• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
NINNESCAH  HOMESTEAD
  • FOOD FROM SCRATCH
    • BREAKFAST
    • CAST IRON
    • DESSERTS
    • KOMBUCHA
    • HAPPY HOUR
    • MAIN DISH
    • PRESERVING FOOD
    • SOUPS
    • SOURDOUGH
    • VENISON
  • GARDENING
    • FALL GARDEN
    • SPRING GARDEN
    • SUMMER GARDEN
    • CHICKENS
  • HOMESTEADING
    • fall
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Pinterest
×

Home » FOOD FROM SCRATCH

how to make yogurt in an instant pot

March 17, 2022 by Meg Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

I stumbled upon a new obsession, and I'm dragging you down with me... don't worry, this is a GREAT new skill to be addicted to! If you love yogurt, stick around! I'm going to teach you step-by-step how to make yogurt in an instant pot.

A yogurt parfait in a mason jar with blueberries and strawberries and a drizzle of maple syrup.

As an amazon associate, this post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Is it hard to make yogurt?

Let me just tell you, never in a million years did I see myself making yogurt. Like, ever. I guess I might as well be super honest and include that I also never thought I would own an Instant Pot. Who needs one more kitchen appliance? Besides, I already had a crockpot. Aren't 'never' statements cute sometimes?

My rationale for not wanting to make yogurt was very altruistic; I didn't want to kill my family with some rare food-borne illness. By the way, this was the same reason I kept dragging my feet on kombucha, sourdough and homemade beer. But, as my husband would say, I'm coming along nicely.

When I watched a tutorial for how to make yogurt in an Instant Pot, it looked so easy I had to try it. Since switching my family to drinking (mostly) raw A2A2 dairy, I've started following several blogs in the dairy niche. My favorite, and the source for this tutorial, is Cheese From Scratch.

Supplies for making yogurt in an Instant Pot

  • 1 gallon whole milk || I used raw A2A2 milk from a local homesteader. If you use a reduced fat milk like 2% or skim, I cannot guarantee how it will turn out. Probably fine, but I haven't personally tried it.
  • ¼ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt || The first time you make this recipe, you will need to purchase a personal sized cup of greek yogurt. Once you've made a batch, you can reserve ¼ of a cup to inoculate your next batch with yogurt bacterial cultures.
  • Instant Pot || This is the magic vessel that allows you to set a timer and walk away while it ferments the yogurt. It's better than any other recipe because it is 100% accurate.
  • Thermometer || I've heard that some instant pots have a yogurt boil setting as well as a fermentations setting, but mine does not. I heat the milk and test my temperature using a digital read thermometer.
Three fruit parfaits with homemade yogurt in mason jars topped with blueberries and raspberries.

How to make yogurt in an Instant Pot

  1. Pour the milk into a large stockpot or use the insert for the Instant Pot if yours is able to go on the stovetop. Bring the milk to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but no higher.
  2. Let the milk cool to 120 degrees and then whisk in the yogurt.
  3. Transfer the milk mixture into four clean 1-Quart mason jars. If you used the Instant Pot insert to heat the milk, wash and dry it. Place lids on the mason jars and place them inside the insert in the Instant Pot.
  4. The Instant Pot has a yogurt fermentation setting. Attach the lid and position the steam release valve in the pressure position. Press the yogurt button and walk away! The yogurt will be finished in about eight hours. I usually do this before bed and refrigerate the yogurt the next morning.

I made an instagram reel that shows the process, I've linked it below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Megan Austin (@ninnescahhomestead)

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. For more delicious recipes from scratch and homesteading tips, follow me on instagram @NinnescahHomestead

A yogurt parfait in a mason jar with blueberries and strawberries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Print Recipe

How to Make Yogurt in an Instant Pot

I stumbled upon a new obsession, and I'm dragging you down with me... don't worry, this is a GREAT new skill to be addicted to! If you love yogurt, stick around! I'm going to teach you step-by-step how to make yogurt in an instant pot.
Prep Time15 mins
Fermentation time8 hrs
Total Time8 hrs 15 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: buttermilk recipe, dairy, instant pot, raw milk, yogurt
Servings: 16 people
Author: Meg Austin
Cost: $4

Equipment

  • instant pot
  • thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon whole milk
  • ¼ cup plain greek yogurt

Instructions

  • Pour the milk into a large stockpot or use the insert for the Instant Pot if yours is able to go on the stovetop. Bring the milk to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but no higher.
  • Let the milk cool to 120 degrees and then whisk in the yogurt.
  • Transfer the milk mixture into four clean 1-Quart mason jars. If you used the Instant Pot insert to heat the milk, wash and dry it. Place lids on the mason jars and place them inside the insert in the Instant Pot.
  • The Instant Pot has a yogurt fermentation setting. Attach the lid and position the steam release valve in the pressure position. Press the yogurt button and walk away! The yogurt will be finished in 8 hours.

I've made yogurt, now what?

There are a few things that I wish I'd known after making my first batch, and I'm going to save you the trouble by sharing them. For starters, I wish I would have made my batch in the mason jars instead of just in the insert of my Instant Pot, like most recipes suggest. Pouring the milk mixture into the jars before fermenting keeps the yogurt from separating and becoming watery.

Now for a deeper dive into why yogurt separates and whether or not it's a good thing. Personally, I don't think it's appetizing. For this reason, I try to handle my yogurt as little as possible. This means I try to use an entire mason jar of yogurt in one setting, or transfer it into smaller jelly-sized mason jars. Stirring the yogurt or disturbing it will create separation. If this happens, either stir the watery part back in or carefully pour it out.

I also wish I would have thought to reserve ¼ cup of yogurt to use as a starter culture for my next batch. It's not expensive to buy a little cup of yogurt, but it's pretty easy to just save some for later.

Variations to this recipe

After I made yogurt a few times, I figured out that my kids love to have grab-and-go parfaits. That's what these pictures are of! I add maple syrup or honey to sweeten the tanginess of the yogurt and then add fresh or frozen fruit. My youngest actually likes a dollop of jam in his!

What I'm planning next in my raw milk adventures

Wouldn't it be dreamy to have a refrigerator full of wheels of homemade cheeses? I sure think it would be. So far I've made butter and used the buttermilk to make biscuits. I plan on sharing that recipe once I've perfected it!

Our raw milk comes from my friend Shelbey from The Happy Homestead Store. She suggested I start with mozzarella because it is a very straight-forward and forgiving recipe. Whichever cheese I choose, I'll be sure to take you along for the ride! Follow me on instagram to see my daily homesteading adventures @ninnescahhomestead.

Affectionately yours, Meg
  • Sourdough Chocolate Cake

    Sourdough Chocolate Cake

    Chocolate cake is delicious, but could it be made a little healthier? Fudgy Sourdough Chocolate Cake is made with grains that are fermented overnight, which helps the grain to be more easily digested.  It has the same decadent chocolate cake flavor, but with a healthier twist! Sourdough lovers rejoice! Keep reading to learn how to make this sourdough bundt cake recipe!

  • Sourdough Tortillas

    Sourdough Tortillas

    If you have been searching for perfect homemade sourdough tortillas, look no further! These sourdough tortillas are soft, flexible and easy to make at home! They come together with just five simple ingredients and minimal hands-on time.

  • strawberry cheesecake tart

    strawberry cheesecake tart

    You guys, this strawberry cheesecake tart is SO EASY to make!  I even shortened the prep time by hours when I decided to go ahead and use a store-bought puff pastry crust.  This one is too good to wait for, you’ll see what I mean! why I love this recipe I realized this morning that...

    Read More

« Ultimate Guide to Planting Potatoes
Easter Cookies With Mini Cadbury Eggs »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Footer

STILL HUNGRY?

A Birdseye view of a chocolate sourdough bundt cake that has a few slices removed to show the inside of the cake.

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

A stack of freshly made einkorn and sourdough tortillas on a white plate with lime wedges and corn in the background.

Sourdough Tortillas

a strawberry cheesecake pastry.

strawberry cheesecake tart

A baked sourdough pizza bread in a white baking dish with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

Sourdough Pizza Bread

A birds eye view of plates of pancakes with whipped topping garnishes and maple syrup on a white background.

Sourdough pancakes

A whole raw chicken cut into eight bone-in pieces on a white platter with onion and carrots.

how to make chicken broth

A sourdough pizza crust in a cast iron skillet that has been par-baked.

easy sourdough pizza crust recipe

A square-cut homemade marshmallow dusted with powdered sugar showing the air pockets and delicious inside.

homemade marshmallows

A white 9X13 baking dish with handles showing a detailed unclose view of the venison breakfast casserole from above.

venison breakfast casserole

a slice of chocolate delight showing the silky layers of pudding.

chocolate delight

A wire cooling rack with freshly iced cranberry orange cookies evenly spaced over parchment paper.

cranberry orange cookies

A half gallon mason jar filled with pickling lime and eggs.

How to Preserve Eggs

A white dish with scalloped edges filled with a shepherd's pie with a lightly browned mashed potato topping.

venison shepherd's pie

A close up image of a sourdough chocolate chip cookie that shows the glossy semi sweet chocolate glistening with a melted fresh-from-the-oven glow and a sprinkle of French salt.

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies

A sourdough discard pumpkin muffin on a white marble platter with the wrapper partially off and several glasses filled with milk in the background.

Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

An oreo icebox cake that has had a corner piece removed and the inner layers of peanut butter and chocolate pudding are exposed.

Oreo Icebox Cake

a charcuterie board of toasted pumpkin seeds and vegetables.

how to roast pumpkin seeds

Raising meat chickens: What we learned during our first season

lemon buttermilk bundt cake on a cooling rack garnished with lemons and fresh pink flowers

old fashioned lemon buttermilk bundt cake

peach cobbler a la mode with vanilla ice cream on white dishes

fresh peach cobbler

Garden Fresh Mexican Style Sweet Corn

Broccoli and cheddar soup in a white stoneware bowl with a swirl of cream to garnish.

Simple Broccoli & White Cheddar Soup

An italian cream cake on a white cake plate covered in toasted coconut

Old Fashioned Italian Cream Cake

A freshly baked loaf of chocolate sourdough banana bread on a wood cutting board with chocolate chips, creamy butter and a glass of milk.

fudgy sourdough banana bread

Cadbury mini egg easter cookies on a baking sheet with glasses of milk

Easter Cookies With Mini Cadbury Eggs

A trio of sourdough bagels in a round aluminum pie pan served with cream cheese.

Sourdough Bagels With Dried Fruit

four street tacos on a vintage white platter with limes and cilantro garnishes.

Sweet Potato Street Tacos

Hot tomato and mozzarella crostinis fresh from the oven on an aluminum baking sheet with tomatoes and basil for garnish.

mozzarella and tomato crostini

A white stoneware bowl filled with caprese salad made with strawberries, mozzarella, Avocado, basil and tomatoes.

simple caprese salad with avocado and strawberry

three bowls of butternut squash curry garnished with limes and tomatoes.

butternut squash red curry

A platter of apple slaw on a brightly colored napkin with apple and scallion garnishes.

Apple Slaw

3 plates of Pulled pork and garlic mashed potatoes served with barbecue sauce.

Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot

A freshly baked cheesecake tart with fresh blackberries and dusted with powdered sugar.

simple blackberry cheesecake tart

a juicy venison burger served with cheddar cheese and oven fries with slices of thick cut bacon. It's being served up in a mini cast iron skillet over a bed of fresh oven fries with a frosty glass of beer.

best venison burgers

best chocolate banana muffins

A cast iron skillet full of freshly baked easy oven fries on a striped tea towel served with ketchup.

oven fries | easy baked French fry recipe

Freshly baked cheesy sourdough starter discard crackers broken apart and cooling on a galvanized baking sheet.

cheesy sourdough starter discard crackers

a bowl of fresh Italian soup with parsley and parmesan next to an olive wood cutting board.

Italian Wedding Soup with Venison Meatballs

the best banana muffins with einkorn flour stacked haphazardly on a stoneware plate with milk in the background.

the best banana muffins with einkorn flour

a beautiful glazed bundt cake on a cooling rack with dried flowers in a glass vase blurred in the background.

Buttermilk Bundt Cake With Bourbon Glaze

Blueberry cheesecake muffins on a rectangular platter and fresh blueberries and lemons.

so freaking good: cheesecake muffins with blueberries and lemon

three plates of pumpkin ricotta and shells

Stuffed shells with pumpkin marinara

Sourdough bread, fresh from the oven!

How to Bake a Loaf of Sourdough

Creamy tuna and broccoli rotini served on a stoneware plate with lemon pepper and fresh parmesan garnish.

Comforting Rotini With Broccoli And Tuna

sourdough starter discard coffee cake on a cooling rack

Sourdough Starter Discard Coffee Cake

Snickerdoodles on a cooling rack with some milk

the best snickerdoodle recipe

FREE E-BOOK!

Copyright © 2023 NINNESCAH HOMESTEAD on the Foodie Pro Theme