Become a crafty chemist in your own kitchen with this simple, wholesome Instant Pot Yogurt recipe.
Did you know that Instant Pots have a “yogurt” setting? I just discovered this, and what a great feature! It keeps the milk at the perfect temperature to allow beneficial bacteria to multiply, creating scrumptiously smooth yogurt in about eight hours.
Whether you’ve made your own yogurt before or not, this recipe breaks it down into six simple steps. The hardest part of the whole process is to wait for the milk to ferment, but it’s totally worth the wait! The reward for your patience is creamy, rich yogurt that you can do almost anything with. Sweeten it with honey or maple syrup, or add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to flavor it mildly. For brighter and bolder flavors, add strawberry purée or another type of fruit.
If you’ve got extra milk that needs to be used, this is a fantastic way to repurpose it. One batch of Instant Pot yogurt serves eight people, and if you double it, you’ll likely have enough to last you and your family throughout the week. Breakfasts, sweet snacks, and even desserts—all covered!
Is Instant Pot Yogurt Healthy?
This recipe is high in calcium (from all the dairy products) and since yogurt is rich in probiotics, it can help support gut health, too. This recipe has no added preservatives or colorings, making it a great alternative to highly-processed store-bought yogurts. To make it vegan, use plant-based milk, vegan yogurt culture, and maple syrup.
How Is Yogurt Usually Made?
Before the Instant Pot, homemade yogurt was concocted on the stove. While this doesn’t allow for as much temperature control, it’s still a useful and straightforward way to make yogurt. Whole milk is heated to 180 degrees F and then cooled to 110 degrees F, which allows beneficial bacteria to flourish without the risk of dying. A “mother culture” that typically contains the active bacteria—Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus—is added to the milk to initiate fermentation, and the milk is left to ferment for 4-12 hours. The longer you leave it, the tangier it gets, because birthing bacteria will eat the milk’s lactose and leave behind lactic acid. With all this in mind, you have some great knowledge up your sleeve to start creating a tasty chemistry project in your own kitchen!
How to make ahead and store
After the fermentation process is finished, take the inner pot out and cover it. Keep it in the fridge for 12-24 hours before serving for the tastiest experience. It will last in the fridge like this for 10-14 days. You may also transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Enjoy it frozen like this or thaw in the fridge overnight. Stir thoroughly before serving to make sure it’s velvety smooth!
Serving Suggestions
Dive into a bowl of this yogurt sweetened with a swirl of honey or maple syrup, topped with Cinnamon Granola. This makes a simple and sweet breakfast that also goes well with fluffy German Pancakes.
Similarly, you could make Chia Seeds in Yogurt, for a boost of protein with a fun pudding-like texture. Alternatively, incorporate Instant Pot yogurt into a Gluten-Free Pancake Parfait with Blueberries and you’ve got one heavenly meal on your hands.
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon whole milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons plain yogurt with live cultures
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Clean the Instant Pot thoroughly with soap and water or sterilize by running a steam cycle with water.
- Pour the milk into the Instant Pot and use the ‘Yogurt’ setting to heat the milk to 180°F.
- Allow the milk to cool to 110°F. This can be expedited by placing the pot in a cold water bath.
- Mix a small amount of the cooled milk with the yogurt starter. Then, incorporate this mixture back into the pot of milk.
- Set the Instant Pot to ‘Yogurt’ mode and adjust the time to 8 hours for the fermentation process.
- After the fermentation is complete, whisk in optional sweetener, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set. Stir and transfer to containers.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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