The Best Yogurt Makers (Review) in 2020

Whether you’re looking for a yogurt maker to make standard yogurt, or Greek-style yogurt, or even vegan yogurt, it’s highly likely you just want a simple and efficient way to make healthy and delicious yogurt at home. But with so many different yogurt makers, how is one supposed to pick the right one?

To aid you in your hunt for the best yogurt maker, we’ve prepared this simple buying guide and answered some of the commonly asked questions. Read on to find the right appliance for your and your family’s needs.

Is a Yogurt Maker Right for You?

Before you start deciding on which yogurt maker to purchase, it’s a good idea to ask yourself is a yogurt maker even right for you and your needs?

Definitely Yes

If you’re someone who loves their yogurt daily, the answer is easy – a yogurt maker is most definitely right for you. With an efficient yogurt maker you can make larger bulk batches of yogurt, store it in the fridge and then eat it throughout the week. And with individual yogurt cups, you can easily customize every jar with different flavors and even textures. Of course, if you love the freshest possible yogurt every time you eat it, you can also make it every single day – the choice is yours.

And if you love dairy in every form imaginable? A great yogurt maker can help you with that too. Many modern yogurt makers are not only great at making perfect yogurt, but at making soft cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, and Greek-style yogurt. But even if for some reason you avoid dairy, a yogurt maker can be a wonderful addition to your kitchen appliances, as it can make all kinds of plant-based yogurts, including coconut yogurt and soy yogurt.

Having a yogurt maker is also a great idea if you’re health conscious, as store-bought yogurt doesn’t have nearly as much as health benefits as homemade yogurt. In fact, most regular store-bought yogurts are chock full of added sugar, artificial colors and flavors, as well as preservatives. If consumed often, these treats, although delicious, can be harmful to your health. They spike blood sugar, promote weight gain as they’re full of empty calories, and may even change gut microbiome (in a bad way) as many contain high fructose corn syrup and other questionable artificial sweeteners.

Perhaps No

On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes eating yogurt every once in a while, maybe buying a regular yogurt may be more economical. Of course, this way you’re missing out on all the health benefits of homemade yogurt, and are instead even working against your health. Still, there are quite a few regular store yogurts nowadays that use minimal amounts of sugar and artificial flavors, so maybe those would be an ok option.

What Makes a Good Yogurt Maker?

If you decided that a yogurt maker is something you’d definitely like to purchase, you’re probably wondering what makes a good yogurt maker. Some appliances make only standard yogurt, some only Greek-style, and some are able to make a variety of different products. So are super basic appliances better, or are the more complex ones more useful? Don’t worry – we’re here to help you understand what to look for in a yogurt maker.

• Simple to Use

A good yogurt maker should be efficient and simple to use. It doesn’t matter if it makes just one type of yogurt or a few different types of dairy – if it’s super-slow and complicated to use, it’s not worth the purchase. Instead, a good yogurt maker should come with clear and easy-to-follow instructions and should take no more than a few hours to cook yogurt. Preferably, it should have an adjustable timer, as well as an automatic shutoff function as this makes the cooking process incredibly easy. Still, an automatic shutoff feature is definitely not a must have – many excellent yogurt makers don’t have it and work more than fine.

• Enough Capacity

If you plan to make yogurt only for yourself,  you should definitely check out smaller capacity yogurt makers. They come in single containers, as well as in individual yogurt cups, so pick the model that works best for you. On the other hand, if you plan to make yogurt for several family members, or just big batches of yogurt for yourself, it’s a good idea to look for larger capacity yogurt makers.

• Easy to clean

Many yogurt makers come with a few different tools, including one large container and/or several small cups with lids, a thermometer and a strainer. Obviously, all of these things need to be washed after the yogurt’s been cooked/consumed, so it’s wise to purchase only the appliances whose parts are easy to wash. It’s a big plus when the container and cups are dishwasher safe, as this saves time and effort, but it’s not absolutely required that they are. It’s enough that they’re easy to clean and wash with water and regular dishwashing soap.

Health Benefits of Making Your Own Yogurt

Unlike most store-bought yogurts that are packed with sugar and a bunch of unhealthy stuff, homemade yogurt is one the healthiest foods you could find. Fermented and rich in probiotics, homemade yogurt is a nutritious health bomb, considered a super-food by many as it supports and boosts the health of the entire organism.

• Great for the Digestive System

Because homemade yogurt is a fermented food full of probiotics, it’s extremely beneficial for the health of the digestive system. It improves the microflora in the gut and protects the gastrointestinal tract by feeding the ‘good’ bacteria.

• Improves Bone Density

Rich in calcium, homemade yogurt benefits the entire skeletal system by improving bone density, mass and strength. As a result, it also helps prevent osteoporosis, low bone density and bone fractures.

• Boosts the Immune System

Yogurt is rich in various nutrients, including B vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, folic acid, and of course calcium and many different beneficial bacteria, all of which have been shown to reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.

• Good for Heart Health

Consuming homemade yogurt regularly can help you improve your heart health by reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and increasing ‘good’ cholesterol levels. Live probiotics in yogurt help decrease LDL, while increasing HDL, which has been found to protect heart health. Furthermore, a high level of potassium in yogurt helps reduce high blood pressure.

• Promotes Weight Loss

And finally, homemade yogurt may even help you lose weight. Because it’s rich in protein and various important nutrients, but is relatively low in calories, yogurt is perfect for weight management. If consumed regularly, it can help you shed excess pounds and lose belly fat in particular (as it reduces inflammation and supports digestive health).

Can I use a Yogurt Maker for Other Purposes?

Normally, people buy yogurt makers for one simple reason – to make yogurt. But did you know that besides standard yogurt, you can also make a few different products using a yogurt maker?

• Greek Yogurt: even if they don’t advertise making Greek-style yogurt, many yogurt makers come with a strainer that you can use to make your very own Greek yogurt. Just make a standard yogurt as you normally would, and then strain it - that's it, you've made your Greek-style yogurt! Use the whey to make nutritious smoothies or bake with it.
• Soft Cheese: certain yogurt makers can be used for making cheese as well. Usually, they include a specially designed cotton bag with a cord, which you can fill with yogurt and hang, letting soft cheese create.
• Plant-based yogurt: if dairy is not your thing, you can easily make plant-based yogurts with your yogurt maker, including coconut and soy yogurt. Just use ingredients you like instead of cow milk and read the instructions that come with the appliance to make a perfect plant-based, delicious yogurt.

Sources:

1. 7 Impressive Health Benefits of Yogurt - Healthline
2. Kitchen Equipment A Versatile Yogurt Maker - The New York Times
3. DIY yogurt beats the store-bought stuff - Washington Post