How to make Creamy Homemade Yogurt in a Bread Machine

If you have a bread machine, you know how convenient it is, but did you know you can make yogurt in a bread machine?

Homemade yogurt is creamy, delicious, and nutritious. It can be made with just 2 ingredients and requires no extra equipment or yogurt maker required.

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Want to make homemade yogurt in the Instant Pot? CLICK HERE!

Most bread machines have a yogurt or warm function allowing your bread maker to do double duty in your kitchen! And, it’s pretty much hands off.

Why make Yogurt in a Bread Machine?

• Convenient – It is so easy and convenient to make yogurt in a bread machine. Mix 2 ingredients together and set the machine. In 8-12 hours you will have delicious and creamy yogurt!
• Cost Effective – Once you buy the first culture from the store, you can continuously make yogurt for quite some time with cultures from each batch!
• Hands Off Method – Mix 2 ingredients together, set the machine, and wait! It’s that easy.
• No Extra Equipment – No need for an instant pot or yogurt maker. Let your bread machine do double duty and declutter your counters!
• Great for Beginners – If you are brand new to making yogurt, this method is the easiest in my opinion for beginners!
• Perfect for Small Batches – If you don’t need a gallon of yogurt at a time, the bread machine is perfect! Most machines make 1 quart at a time so your yogurt is always fresh and none goes to waste.

Try this recipe for GREEK YOGURT SALAD DRESSING!

What you will need to make Yogurt in the Bread Machine

Ingredients

• 1 Quart Milk – You can use whole milk or 2%. I use pasteurized milk or ultra pasteurized milk. However, you can make yogurt using raw milk. Raw milk will need to be heated and cooled prior to making the yogurt. See notes below.
• 2 Tablespoons Yogurt Culture – Buy unflavored Greek yogurt from the store with no added additonal ingredients. Your culture should be milk and cultures only. I prefer full fat Greek yogurt as a culture.

Equipment Needed

• Bread Machine – I use the KBS BREAD MACHINE to make my yogurt.
• Yogurt Strainer (for Greek yogurt) – I prefer to strain my yogurt in a YOGURT STRAINER. However, this is completely optional if you don’t prefer thicker yogurt. The whey that is left behind can be used in your bread recipes as a substitute for water.
• Glass Jar or Bowl with airtight lid for storage.
• Thermometer if heating and cooling the milk (raw milk).

Does the Bread Machine need a Yogurt Setting to work?

Although having a specific yogurt cycle is more straight forward, you can still make yogurt in a machine without the setting.

• Machines with Yogurt setting – Simply mix the milk and culture then press the yogurt cycle and choose the time. My machine has the option of 8-13 hours.
• Machines without Yogurt setting – Use the warm function or customize the temperature to a range between 110-115 (43-46 C) degrees F for proper fermentation and incubation. If you are unsure of the temperature of the warm setting, check your user’s manual for clarification.

Step by Step Instructions for making Yogurt in a Bread Machine

Heat and Cool the Milk

*This step is optional if using pasteurized or ultra pasteurized milk* See below for instructions using cold milk and starter

If using raw milk, this step in necessary. Also, heating pasteurized milk generally yields a thicker yogurt.

Heat 1 quart of milk on the stovetop to 185 degrees F.

Remove from heat and allow the milk to cool to 110-115 degrees F.

Add Yogurt Culture

Once milk cools, add 2 tablespoons yogurt culture (store-bought yogurt) and mix until well combined in the bread pan of the bread machine.

Incubate

Place the loaf pan in the bread maker and press either the yogurt program or warm program and choose a time between 8-12 hours.

Once machine beeps, remove the pan and pour the yogurt into an airtight container and move to the fridge. The yogurt will thicken after it cools.

Strain the Yogurt (optional)

After the machine beeps, remove the pan and pour the yogurt into a yogurt strainer to strain for 2-3 hours at room temperature before scooping into an airtight container and moving to the fridge for storage.

To make without heating the Yogurt (pasteurized milk)

This the method I use. Simply mix the milk and culture in the loaf pan and set the machine to the yogurt or warm function!

Make sure to chill the yogurt before eating for best results!

How long does it take to make yogurt in the bread machine?

The typical time range for making yogurt in the bread machine is between 8-13 hours depending on your machine. Generally, the longer you incubate the yogurt, the tangier it will be.

Storage

Store homemade yogurt in a glass jar or bowl with an airtight lid in the fridge and use within 1-2 weeks.

Tips for thick and creamy Yogurt

• Use whole milk – Typically whole milk makes a thicker/creamier yogurt.
• Incubate longer – Yogurt thickens more the longer you incubate.
• Strain the yogurt – Straining the yogurt removes some of the whey for a much thicker yogurt.
• Don’t open lid during incubation – Opening the lid during the fermentation process can cause the texture of the yogurt to change.

Learn how to make YOGURT FROM POWDERED MILK

Troubleshooting Bread Machine Yogurt

• Yogurt comes out too thin – Consider using whole milk and allowing the yogurt to incubate longer.
• Yogurt is too sour – Cut down the incubation time to 8 hours.
• Yogurt did not set at all – Usually this is a sign the culture wasn’t active. Consider buying a new batch of yogurt for a fresh culture.

Frequently Asked Questions