I have a cheap yogurt maker that usually turns out perfectly creamy yogurt but once in awhile it turns out runny and grainy. I can't figure this out because I always do it the same way. This time I used new Dannon Yogurt as a starter since my yogurt was old and smelling yeasty. The milk and starter were both fresh.
That's a low viscosity problem, which can be due to: - Failure to stir the starter into the milk very well. Add 2-3 T. of the warm milk to the starter and stir gently to dilute the yogurt. Add a little more milk, stir again, then add it to the remaining milk and stir in thoroughly. The temperature of the milk should be between 110-115-degrees F. If you add the starter at the cooler end of the temperature window, it will yield a mild yogurt. The warmer end of the temperature window will yield a more tart yogurt.
- Milk temperature was too low or too high when you added the starter. I suspect it was too warm. Be sure to stir your milk well before checking the temperature. It may have some hot or cold spots in it, especially if you heated your milk in a microwave.
- Weak culture. Probably not the cause since you used a new container of yogurt, but if you use from the original batch several times in a row without refreshing the starter, this can be the cause of grainy yogurt.
- Residue in your container from a previous batch. Scald your yogurt container out with hot water.
I have had that problem when I haven't stirred the starter yogurt into the new milk, enough. I'm attaching a great link with information on making your own yogurt, that I just came across. Hope it helps.
lindac
grainlady_ks
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