How to make instant pot yogurt (vanilla option)

This could change your life. :) I am excited to share this easy and delicious yogurt recipe with you! You won't believe how simple it is to make your own yogurt at home. Food tastes so good when you make it yourself!

I often get asked how I make yogurt for our family. For years I have referred to a stove-top method and fermentation in a cooler - however, this is so easy to do that it's now my go-to method.

It is much less time-consuming than the stove-top method, is less to clean, and you can even set it up to ferment overnight.

Yes, you can make yogurt in your sleep! :)

What you will need:

Makes 2 quarts of yogurt

- Instant Pot with the Yogurt setting

- whisk

- kitchen thermometer

- sink with a stopper to fill with cold water

- pot holders or oven mitts

- Half gallon {grass-fed, raw, happy Jersey cows'} milk

- 1 cup plain yogurt (see*) or 1 packet of yogurt culture (*Maple Hill, Stonyfield, Seven Stars, etc have live cultures. A good brand lists the live probiotics on the label).

If you want to make vanilla yogurt, you will also need:

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract (I recommend using a good quality, non-GMO extract)

The four steps to yogurt-making.

The four steps are:

heat milk

cool milk

add culture

Prep: Sterilize your equipment. 

If you use your IP for lots of dinners like I do, you will want to make sure that the scent of spicy chili isn't to be found on your equipment. :) 

Boil water in a kettle on the stove and very carefully pour into your IP pot sitting in your sink. Using mitts or pot holders to protect your hands, swish gently and discard the water.

Dry the outside of the pot if it got wet in the process. 

Place your IP pot into the Instant Pot.

1. Heat the Milk

Pour 1/2 gallon of milk into the pot, secure the lid on, and push the Yogurt button.

Push the Adjust button to set the IP to "boil" and let it heat up. It will beep when it's completed.

Once the boil setting is completed, remove the lid.

Add sugar, if using. 

2. Cool the Milk

Run cold water into a sink and fill a few inches deep. Using pot holders, carefully lift your pot out of the Instant Pot and place in the cool water.

Gently whisk the milk and watch the temperature using a thermometer. You want it to be between 110 - 120 F. It doesn't take long to lower the temp. Once it reaches 110 - 120 F, carefully remove from the sink, dry the outside of the pot with a towel and place in the Instant Pot. 

3. Add the Culture

Whisk in your 1 cup of plain yogurt. Add vanilla, if using.

4. Ferment for 8 hours

Place the lid on, push Yogurt, and push Adjust until it is on the 8:00 hour setting. Come back in 8 hours to warm, thick yogurt!

This photo below is what my IP yogurt looks like after fermenting for 8 hours and being chilled in the fridge for 12 hours (overnight). It's so thick that I can tip it and it doesn't lose it's form!

We scoop the finished yogurt into glass jars to store in the fridge and enjoy for breakfast and snacks! See the lovely yellow creamline from the Jersey cows? :)

Good food made simple.

Happy Yogurt Making!

-- Kristen