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I have been just starting to make my own yogurt at home.
I like for it to ferment for about 24 hours, which my yogurt machine tends to not like to do. My oven heats up too much, even with the door open, and there is no pilot light inside either.
And wrapping in blankets or using a thermos or other similar technique just doesn't keep it at a steady 108 for 24 hours either.
So I am looking into the reliability and plausibility of fish tank heater in a cooler filled with water... anyone tried this ???? Any tips ?? Thanks for any help!
Never tried a fish tank heater.
But years ago, we made yogurt by just putting it on top of the refrigerator.
It actually came out pretty good.
I too would like to make my own yogurt, and was researching it for awhile, but have not yet come up with anything feasible or affordable.
I think 24 hours is too long, it's gonna be way too tart if you leave it that long. I used to let it ferment for about 3 hours. I'd put it inside of a cooler with a heating pad underneath the container with the milk to keep it warm.
I think 24 hours is too long, it's gonna be way too tart if you leave it that long. I used to let it ferment for about 3 hours. I'd put it inside of a cooler with a heating pad underneath the container with the milk to keep it warm.
we like it tart and thick we make greek yogurt and yogurt cheese from it.
maybe we can give the heating pad in a cooler trick a try... any specific heating pads that are better than others for this use?
yup, I've used a fish tank heater in a cooler. I start by using hot water and then boiling water to get the bath to the temp. i want. I put the heater in a mason jar, since the bath isn't as deep at the heater wants. Works ok; but I have trouble getting everything just as I'd like. I happened to have the smallest heater you can buy.
I agree about the 24 hours being too long. I do it for about 4 hours at about 110F. I tend to do a gallon at a time, and then make greek yogurt from about a fifth of it.
I use an instant read meat thermometer to monitor the baths' temp. You can, of course, experiment with getting a bath that's just right without any yogurt.
Bjh asked about homemade yogurt in the How to Buy Groceries Cheaply thread.
I just made my second batch overnight.
Each batch (a little over half a gallon) lasts me a little over 3 weeks.
It's economical and easy.
Obviously if you like sweet yogurt or prefer fruit in it, you have to add those ingredients.
I like plain yogurt so this works great for me.
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