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To avoid runny tzatziki, choose the right ingredients and treat them properly before making it. A thicker yogurt, such as Greek yogurt, is ideal for making a Tzatziki. Then, strain the yogurt and use the coffee filter method to prepare the cucumber. Chef Martha Bradsteen is a master of cooking with over 12 years of experience. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has won numerous awards for her culinary creations.

Tzatziki is refreshing and creamy, and the perfect way to use your homemade Greek yogurt. How long it takes the yogurt to set will depend on the temperature at which it is held. This can be as short as 3 or 4 hours and as long as 18 hours. There's no one good rule here except to give the yogurt the time it needs to sour and thicken properly. Once you have a well-cultured, fully set yogurt, it should finally go into the fridge.
What Do I Need to Make Yogurt?
It is milky in flavour with just a hint of sourness. When you’re buying yogurt, also check that it lists “Live Active Yogurt Cultures” in the ingredients — we need those! The live cultures are what actually turn the milk into yogurt.

Tzatziki, a dip based on yogurt, is Greek in origin. This product has a cool, refreshing flavor and a thick texture. Drain your cucumbers before using them to achieve the desired texture. You can change the texture of the dip by adding drained, dried cucumbers. Furthermore, if you’re already using sweetened yoghurt, you can thicken it by straining the mixture. The method does not necessitate adding more ingredients, but it takes longer than adding dried cucumbers.
Recipe Summary
"Helped with how to prepare yogurt from scratch and what to do with the byproduct." More about the process and alternatives and the article met those needs. I knew wikiHow would show the right temp and give great tips to help us." This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Another type has an factory temperature setting which is maintained regardless of environment. You cannot adjust the temperature setting in this type.
Peggy is a Senior Food Editor for Taste of Home. In addition to curating recipes, she writes articles, develops recipes and is our in-house nutrition expert. She studied dietetics at the University of Illinois and completed post-graduate studies at the Medical University of South Carolina to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Peggy has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. She’s a mom, a foodie and enjoys being active in her rural Wisconsin community.
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It will likely be thinner than you are used to and the whey may separate out. It should have a pleasant smell, similar to cheese or freshly baked bread. Move your homemade yogurt to the fridge to cool, and consume within two weeks. You can save half a cup of your homemade yogurt to start your next batch.
Until I could manage to do that in my tests, my yogurt recipe wasn't going to see daylight. So not only is regular yogurt generally cheaper, but the flavor when strained is remarkably superior to Greek yogurt you'll pay a premium for at the supermarket. You get to start with a brand that you already love.
Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Paprika & Agave
If you don’t have cheesecloth on hand, feel free to use a single coffee filter. Just be sure to cover the yogurt with a bit of plastic wrap, waxed paper or a reusable wrap (I love mine!). Anyone in my family will tell you I’m an ice cream addict. I love ending my days on a sweet note with a dish of chocolate ice cream topped with a bit of caramel and a touch of sea salt—it’s pure heaven.

Transfer the to storage containers, cover, and refrigerate. Homemade yogurt will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator. The benefits of eating yogurt and the live cultures in it are well known.
This is especially helpful if you're using nonfat milk. Cover it and refrigerate for several more hours, or until it reaches your desired consistency. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool to 110° F. It can take over an hour to cool down, but you can speed things up by dunking the pot into an ice-water bath. Always start with clean equipment and sterilized jars to prevent contaminating the yogurt with harmful bacteria. This method is really all about the temperature.
You can also serve it with a creamy feta cheese dressing or a spicy olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. Greek yogurt is simply regular (most often full-fat) yogurt that has been strained — so that a bit, or a lot, of the whey is drained away. This results in the wonderfully thick, creamy, and luxurious yogurt we have come to love. If it either tastes or smells off, chuck it away and start again. Otherwise pour it into clean jars and store it in the fridge. If you're happy with how it turns out, you can use a little of it as starter for your next batch.
Behind the recipes I'm making, her insight didn't sit well with me. It sounded like the kind of magical thinking I don't usually engage in. But Homa also makes some of the best yogurt I've ever eaten. I needed to listen; she does, after all, know what she's talking about. Giving the yogurt plenty of time to grow strong will yield a culture that can be used for multiple batches.
Accurate temperatures are crucial to success.
Ways Eating Yogurt Can Change Your Body
The containers, which may be supplied with the yogurt maker, can be small cups so that the user can eat the yogurt right out of the cups. Containers as large as a gallon or more can be held by some yogurt makers for those who need large amounts of yogurt on a regular basis. Add 2 tablespoons of the existing yogurt, or add the freeze-dried bacteria. Stir with a whisk or use a blender to evenly distribute the bacteria throughout the milk.

It is full of protein, calcium, and probiotics. It can also help you lose weight, as long as you eat it in moderation and exercise regularly. Common practice is to add any flavoring after the yogurt has been strained of excess whey. Wrap a heating pad set to High around the towel-wrapped container.