5 Reasons to Make Greek Yogurt at Home
Delicious, simple, and an excellent source of protein, over 300 million pints of Greek yogurt have been sold in the United States.
It should come as no surprise that Greek yogurt has become such a popular snack, breakfast, and even dessert choice. The average serving of Greek yogurt contains 17 grams of protein with less than 2 grams of fat!
This healthy food is a staple in many homes, but have you ever thought of making Greek yogurt at home? Well, you should!
Greek yogurt is so simple and inexpensive to make yourself.
If you want to make Greek yogurt at home, keep reading to learn the benefits and how to make it.
Why Should You Consider Making Your Greek Yogurt at Home?
As with many homemade recipes, there are plenty of benefits for making Greek yogurt at home.
Here some of them…
You Know Exactly What is Going in Your Yogurt
In this day and age, we really don’t know what’s going into our bodies when we buy premade foods.
When you choose to make your own Greek yogurt, you have the option of adding natural sweeteners such as honey, agave, or fresh fruit. Plus, you can change the type of milk that goes into your yogurt.
If you want to stick with cow’s milk then you have that option, but if you want to use soy, almond, or coconut milk, you have that option too! While you do need to start your homemade Greek Yogurt with a base of store-bought yogurt, eventually you can phase that out.
As you keep making your Greek yogurt at home, you can use your previous batch as a base. Over time, the store-bought yogurt will be phased out and you will be left with Greek yogurt that’s made completely from scratch!
You Can Eat Greek Yogurt While You’re Traveling
In the United States, we’re so accustomed to just grabbing what we need from the store.
Because of this, we often forget that simple things like Greek yogurt isn’t available to buy in some countries! If Greek yogurt is a staple of your diet, knowing how to make it will make it much easier to eat as you travel.
Because it’s so simple, you can just make a batch which will last you for the week. You’ll save money on eating at restaurants every morning for breakfast by having your own batch of Greek yogurt.
You Have the Ability to Explore New Culinary Techniques
Sure, it’s convenient to be able to pick up your food pre-made, but what’s the fun in that?
Experimenting with different culinary techniques can be a ton of fun! We make bread from scratch, baked goods from scratch, and even sauces from scratch, so why not Greek yogurt?
Not only is creating popular recipes from scratch fun to do as a hobby but making food is a great way to bond with friends with the same interest. If you have another friend who loves to experiment with culinary techniques, try creating Greek yogurt recipes and sharing them!
Experiment with different Greek yogurt recipes and then let your friends try them as you try theirs. You may find a really delicious recipe that becomes your new favorite.
Store-Bought Vs. Homemade Greek Yogurt
We know that there are plenty of benefits of making your own Greek yogurt, but how does it compare to store-bought Greek yogurt?
This is completely a matter of preference. Yet, many people think homemade Greek yogurt tastes better than its store-bought counterpart. This is because homemade Greek yogurt is much fresher.
When you buy pre-made Greek yogurt, it’s put in a container where it’s delivered by truck to the grocery store. Then, it sits for days before you’ve even bought it! Not to mention that it sits in many of our fridges for weeks and maybe even months before it’s gone.
Greek yogurt that you make at home is also much better for you. The majority of pre-made Greek yogurt contains unnecessary added sugars. Plus, preservatives are added to extend the shelf life.
Homemade Greek yogurt is just milk and cultures, and you know this because you made it!
Another major benefit of making Greek yogurt at home is that you’re using less plastic. Store-bought yogurt is stored in plastic tubs that are usually discarded. You can store your homemade Greek yogurt in reusable Tupperware containers.
The most appealing benefit is the price difference between homemade and store-bought Greek yogurt. You can get way more Greek yogurt with the supplies you have at home than when you buy a tub at the grocery store.
This makes homemade Greek yogurt less than 1/3 of the cost of store-bought Greek yogurt!
How You Can Make Greek Yogurt in an Instant Pot
All you need to make Greek yogurt in an instant pot is whole milk, live yogurt cultures, and either a cheesecloth or a Greek yogurt strainer.
Having homemade Greek yogurt on hand is great for…
- Plain yogurt with berries, granola, or honey on top
- Creamy component for casseroles
- Smoothie base
- Healthier alternative in baked goods like muffins or cakes
- Healthier alternative base in dips like ranch
1. Heat your milk- This is important for killing any dangerous bacteria in the milk. Plus, you need to heat it to denature the whey proteins
2. Cool the milk back down- Cooling the milk back down is essential for adding the yogurt starter.
3. Incubate the yogurt for at least 8 hours
4. Strain for 1-24 hours- This is an essential step for making your yogurt Greek. The longer you let the yogurt strain, the thicker it will be.
Take Control of What Goes into Your Body
If you want to make Greek yogurt at home, don’t hesitate to start.
With it being so simple, inexpensive, and healthy, there’s no reason to keep buying it pre-made. You may even find that you prefer the taste of homemade Greek yogurt.
If you enjoyed reading this post, check out our other Greek yogurt recipes for some more culinary inspiration!