Instant Pot Yogurt

Yogurt made at home in Instant Pot - clean, delicious and healthier. Sharing a complete guide to make yogurt in Instant Pot. (Includes 7 flavors of yogurt.)

Posted On: Mar, 20 |  Author:
Homemade yogurt made-easy with Instant Pot. One recipe - 7 flavors, one for every day of the week.
Instant Pot Yogurt
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Instant Pot Yogurt! Oh, yes! Today's post has everything you need to learn to make delicious yogurt in Instant Pot. 7 flavors and one perfected recipe to serve yogurt for breakfast - a flavor for every day of week. Gluten free. 

Does this sound like a delicious plan or what?! 

I'm obsessed with making yogurt in instant pot. It is easy, and so simple you would want to buy IP just to make yogurt. (no kidding).  Clean, delicious and healthier.. Nothing beats a bowl of homemade yogurt. Plus Instant Pot makes so consistent quality of yogurt every time, you will fall in love. 

In short, Instant Pot yogurt is must try at least once! 

Homemade Vanilla Yogurt in Instant Pot

I'm one of those people who don't like to drink milk :) (don't quote me this because I simple can't). I always reach for almond milk or mostly yogurt. I have to have a small bowl every day with meal or in breakfast. Yogurt helps keep a healthy gut (healthy gut means healthy immune system) and also has serving of calcium for strong bones. Who needs milk?! ;)
Specially homemade yogurt: 1) is thickener free, 2) can be low-fat or full fat, and 3) has no artificial flavors. Just bring on-board your favorite brand of pasteurized milk and get set to make yogurt in Instant Pot.

Only 10 minutes prep. ( a tad more if making all flavors the same day).

Here are few things to know when making a yogurt in Instant Pot:

1) What Instant Pot do to make yogurt? It is no rocket science or a miracle. All IP does is provide warm environment for yogurt cultures to grow at good moderate rate. Moderate ratemeans not so fast and not too slow. Very fast will spoil the culture and kill the yogurt bacteria. End result will be either runny yogurt or too sour yogurt. Too slow will spoil the milk. Hence not a good edible yogurt. 

These above cases often happen when we try to ferment yogurt without Instant Pot or much experience. e.g if weather change. The yogurt recipe which worked best in summer will not work in winter because cold don’t let yogurt culture grow properly.

How does Instant Pot help?

It maintains the perfect temperature for yogurt culture to grow that it not very fast and not too slow. The result is a delicious batch of perfect yogurt every time.

Sound awesome! Isn't it?

Only make sure to follow the recipe such as use right culture, heat milk to right temperature, and ferment for couple of hours undisturbed. (check details in recipe directions)

Yogurt Culture Starter: It is very important to use good yogurt culture starter for making yogurt. I use Freeze Dried Yogurt Starter (affiliate link) to make initial batch of yogurt. It comes in convenient 1 Box containing 6 packets of 5 grams each. 1 quart milk uses 1 packet. For subsequent batches, I use homemade leftover yogurt.

Strawberry Yogurt

2) Instant pot yogurt recipe

For today’s recipe I tried a number of batch of yogurt using different methods preached by different IP manuals. I'm sharing two of my favorite methods in directions. (Method - 1 IP's Yogurt Setting is my personal favorite.)

Honestly, making yogurt in Instant Pot was a dream-come-true achievement for me. I always wanted to own that fancy Yogurt maker often sold in high end appliance stores. When I got my Instant Pot and saw the "Yogurt" setting. It was huge excitement. These days, I'm obsessed with making yogurt in IP. 

Now, that I have perfected the Instant Pot Yogurt recipe. It has become such a regular in our weekly menu. I buy a quart low fat or 1% milk just to make yogurt. Over the weekend, even on a weekday when I have Instant Pot free. I mean, I have not planned another food to cook in IP. I mix my favorite flavor or plain yogurt recipe, and leave it in Instant Pot to ferment. 

A few hours later yogurt is ready to devour. With Instant Pot's "Yogurt" setting I don't have to worry about maintaining regular temperature for yogurt to ferment right. It does all for me. Seriously, consistent good-looking yogurt every time. It makes buying Instant Pot so worth money. If you own an Instant Pot, I highly recommend making yogurt in it once. You will love the results. Plus the benefit of clean homemade yogurt are so great.

Mango Yogurt

Please note that homemade yogurt has no thickeners. It will not taste or not have texture like Greek or starch-full store yogurts. For more creamy yogurt, you can use whole fat milk. Or strain the yogurt overnight to drain excess water and make it thick like Greek-style.

Flavors of yogurt I make in Instant Pot: You can try any flavors. By all means, plain yogurt is most versatile and ever-green. Today's recipe showcase following flavors:

1. Mango Yogurt: I cooked mango with cinnamon and sugar. You can also use mango jam or Just mango with honey.
2. Strawberry Yogurt: I prefer strawberry jam or strawberry cooked with sugar and pinch of salt.
3. Kiwi Yogurt: Same as Strawberry.
4. Blueberry Yogurt: Blueberry is better as jam than cooked blueberry. The cooked berries result in blue color in yogurt which I did not like.
5. Lemon Honey Yogurt: One of my favorite. Just a spoon of honey and fully mixed with few drops of lemon juice. Make sure lemon is mixed well in honey or it will curdle the milk.
6. Peach Cobbler Yogurt: Omg! Peach yogurt tastes like Peach Cobbler only healthier. Please follow recipe from directions.
7. Plain Yogurt: Can never go wrong with plain yogurt. It goes well with everything. Smoothie, breakfast, or even on side with curry.
8. Vanilla Yogurt: One more favorite of my family. Milk, culture, honey and hint of vanilla. Always perfect.

I start with same yogurt base. (slightly sweetened or unsweetened). Then, I layer the flavor of fruit/jam at the bottom of container, followed by yogurt.

IMP: Make sure flavoring is at room temperature. Cold or hot will change the milk temperature and resulting yogurt may no set properly.

Homemade Yogurts with Instant Pot Yogurt Recipe

Before you head to the recipe. Let me sum-up this Instant Pot yogurt recipe tutorial for you. Specially, if you decided to skip all my chit-chat above, then this summary is for you. :)

1. Clean, easy and delicious Homemade Yogurt. No preservatives or thickeners.
2. Two Instant Pot methods to make Yogurt at home. Simply follow the steps.
3. One recipe - 8 flavors of yogurt. One for every weekday!
4. Keeper recipe to serve healthy breakfast any day of the week. Make a batch of yogurt at once, serve whole week.
5. Remember:
a) Only use pasteurized milk to make yogurt. Either buy pasteurized milk (read label on milk carton). I use Organic Valley Organic Milk which is ultra-pasteurized. Or for regular milk, heat and bring to boiling point (at 100 degrees Celsius). Then let it cool completely. Only then head to the recipe.
b) Use good yogurt starter. (check notes).
c) Use clean cooking utensils and yogurt making container.
d) Follow the recipe.

Making Yogurt in Instant Pot

Friends, today is first day of Spring. And this easy recipe of Instant Pot yogurt is ready to make your breakfast healthier, lite and delicious. Yogurt is good for gut healthy and good source of milk calcium. So, enjoy half a cup everyday!

Happy Spring!

-Savita

Serve yogurt on side of an Instant Pot Meat and Rice Main Course:

Chicken Burrito Bowl (Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker) Curry Chicken Rice (Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker) Mujaddara - Spiced Lentils and Rice

Instant Pot Yogurt

5 (7 reviews)
Instant Pot Yogurt
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: American () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 1 Quart Yogurt - Serves: 8
(Yogurt Fermentation =10 hours Idle Time not included in Total Time.)

Ingredients

Blueberry Yogurt
Honey Lemon or Honey Herb
Strawberry Yogurt
Mango or Peach Cobbler

Directions

  • 1. Pasteurize Milk::  Pasteurize Milk: Bring milk to rolling boil. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Additional Notes: Skip this step if using pre-pasteurized milk. Read container label to make sure milk is pasteurized.
  • 2. Warm Milk to Make Yogurt:  Yogurt: Reheat milk just until it is 108-112 degrees. Mix in 1 packet of yogurt culture and 2-3 teaspoons of sugar (if using). Additional Notes: Make sure milk is not too hot or yogurt culture will die due to heat.
  • 3. Add Flavor (If using):  Place your choice of flavors [flavor recipes in notes] 1-2 tbsp at the bottom of clean 1 cup containers. Top with milk (mixed with culture.). Place the lid. Additional Notes: Skip this step if not making flavored yogurt.
  • 4. Set IP to Make Yogurt - Method 1:  *Method 1: Fill pot of Instant Pot with 1 cup of water. Next place the rack that came with Instant Pot. Place the containers on rack. Close the lid of Instant Pot. Set it to "Yogurt" setting with 10 hours timer. Don't move or switch off Instant Pot until display read "yogrt". Once that happens, switch off. Open lid, remove containers and refrigerate yogurt until ready to serve.
  • 5. Set IP to Make Yogurt - Method 2:  *Method 2: Fill pot of Instant Pot with 1 cup of water. Next place the rack that came with Instant Pot. Place the containers on rack. Close the lid of Instant Pot. Set it to "Steam" setting for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, switch off pot. Don't open lid. Leave pot closed for 10 hours or overnight. After 10 hours open lid, remove containers and refrigerate yogurt until ready to serve.
Savita's Notes:
  1. *Method 1 vs Method 2 - Method 1 produce consistent quality of yogurt in cold and warm seasons because Instant Pot is On all time and maintains "yogurt" temperature setting. This method is my favorite. Method 2 is a hack method. It works and has given good yogurt. I have only tried it in winters.
  2. **Yogurt Culture Starter: It is very important to use good yogurt culture starter for making yogurt. I use Freeze Dried Yogurt Starter (affiliate link) to make initial batch of yogurt. It comes in convenient 1 Box containing 6 packets of 5 grams each. 1 quart milk uses 1 packet. For subsequent batches, I use homemade leftover yogurt.

Flavors: Make sure to completely let cool all cooked fruit/flavors.

  1. Mango Yogurt: Cook mango with cinnamon and sugar. You can also use mango jam or Just mango with honey.
  2. Strawberry Yogurt: Use strawberry jam or cook diced strawberry with sugar and pinch of salt until just start getting soft..
  3. Kiwi Yogurt: Same as Strawberry.
  4. Blueberry Yogurt: Blueberry is better as jam than cooked blueberry. The cooked berries result in blue color in yogurt which I did not like.
  5. Lemon Honey Yogurt: Spoon a tbsp of honey into jar, add 1/2 tsp of lemon juice. Mix fully. Make sure lemon is mixed well in honey or it will curdle the milk.
  6. Peach Cobbler Yogurt: Cook diced skinless peaches with pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sugar. Cook until sugar has dissolved and peach are soft (not mushy).
  7. Plain Yogurt: Leave as-is, sweetened or unsweetened as per preference.
  8. Vanilla Yogurt: Add few drop vanilla in jar before adding milk.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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33 Responses

  1. Can you tell me where you found the jars?
  2. Just for clarification, you put the loss on the jars before putting in the Instant Pot, right?
    What is loss?? If you meant lids, yes I do secure the lid before putting the jar in Instant Pot.
  3. Are those 4 oz jars? Can you tell me where you purchased them or who makes them? I like the look on these.
    These jars are 4 ounce. I love to use these for almost everything, from spices to salad dressing. I buy these from a local store. Let me check and I’ll post back more details.
  4. I am a complete newbie and have one simple questions: can you use leftover flavored yogurt to start a new batch? I am thinking that it needs to be natural yogurt only but have no idea. Thanks!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Hi Ana, you are thinking right. Flavored yogurt are not good yogurt culture. Natural yogurt, without thickners and few days old yogurt that is sour is better. Or best try yogurt starter culture. It is available in most food stores. 1 package has small single serve pouches to use. One tip: The yogurt you make at home with starter can be used as starter for next batch. I hope it helps.
  5. I'm looking forward to trying this recipe as my kids love yogurt. I have a few questions - If I don't have yogurt starter can I substitute store bought yogurt? Also, is almond or soy milk interchangeable with milk in this recipe? Any suggestions for making vanilla yogurt?
    Hi Heather, I can only recommend Yogurt Starter because I don't have good experience with using store bought yogurt for making yogurt. Store bought yogurt's culture concentration is very low that does not work. That said, if you can find very sour yogurt (or perhaps a few days old yogurt) with high concentration of culture bacteria that can work. I recommend trying a small batch to check. I hope it helps. (For vanilla yogurt, mix 1 tsp vanilla in milk).
  6. Are you covering the individual jars with foil or using lids? Thank you.
    I covered jars with lids but aluminum foil should be fine too when tightly wrapped. I hope it helps.
  7. Who knew you could make your own yogurt in an insta pot? I cant believe it. I was just telling my boyfriend we need to buy one. Now I have one more reason to invest in one.
    I know, who knew! Debbye, I can tell you IP is a great investment. I hope you get one soon.
  8. That looks great! I made yogurt on and off for years - mostly off because yes, temperature control was always a headache. Too cool, it doesnt set up, too hot and it gets very sour - or you kill your culture! I dont have an Instant Pot but a regular electric pressure cooker - and that just doesnt do this... doesnt have the low enough setting. Now Im sorry... LOL
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Yes, Pressure Cooker won't do the trick. Yet, I can tell you I have an idea up my sleeves for that. If you follow Method 2 for IP for pressure cooker plus leave a heating pad on low below the cooker. It will keep temperature steady and yield good result. Let me know and I can pass more details. No need to be sorry. :)
  9. I use almond milk too, mainly because its got fewer calories than real milk. And I have some every day in my breakfast smoothie, along with yogurt. I had no clue yogurt was so easy to make...I might have to give this a try
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Karyl, indeed almond milk is often my best buddy instead of milk. But milk yogurt has it's own sacred place and nothing can beat it. I hope you get chance to try yogurt in Instant Pot. It is super easy to make.
  10. Such a nice variety of flavors here! Ive made plain yogurt in my Instant Pot before - its such a versatile kitchen tool! We go through a LOT of yogurt in my house, so homemade is definitely better for our budget.
    Without doubt, homemade yogurt is the best and budget friendly. If you buy these 7-8 flavors of yogurt in store it will cost more than 8 $ where at home is same - 1 packet culture + 1 quart milk. Such a great saving!
  11. I have been absolutely loving my Instant Pot but havent ventured into yogurt making yet. I love the different fruit flavors you included. I will definitely be giving your recipe a try!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Jessica, you will love the flavor these little sweet treats add to the homemade yogurt. I hope you get chance to try soon.
  12. i had been wanting make my own yogurt too in IP but havent done it yet..i will refer back to this post very soon!
    Yogurt in IP is certainly an exciting experience and yields consistent good quality results. I hope you try soon..
  13. I am amazed by all the things you can do with an instant pot! I hope the Easter Bunny brings me one this year! Making yogurt myself has been on my bucket list for quite some time now! I'd love that blueberry and honey lemon one! Deliciousness!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    I agree. Instant Pot is simply amazing. I hope you get one soon. Thanks for stopping by Kiki.
  14. These instant pots... I know I need one. I love yogurt and this looks like something that would be so fun to make.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Oh, it is total fun way to make yogurt, Ben. Thanks. In-fact, it can also be great alternative to dessert with favorite sweet topping. I'm glad you like my idea.
  15. I make yogurt at home all the time! In fact all of us in India must have grown up with moms and grandmas making sure there is always a pot of yogurt at home! I love how you have made different flavours for each day in small pots. A great trick for easy grab and go breakfast. Thanks for sharing!
    Grab and go yogurt is my personal favorite for lite breakfast or lunch on the go. I'm glad you like it Ashima. Thanks for stopping by.
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