Do you have to heat the milk to 180 degrees on the stove before putting the milk in the pot? sounds like a lot of work if the pot doesn't do it all.
1637649
I've been wondering why that requirement as well. I've made the yogurt without preheating the milk, being careful to thoroughly mix in the yogurt first, and it came out a little lumpy. But since I'm making it for my dog, and she doesn't mind the lumps, that is the way I'm making it now.
1637650
The yogurt should be heated to 180 to kill any pathogens in the milk, but you must cool the milk to 110 before adding your starter, or it will kill most or all of the active culture in your starter. That's why it requires this extra step. To completely automate the process, the machine would need to be able to heat to 180 quickly, cool the milk quickly, and automatically dump in the starter when the temp was right. Such a machine may exist, but it would definitely be more than forty bucks!
1637651
On their website in the blog section there is a recipe tip on using the pot to heat the milk. It says to put the desired amount of milk in and turn the pot on to high for 50 minutes. Test temperature and it should be around 120. Then proceed to add yogurt starter and turn unit to yogurt setting. I have used this method and yogurt has turned out fine every time. Sure beats heating the milk on the stove before adding to yogurt maker.
364529
I can only speak to heating milk for coffee. It works very well, heating the milk to 150 degrees.
276132
I just ordered a third machine. My first one heated the milk to 140°. The second machine heats the milk to 166°. 166 is too hot and will burn the milk. I believe these will shut off by thermostatic control. If the milk is not getting hot enough you probably have a defective machine. My experience, based on buying three of these is the quality control is all over the place! If your milk is not getting hot enough you have a defective machine. Send it in for replacement.
441507
No it doesn't but for my first batch I used PLAIN yogurt in milk I heated to almost a boil on stove. Recipes are all over the internet. You may have to adjust the recipes for the number and size of containers. (next time I'll do 1 1/2 recipe. turned out perfect at 8 hrs. (I don't like really tart yogurt unless I'm using it for sour cram substitute.
2029638
Milk always creeps up on you. If it doesn't foam over the sides and get burned into the pores of the pot, you might be safe. But why would you choose this for milk? Cast iron is not meant to be quick heating and sometimes it slightly changes the color of things cooked in it. Milk would be especially vulnerable.
1935928
Milk temp will vary by how much milk you use, as the milk frother works for a fixed period of time (you could run it two cycles if you like). I generally heat the frother up first with water (which is steaming when done) then I use the frother for the milk. I also pre-heat my cups with water and a microwave.
895282
I do nothing to the starter. I add it straight to the cooled milk. Make sure that the milk is cooled down to the 110 degrees!
2082615
No. I tried it but it comes to a boiling point so it's hard unless you are right there and turn it off as soon as you see it about to boil. None of the electric tea kettles are able to heat milk without scorching because it was designed to boil.
945153
I do not boil my milk to make my yogurt. I prefer to use as many raw milk products as possible. I heat the milk to 100 to 110 never beyond that. Pour into my glass jars and I have found it works better if I preheat the unit. I can't tell anyone not to boild but for me I prefer it still in the "raw" form.
658702
I always heat the milk to about 180 (in the microwave) before making yogurt and then let it cool down to around 100 - 110 before adding the starter. I've never tried not heating the milk.
1247106
I use an electronic digital one. I heat the milk in the microwave at 1 min intervals. It probably takes about 10 mins. But I haven't actually timed. I decrease the heating time as the temp nears 185.
1475398
Hi Pat, I placed water in the pot and used a meat thermometer and checked the temperatures of this unit. I only recorded the one at #3 and it was 180F. I have found this does seem to cook on the Low setting closely. I have been very happy with the unit. I hope this one temperature is a help for you.
2176932
I started with 10ml-15ml and then just tested the milk to make sure it was hot enough. If it starts are room temp it may be too hot. If it started from fridge temp it should be fine.
1788964
I tried it with cold milk, then with hot and it seemed to work better using hot milk. The only other thing I can think of is that you might be stirring your coffee after the milk is added. I wouldn't.
137803
Yes I heat milk on the stove all the time, on a very low flame. friends are amazed when they see me put it on the gas stove.
1147457
Milk has lactose (milk sugar) in it which burns if you get it too hot - this is why milk burns onto the bottom of a pan when heating on the stove unless you stir it continuously. That heating element gets very hot and thus burns the milk. I suppose it might work without burning if you continuously stirred the milk while heating.
1266322
there is no temperature gauge on this unit. Once you boil milk you bring it down in cold water to 108 and place inside the euro which is like a warmer. I'm not sure how hot the milk stays after that. Sorry