How to choose the best yogurt maker - useful tips

We all already know well about the benefits of dairy products. Yogurt is not only a delicious treat, but also a product that is healing for our intestines. The shops have a large selection of yoghurts, but many of them contain chemical additives. Therefore, people who care about their health prefer to cook them on their own. And household appliances help with this. Consider how to choose a good quality yogurt maker so that you can cook organic yogurt in it without any hassle.

Yogurt maker - what is it

A kitchen appliance called "yogurt maker" appeared not so long ago, but quickly gained popularity. Visually it is an electric container of rectangular or round shape with small containers (banks / cups) inside. The size of the yogurt maker depends on the number of cans included in the kit. There are single-can devices, but the volume of the container can be large (1-1.5 l). Most often there are models with the number of jars from 5 to 12. There are also more voluminous devices, where there can be 15-18 cans, designed for a large family.

The device operates from the network and is controlled through electronic or mechanical switches. The principle of operation of the yogurt maker is simple: jars of milk and sourdough are heated to a certain temperature, at which the fermentation process begins. There are models with manual adjustment of settings, but people are increasingly choosing electronic ones - with ready-made programs and timers. Depending on the selected program or setting, you get a different consistency of yogurt - thick or thinner. The taste and acidity of the product also depend on the cooking time.

Each device has its own instructions with a detailed description of the operating rules.

Yogurt maker is an exclusively home appliance. Industrial looks very different and has more overall dimensions.

What can be done in a yogurt maker other than yogurt

Not everyone knows that you can cook not only yogurt, but also other fermented milk products - cottage cheese, sour cream, fermented baked milk, cheese mass, yogurt in the apparatus. For this, various starter cultures and settings of the device itself are used.

On the Web you can find a lot of different recipes for making delicious treats in a homemade yogurt maker. Most of them are simple and do not require any special ingredients.

Main characteristics

Let's see what basic parameters household yogurt makers have.

Construction and volume

As mentioned above, the device comes with one large bowl and several small ones. In models that have many cups, the volume of each of them is usually indicated (on average 100-250 ml), as well as the total volume of all containers (1-2 l). The design of the device is round, square, oval. Below is a platform with a heating element and controls. On top of the place to install jars. Each cup has a lid. The appliance also closes with a large transparent lid.

Material quality

Models differ in the quality of the case and the cups themselves. The case is plastic, metal and mixed, and the jars are plastic or glass. Cheaper models are usually made of heat-resistant food grade plastic. But here you should be careful. Chinese devices can be made from very poor and even toxic plastic.

Control

The type of control is completely electronic, mechanical and combined. A panel with buttons and switches is located in front, at the bottom of the case.More expensive units have displays. Almost all yogurt makers are temperature-controlled. Completely uncontrolled yogurt makers are rare. Usually they are designed to prepare only one type of yogurt and turn on and off manually.

In more expensive electronic models, programs are installed automatically, which facilitates the operation process.

Power

The average power of homemade yogurt makers is 15-25 watts. These are optimal parameters for safe and high-quality operation of the device. There are devices with a higher power, from 30 to 80 watts. But they can overheat both the product itself and its own case, so it is not recommended.

Additional functions

Many manufacturers equip their yogurt makers with additional features. Consider what advanced features the device may have:

1. Markers on jars. This addition allows you to track the shelf life of the prepared product, which is very convenient and even necessary.
2. Timer. The device turns off independently after the program ends. You don’t have to worry that the yogurt will overheat.
3. Sound signal. Lets hear from the back room that the cooking process is complete.
4. Indicator. Shows which mode the device is in.
5. Display. Displays settings and remaining cooking time for yogurt.
6. Extra bowl. Some models, in addition to jars, come with a large bowl.
7. Compartment for storing the cord. Allows neatly folding and storing the wire.

Principle of operation

The yogurt maker works according to a simple principle: when turned on, the base with the thermostat starts to heat up and reaches a temperature of about 40 degrees. It is at this temperature that milk begins to ferment and turn into yogurt.

Models with a temperature controller allow you to choose a higher temperature for quick cooking or lower. A high-quality apparatus does not overheat the jars, thereby preserving live lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which are so useful for our intestines.

In general, a home yogurt maker is a simple but very convenient electrical appliance. How to use it, everyone will easily understand, having read a simple instruction.

Advantages and disadvantages

Now that we have figured out what a yogurt maker is, how it works, what functions it has, we learn about all the advantages and some disadvantages of this device.

Pros:

1. Easy to manage.
2. Allows you to cook really healthy sour-milk products without chemical additives every day.
3. Following the recipes, you can make various yogurts, cottage cheese, homemade sour cream with the addition of fruits, berries, syrups.
4. Price availability.

Minuses:

1. Suitable only for the preparation of fermented milk products.
2. Jars need to be sterilized before each yogurt preparation.

How to choose

The choice of yogurt maker model depends more on personal needs. But still experts highlight a number of recommendations on how to choose the optimal device.

Jar material

Glass jars are better than plastic. Firstly, glass is more hygienic, it has no pores, so it does not absorb odors. Secondly, the wear resistance of glass is higher, unless you subject it to shock. If possible, it is better to choose a device with glass jars. And if the choice fell on plastic, then you should make sure that they are durable.

Number of jars

For a small family, a small yogurt maker with the number of jars of 5-6 pieces is suitable. and a total volume of about 1 liter. Since sour-milk products are not stored for a long time, there is no need to do them for the future.

For a family of 4-5 people, a larger model is recommended, with jars in the amount of 9-12 pcs. Much depends on the addiction of household members to such products. Therefore, in this matter, everything is individual.

Control

The most convenient and professional yogurt maker has electronic control - touch or button. But the reliability of electronic displays are sometimes inferior to mechanical switches. If you choose a modern model with electronics, it is better branded and with a guarantee.Then more confidence in its reliability and durability.

Functions

The best modern yogurt makers have a timer. The benefits of this feature should not be underestimated. A device with a timer will never overheat and save the user from the need to monitor the cooking process.

Does the device need high power? Experts say no. Power in the range of 12-25 watts is enough.

If you like a variety of sour-milk products, then it is better to choose a model with automatic programs for cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir.

Adjustable temperature is an important criterion. Otherwise, nothing but ordinary yogurt can be cooked in such an aggregate.

Design and form remain at the buyer's personal preference. But you should pay attention to the quality of the case. Plastic elements should not be brittle or too light in weight.

So, we found out what is important to know when buying a homemade yogurt maker. Now we present a small overview of the 5 best models selected by experts on characteristics and positive reviews.

Rating

The rating includes models that combine reliability, price availability, successful functionality and design.

Tefal YG500132

The electronically controlled yogurt maker has a set of 8 glass jars of 125 ml each. The total capacity of the containers is 1 liter. The case of the model is plastic, on the front panel there is a display with touch buttons. In addition to the apparatus, a liter container for cottage cheese with a sieve is attached.

In order for the containers to receive uniform heating, some resourceful users recommend laying a couple of layers of foil on the bottom of the device. Despite a slight flaw, the Tefal YG500132 is definitely worth a look. Solid build, reliable brand, convenient size - all this adds bonuses to the device. You can buy such a yogurt maker for 4500-5000 p.

SUPRA YGS-7001

This is the best and cheapest model with a large bowl of 1000 ml. There are no separate jars in it, but the advantage is that it is very compact and does not take up much space. The control of the device is mechanical with temperature settings.

VES VYM-2

Our top continues with another decent electronic-controlled yogurt maker. She also has only 1 volumetric bowl per 1000 ml. In general, this is a simple device, but thanks to additional functions, the convenience of operation increases. It is also worth noting the elegant and compact appearance of the model.

Oursson FE1502D

A nice yogurt maker with a very interesting jar design looks advantageous against other models. Its set includes 5 ceramic jars of 200 ml each. The control panel is electronic with a small display on which the settings are displayed.

Perhaps this is one of the best yogurt makers. Its cost varies between 2900-3500 p.

VITEK VT-2600/2601

The compact model with 6 glass jars and mechanical control completes our rating. The volume of each jar is 165 ml. There is nothing special about this yogurt maker; it is simple and practical.

This was the basic information about what a yogurt maker is, why it is needed, how much it costs and how to choose a quality model. We hope that the review was useful for you and you can easily find the right device to please your family with a healthy and healthy product.