Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Any review on yogurt makers tends to elicit comments on whether it's worth buying a machine at all so, here's the breakdown on the pros and cons: Machine vs. no machine - you can make spectacular yogurt either way. You can use of variety of methods, including crock pots, slightly warmed ovens etc. If you use yogurt as a starter, most brands that have live cultures in them do just fine. Greek yogurt - you can get creamy, rich yogurt that's so thick that you can stand a spoon up in it, either with or with out a machine. The factors that will help you do so all take place outside of any machine process. They are: raising and holding the milk initially to a higher temperature (I do 185 degrees for 10 minutes using a Pyrex measuring cup and the microwave) using fuller fat milks (although 2 percent is almost as good as whole milk), and straining the finished yogurt. You can also use additives such as dried milk,if you don't mind the taste. Temperature and time to ferment - most electric yogurt makers seem to run at about 110 degrees and take about 6-8 hours. If you use a crock pot, oven or other method, it takes over 12 hours. Note: The Brod and Taylor bread proofer is the only one I've read about that allows you to vary the temperature, from 70-120 degrees. It is probably worth investigating if you are planning to make creme fraiche or kefir milk. Advantages of the Cusinart You can make batches of 50 oz., which is especially important if you are planning to make Greek yogurt, because the straining reduces the volume considerably. I do think that they should have made it a more convenient 2 qt. size; that's actually my only caveat about the device. It has a small footprint, is quiet, and frees up your oven, crock pot etc. Fast - 6 to 7 hours. Auto shut- off for the fermenting. (BTW, read the descriptions carefully for the inexpensive yogurt makers. I saw one review that indicated that some have a timer light, but don't actually shut the machine off. ) Chilling, chilling, chilling - once the fermenting process is done, the machine automatically goes in to chilling mode. Depending on lifestyle, this is a big convenience. It's the only machine I've found that has auto shut-off and chill. You can make wonderful yogurt at home - so good luck with it! :)