The Best Yoghurt Maker – Say Goodbye To Store-Bought

A must-have appliance for budget-conscious foodies.

Pouring Soy Milk With Bacteria Cultures Into Yogurt Maker.

by Natalie Knowles |
Published on

The best yoghurt maker can make breakfast a treat. Enjoy a fresh and delicious start to your day with homemade goodness. Along with the best juicer, coffee machine and toaster, it's a small appliance that can save you money in the long run. Plus, expensive store-bought yoghurts contain thickeners and sweeteners that we know do us no good. Simply prepare a big batch of nourishing yoghurt to enjoy throughout the week.

Yoghurt is made by heating milk, cooling it to a specific temperature, adding live bacteria cultures, and then incubating the mixture until it thickens and develops its characteristic tangy flavour and creamy texture.

These days, using UHT milk bypasses the initial heating stage, so making yoghurt is easy. Plus, in an appliance that has precision temperature control and a timer, you're guaranteed yoghurt just the way you like it. Alternatively, make yoghurt in your kitchen using a multicooker or slow cooker that has a yoghurt pre-set function.

The Best Yoghurt Maker At A Glance:

Best overall yoghurt maker: Lakeland Multi Yoghurt and Soft Cheese Maker – View on Amazon UK
Best yoghurt maker for temperature control: Browin 801013 Multifunctional Cheese and Yoghurt Device – View on Amazon UK
Best yoghurt maker for individual portions: Duronic Yoghurt Maker YM2 – View on Amazon UK

A purpose-built electric yoghurt maker takes the guesswork out of getting the right temperature for fermentation. It's not just limited to dairy yoghurt either; soy milk can be fermented into yoghurt, too. Some appliances have a straining accessory so excess whey that's produced during culturing can be drained off. This results in thick and creamy Greek yoghurt. In some appliances, such as the Kuving Yoghurt Maker, you can make soft cheese by adding lemon juice.

You don't have to know the difference between Quark and Skyr to know that yoghurts vary enormously. It's a world food that's enjoyed variously with curry and granola. If you love being creative in the kitchen, a yoghurt maker is a gadget that's going to earn its money back in no time. Plus, if you have an ice cream maker, you'll be all set to make healthy Fro-Yo that costs peanuts.

The Best Yoghurt Makers

Best overall yoghurt maker

Lakeland Multi Yoghurt and Soft Cheese MakerAmazon/Lakeland

Making yoghurt at home is more cost-effective than buying it from the store, and it's easy with the Lakeland Multi Yoghurt and Soft Cheese Maker. There's no need to heat milk up if you use UHT milk. Pour it into the yoghurt maker along with a little natural live yoghurt to start the fermentation process. Set the time and temperature using the digital controls. A large quantity of fresh yoghurt is ready in eight hours, plus you can experiment with timings to produce a thicker batch. Accessories are included so you can strain the yoghurt to produce a Greek-style consistency or make soft cheese by adding a squeeze of lemon.

Customer review: "I ordered this to make homemade yoghurt it arrived quickly. I love the style of the yoghurt maker it's sleek and doesn't take up much space on the worktop. Instructions are easy to understand and come with their own recipe book which has been most helpful."

Pros

  • Best selling product
  • Easy-to-read digital screen
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Customer comments they felt it was style over substance

Best yoghurt maker for temperature control

Browin 801013 Multifunctional Cheese and Yoghurt DeviceAmazon/Browin
Price: $126.32

Making yoghurt at home reduces packaging waste and contributes to a sustainable lifestyle. The versatility of the Browin 801013 Multifunctional Cheese and Yoghurt Device means you can replace a number of store-bought products with homemade equivalents. Make kefir, vegan yoghurt, cottage cheese and a variety of healthy yoghurts thanks to its adjustable temperature control.

Customer review: "Very good yoghurt maker. Adjustable temperature controls – especially important for certain strains of bacteria which need lower temperature than many ‘one-button’ control yoghurt makers don’t have."

Pros

  • Multifunctional
  • Adjustable temperature and timer
  • Customers praise its versatility

Cons

  • Customer comments the build quality is a bit cheap

Best yoghurt maker for individual portions

Duronic Yoghurt Maker YM2Amazon/Duronic

Adjust the sweetness and flavour of individual pots with the Duronic Yoghurt Maker YM2. This is a simple-to-use yoghurt maker. While it does not have an adjustable temperature range, it gently raises the fermenting milk and culture to 38°C. The timer is adjustable and you can expect fresh yoghurt between 8–12 hours. The advantage of individual pots is that you can be adventurous with flavours and give yourself lots of variety by adding honey, fruit, chocolate or nuts.

Customer review: "Very portable, easy to use and store. Add approximately one litre of milk, three to four tablespoons of live natural yogurt and switch on for 10 hours. Good quality and easy to clean."

Pros

  • Simple controls
  • Makes individual servings
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • It's running temperature is too high to cultivate Lactobacillus reuteri

Best yoghurt maker for flavours

EasiYo Red Yoghurt MakerAmazon/EasiYo

With a range of flavours in powder form, the EasiYo Red Yoghurt Maker makes preparing delicious flavoured yoghurt convenient. This product acts as a form of Thermos flask to incubate the fermenting yoghurt, therefore no electricity is involved. Simply add water to the yoghurt jar and mix in a sachet of EasiYo powder. Next, fill the yoghurt maker with boiling water and place the jar inside. It needs between 8–12 hours, plus a little time to chill in the fridge. Customers rave about the delicious and creamy EasiYo flavours.

Customer review: "I have been using this for a number of months now and I have only had one batch that did not turn out as expected. That said I think it was my fault for putting too much water into the mix. The flavours are lovely and the resulting yoghurt is so thick and creamy."

Pros

  • Delicious flavours
  • Easy to prepare
  • No electricity

Cons

  • It can go wrong if the water is the wrong temperature or too much water is added

Best one-touch yoghurt maker

VonShef Yoghurt Maker MachineAmazon/VonShef

Get maximum freshness and flavour with the VonShef Yoghurt Maker Machine. This easy-to-use appliance has a one-button control that allows you to make normal or Greek yoghurt. The timer and temperature are defined, and it ensures consistent results every time. Create large batches of healthy homemade yoghurt with no fuss. Happily, this VonShef appliance has a small footprint, so it won't clutter up the counter.

Customer review: "As I only wanted to do standard or Greek yogurt I decided on the VonChef as it has a set temperature. So far, I have made yogurt from goats milk, semi skimmed UHT, and even BoB (best of both) skimmed milk. Each one has been superb. The easiest was using the UHT milk, which didn’t have to be scalded. I just warmed the milk, 100ml of live yogurt from supermarket, and two tablespoons of dried semi skimmed milk powder."

Pros

  • Automatic, one-touch button
  • Prepares normal or Greek yoghurt
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Container may be too tall for some fridges

Best compact yoghurt maker

ROMMELSBACHER JG 80 Jona Yoghurt and Fresh Cheese MakerAmazon/ROMMELSBACHER

Have complete control over the quality and ingredients in your homemade yoghurt with the ROMMELSBACHER JG 80 Jona Yoghurt and Fresh Cheese Maker. This compact, German-made yoghurt maker has a robust stainless steel body and comes with ceramic pots and two large glass containers so they can be sterilised. The pre-set controls are intuitive but do note they are in German.

Customer review: "Nice design and good quality product. Arrived with a EU power cable, so UK buyers will need to purchase one separately."

Pros

  • Stylish and compact design
  • Versatile containers and pots
  • Simple pre-set buttons at four temperature settings
  • Quality materials

Cons

  • May require a UK power cable

Best yoghurt maker for versatility

Kuvings Greek Yoghurt and Cheese MakerMano Mano/Kuvings

Consuming homemade yoghurt regularly contributes to overall health and well-being due to its high protein content, calcium, vitamins and beneficial bacteria... it's delicious too. Enjoy extra thick and creamy servings with the Kuvings Greek Yoghurt and Cheese Maker. Plus, this small appliance can be used to prepare a range of fermented foods, including pickles, with the pre-set button controls.

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Clear controls
  • Pre-set functions

Cons

  • No reviews

Best budget yoghurt maker

1L Electric Yogurt MakerAmazon/Zerodis

Get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in making your own yoghurt on a budget with the 1L Electric Yogurt Maker. It's an automatic appliance that makes one litre of fresh yoghurt in eight hours. Add flavours to customise your delicious treat. It's a simple, bright and no-frills yoghurt maker.

Customer review: "No instructions in English but didn’t take long to suss out… waiting to contact seller took ages… Once made lovely."

Pros

  • One-touch operation
  • Easy-to-clean plastic components
  • Colourful

Cons

  • Instructions are in Chinese

Best probiotic yoghurt maker

Ultimate Probiotic Yogurt MakerAmazon/Ultimate
Price: $59.99

Homemade yoghurt contains live active cultures, which are beneficial probiotics that aid gut health and digestion. Experience the benefit of freshly made yoghurt with the Ultimate Probiotic Yogurt Maker. Here's the science bit: this appliance has an adjustable temperature range, and a lower and stable temperature is needed to cultivate L. Reuteri, L. Gaseri, L. Acidophilus, L. Casei, Bifidobacterium healthy digestive bacteria. It can run for up to 48 hours for a probiotic count that's 40+ trillion. It's based on the research of Dr. William Davis, who wrote the best-selling book Super Gut.

Customer review: "I bought this yogurt maker a few weeks ago so I could make my own yogurt. It works flawlessly and I've produced many batches of yogurt using goat milk and L. Reuteri bacteria. It's delicious and has a lemony flavour. You can set the timer to automatically turn off after a set number of hours, and you can set the temperature for whatever type of yogurt culture you're using. It's simple and works great. Highly recommended."

Pros

  • Designed to culture probiotic yoghurts
  • Durable stainless steel build and glass jars

Cons

  • American appliance that needs a transformer to work off UK mains

Best traditional yoghurt maker

Kilner Yoghurt Making SetDunelm/Kilner
Price: $16.80 (was £21)

Making yoghurt at home can be a fun and educational activity. Discover the alchemy of fermentation with the Kilner Yoghurt Making Set. Crafted from premium soda lime glass, this is a non-electric solution for crafting delicious homemade yoghurts. A thermometer ensures precise temperature control during the initial heating phase. Designed for convenience, this glassware is fridge and freezer-safe. Whether you prefer dairy or plant-based yoghurts, personalise your recipes with added ingredients like honey and fruits. With its large and small jars, this set caters to all your yoghurt-making needs in the comfort of your home.

Pros

  • Quality glassware
  • Portable
  • Stylish jars

Cons

  • No reviews

Our Verdict: The Best Yoghurt Maker

As an accessible starter to the world of yoghurt making, we recommend the Lakeland Multi Yoghurt and Soft Cheese Maker. Say goodbye to store-bought options and hello to fresh, healthy goodness. With this convenient appliance, you can have thick, flavourful yoghurt, that's ready in eight hours, customised to your taste preferences. Its user-friendly digital screen allows for easy time and temperature adjustments, taking the guesswork out of the process. It has a large temperature range so you can experiment and make soft cheese. Plus, the timer is adjustable between 8-12 hours. Whether you prefer plain yoghurt or Greek-style, this compact electric maker can make up to 1.6L, with the option to strain for extra thickness. Complete with accessories and BPA-free materials, let Lakeland’s yoghurt maker inspire your culinary creations.

FAQs

What is the advantage of an electric yoghurt maker?

An electric yoghurt maker offers convenience and consistency by automating the yoghurt-making process. It ensures precise temperature control. The result is reliable and hassle-free yoghurt making. Plus, it's a positive step towards reducing single-use plastic waste.

Some multicooker appliances, such as the Crockpot Turbo Express Pressure Multicooker, have a yoghurt-making function.

How do I use an electric yoghurt maker?

Simply heat milk to 90°C to eliminate any rogue bacteria or use UHT milk. Let the milk cool to room temperature. Then, add yoghurt starter culture, which can be a few spoons of store-bought live yoghurt. Pour the mixture into the yoghurt maker's container, set the timer and wait for fermentation.

Save a little portion of your homemade yoghurt to act as a starter for your next batch of yoghurt. It's fine to freeze it until needed.

How much does a yoghurt maker cost?

The cost of a yoghurt maker in the UK varies depending on the brand, features and capacity. Basic models start around £20, while more advanced options with additional features can range up to £100.

Is a yoghurt maker worth it?

Yes, a yoghurt maker can be worth it for those who enjoy homemade yoghurt regularly. It offers convenience, control over ingredients and cost savings compared to store-bought options. Plus, it tastes better when you've made it from scratch.

Can you make homemade yoghurt with skimmed milk?

Yes, you can make homemade yoghurt with skimmed milk. While it may result in a thinner yoghurt compared to using whole milk, it's still possible to achieve a creamy texture with the right method. Some recipes recommend adding dried skimmed milk powder to the yoghurt mix.

What is a yoghurt culture?

A yoghurt culture refers to the live (good) bacteria strains used to ferment milk and produce yoghurt. These bacteria, typically strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, consume the lactose in the milk, producing lactic acid which thickens the milk and gives yoghurt its characteristic tangy flavour. In order to make authentic Bulgarian, Lebanese yoghurts and more, consider using starter cultures from Freshly Fermented.

Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in kitchen appliances. When she's not testing coffee machines, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.

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