Are you looking for answers to your questions about making homemade yogurt? This is a troubleshooting guide to making Greek yogurt at home in response to readers’ questions.
If you don’t see your question here, send me an email for a personal answer to your question: paula at saladinajar.com
Since you clicked on this post, I’m assuming something didn’t go as you hoped or expected with your yogurt. BUMMER!
Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of the problem so that your next batch will be a delicious success.
Although I’ve been making my own yogurt for over 10 years now, some of you have been doing the same much longer. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to chime in with your own experience, knowledge, or opinion.
8 Answers to Your Questions About Homemade Yogurt
The first three questions deal with the question: “Why did my yogurt fail?”.
#1
Was your starter fresh enough?
This is crucial. At the beginning of my yogurt-making stage of life, the majority of my fails happened when I used a new starter–as in commercial yogurt from the grocery store. (By the way, you can use either regular unflavored yogurt or Greek yogurt.) I’m convinced it’s not always that fresh.
#2
Did you keep your milk incubated at 100-110˚F? Consistently?
It’s extremely important to keep the temperature constant. I’m guessing this is the number one reason for yogurt fails.
If you are using a slow cooker, a heating pad, an electric roaster or some other creative device (see 6 Ways to Incubate Yogurt Without a Yogurt Maker to learn the different ways my readers do this), check your temperatures with a thermometer until you are certain you’ve got it right. If possible, test the environment, not the yogurt.
#3
Was the milk disturbed in any way during the incubation process?
Yogurt bacteria are sensitive. They don’t seem to like anything coming into their space when they are busy multiplying. Completely understandable, don’t you think?
Avoid putting a thermometer or spoon in the milk. Do not stir. I give the bowl a gentle shake or tilt to check if the milk has set up. Once you stir it or pour it into a strainer, incubation is over.
If your yogurt has not set up after 8-10 hours, you could try adding more starter and putting it back in the oven. This works sometimes but not always. Worth a try.
#4
Is it really necessary to heat the milk to 175-180 degrees since it has been pasteurized already?
If I could make yogurt without heating the milk before incubation, it would save time and I would be the first in line.
In response to a reader’s question, I tried two batches equal in every way except for the heating-then cooling process.
In the end, they both got thick but the milk heated to 180 degrees produced a thicker yogurt which is my ultimate goal. Looks like I will continue to heat just below boiling and then allow to cool back down below 120 degrees F.
You can read a more scientific explanation here.
#5
I didn’t add dry milk solids or gelatin. Would it be thicker if I did?
Mine gets plenty thick without it. Early on in my yogurt adventure, I forgot to add dry milk a few times. I discovered I liked the texture better. It’s cleaner and smoother–not pasty. As for the gelatin, it’s not necessary.
If you want it thicker, try straining it.
#6
Some people say I can’t make yogurt with non-fat milk. True?
No. Yogurt can be made successfully with non-fat, 1%, 2%, and whole milk. Some people even use powdered milk. I have never tried that myself.
Also, you can make yogurt with pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized milk. I’ve done it many times.
#7
The texture is not what I was expecting after I strained my yogurt.
Is it grainy?
If so, my research suggests several possibilities: Did you accidentally let the milk boil? Did your yogurt have any additives? See this post about grainy yogurt for more on the subject.
A Note About Yogurt Texture
In the beginning, most of us have expectations based on what we buy at the grocery store. Many commercial products have additives we have become used to and are impossible to duplicate at home. And anyway, do we really want to?
If you make your own yogurt very much, you will soon be addicted to fresh, unadulterated and customizable yogurt.
#8
One last thing–what’s up with the skin on top of my milk as it cools?
My best answer to this “problem” is to loosely cover the heated milk as it cools. It prolongs the cooling process a bit but requires no extra hands-on time. Personally, I don’t cover it. I just wait until the yogurt is cooled, then remove the skin quickly with a flat spatula before adding the starter.
If you haven’t seen my video about making Greek yogurt, you can check it out here.
Pin the picture below to save for later.
What would you like to read next?
Why and How To Strain Yogurt With a Yogurt Pouch
This is a great alternative to cheesecloth! Not expensive.
More Than Six Ways To Incubate Yogurt Without a Yogurt Maker
You don't have to have a yogurt maker to make yogurt. Here are more than six ways to do it.
18 Ways to Use Whey, a By-Product of Making Greek Yogurt
If you strain yogurt, you will have whey. Get some ideas what to do with it.
Save Money and Time With This Cheap Way To Strain Yogurt
You don't have to have cheesecloth to strain yogurt. Read about this cheap and easy method.
If you have a question or problem you need help with, please write it in the comment section below so I can respond back. You can also email me privately: paula at saladinajar.com.
Thank you for visiting!
Paula
Laura
Thursday 21st of May 2020
I have made yogurt in my instant pot twice with a lot of success. I don’t have the yogurt setting but used a thermometer and then incubated in the instant pot with the lid on. The last 2 times I’ve tried my yogurt did not set. I used a stater from the store. How do I know if my temperature or the starter was the problem. I’m wondering if I can reuse this milk with a better starter.
Paula
Thursday 21st of May 2020
Hi Laura, Frustrating, right? I suspect it's a temperature issue if your starter was fresh. Is the Instant Pot on at all or are you just depending on residual heat to keep it warm? The last time I incubated with my own Instant Pot on the yogurt setting, it was taking forever to set. So I checked the temperature of the milk and it was only 95˚F. It needs to be warmer. I'm telling you this just to suggest you check the temperature of the milk if it hasn't set in 5 or 6 hours. Incubation temperatures should be around 100-105˚F.
As far as re-using the milk. If it still smells fine, try again. I wrote a post about failed yogurt that you might find interesting. Good luck with your next batch.
Felix Nicholson
Saturday 16th of May 2020
Hi Paula,
I'm glad to have found this site, your information and tips are very interesting and useful!
I did try to look through all the comments to see if my question had been answered already, but there are so many!
Anyway, here goes: I have been experimenting with making my own strained yoghurt over the last few weeks, following a traditional Asian recipe which is to boil the milk first then cool it, etc. I'm putting it on top of a storage heater to incubate so there's a bit of trial and error which is fine. I generally use low-fat milk which is what I have at home. I have noticed that it's producing more and more whey to yoghurt ratio, I'm wondering if that could be due to the type of milk? Have you come across this?
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Felix.
Paula
Saturday 16th of May 2020
Hi Felix, So nice to hear from you. The type of milk you use has a huge bearing on the amount of whey you get. Also, the longer you incubate and the higher the temperature, the more whey you will get. Another factor is how much "starter" you use. Some people use way too much, resulting in a lot of whey.
In my experience, if all these factors are equal, cheap milk from the grocery store releases the most whey. The less fat the milk contains, the more whey you will get. Also, ultra-pasteurized milk (which includes most organic milk) does not release quite as much whey, nor does it get quite as thick. These are just my observations--not based on scientific testing.
Felix Nicholson
Saturday 16th of May 2020
Hi there, I just read through ALL the comments and more or less got my answer - basically I'm getting half and half, using a cheap own-brand type milk. I'll keep experimenting! Great to read all the tips!
Anne
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
Hi, Just found your site and love it! My question - I have been making homemade yogurt for several years now - I incubate it in my small convection oven at 110 degrees. With all that's going on, I got distracted yesterday and forgot to cover it during incubation. It set up fine, smells & tastes good, but wondering if it's still ok? I'm not sure if the reason you cover it is to keep the yogurt at a constant temperature or to protect it from unwanted bacteria. Thank so much. Anne
Paula
Wednesday 29th of April 2020
Hi Anne,
I love this question! Your yogurt should be fine. The only reason I can figure out to cover yogurt is to protect it from a cat, an unwanted foreign object, or maybe just dirt, dust, or wild yeast. A cover would help hold in the heat if your incubation system does not hold the temperature on its own. Since you are incubating in your oven, your yogurt is protected. I rarely cover mine since I also incubate in a closed oven.
I guess if you want to make double sure nothing accidentally contaminates your yogurt, you should cover it. But it doesn't make any difference to the yogurt itself whether or not you cover it as long as the temperature is warm and steady. In the end, I always say, "If it smells good and looks good, eat it!" Thanks so much for writing.
Holly
Tuesday 31st of March 2020
After straining my yogurt to thicken it, it develpoed an odd, dry cottage-cheese texture and lost its creamy consistency. Advice?
Paula
Wednesday 1st of April 2020
Holly, After you chill it, the yogurt will usually come together into a texture that doesn't necessarily look smooth but feels smooth on your tongue. However, I like to whisk it or use an immersion blender for maximum smoothness. It will look slightly thinner but firms up when chilled. Whipped yogurt feels luxurious and velvety smooth in your mouth.
Cynthia McPeak
Friday 27th of March 2020
I brought my yogurt to 180, then down to 120..then down to 100..kept in a turned off oven wrapped in a towel then forgot about it for the night! It seemed fine the next morning I refrigerated it and it is nice and thick.. Is it safe to eat? Being out off refrigerator all night? Thank you, Cindy
Paula
Friday 27th of March 2020
Hi Cynthia,
If it smells good, I would eat it. Yogurt is acidic so it won't hurt for it to sit at room temperature for a few hours.