Yogurt (oven light method)

Nature IS Health
Jun 22, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

A traditional way to make yogurt with your oven light, no yogurt-maker needed!

^Here is a YouTube video of the process^

I now make my yogurt with a yogurt maker. Since we go through a bunch of yogurt, it was worth the investment! I do recommend a yogurt maker; it is excellent to have a guaranteed temperature hold. It results in creamier yogurt. However, I made my yogurt with this method for many years..

Tools:

1 large soup pot with lid
Wooden spoon
Storage containers (we use 2L mason jars)
Dish towel

Ingredients:

Organic whole milk- buy from a jar to reduce overall plastic usage in this process
Whole milk plain yogurt (once you get the process going, you save yogurt from the previous batch to make the new batch)

Method:

Bring your yogurt out on the counter
Heat the milk on the stove, medium heat. Be sure not to burn the bottom, so stir every 5 minutes. I heat my milk until it smells sweet, begins to form bubbles and there is foam on the surface. Do not boil. Temperature 180F.
Rapidly cool the milk down until you can place your finger in it and it does not feel hot/you can let it sit in there without burn. 115-110F. It is crucial that the milk isn't too hot because the starter yogurt will die and curdle. To rapidly cool, in the winter I put the pot outside and stir every 10 minutes, in the summer I place in the sink filled with cold water.
Once the milk has cooled down, mix in your starter yogurt. Your starter yogurt is ~1/4cup of your last batch of yogurt. If this is your first round of yogurt making, choose a store bought yogurt that unflavoured, whole milk yogurt, like this or this. Stir the starter into the milk gently to distribute but not aggressively.
Put a lid on the pot, place it in the oven surrounding the base with a dish towel, make a cocoon to incubate, then leave the oven light on for warmth, for 12-16 hours (overnight). Ensure that the oven is not still hot from dinner or you will curdle the milk!
In the morning transfer your yogurt into storage jars and store in fridge. Remember to save the end of the jar for your next batch! The yogurt lasts 2-3 weeks at least, don't contaminate the jars when you use.