sous vide machine or other externally controlled bath, set the temperature to 104˚F.
4. Incubate the Yogurt
- Place the uncovered jars into the water bath. Ensure the water level comes most of the way up the side of the jars, but does not go over the jar tops.
- Allow the yogurt to "cook" for 8-10 hours. This incubation period allows the cultures to multiply and thicken the milk into yogurt.
5. Chill and Enjoy
- Once the incubation is complete, remove the jars from the water bath, cover them, and refrigerate for at least a few hours to chill and further set the yogurt.
- Your homemade yogurt is now ready to enjoy!
Important Tips:
- Temperature Control: Maintaining a consistent temperature of 104˚F is crucial for successful yogurt making. This is where a sous vide machine really shines.
- Sterilization: Always sterilize your jars and utensils to prevent unwanted bacterial growth that can spoil your yogurt.
- Live Cultures: Make sure the yogurt you use as a starter has live and active cultures. Check the packaging for this information.
- Timing: The exact incubation time may vary. Check the texture of your yogurt after 8 hours and continue if necessary.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Heat milk, cool, and mix with live culture yogurt. |
| 2 | Pour into sterilized jars. |
| 3 | Set up water bath at 104˚F. |
| 4 | Incubate for 8-10 hours. |
| 5 | Chill and enjoy. |
By following these steps, you can make delicious and healthy homemade yogurt using a water bath method.
