Best Yogurt Maker 2020 [UPDATED]
By making homemade yogurt, you use fresh ingredients, resulting in it having more protein, less sugar and no artificial flavours or sweeteners. I have also found them to be a lot more creamier. In this article I will show you what to look for and my recommendation on the best yogurt maker in 2020.
The Best Yogurt Makers In 2020
My wife and I love yogurt, whether we have it in the morning for breakfast or in a dessert. A really good one can be expensive and even more so if you buy a lot of it, making your own yoghurt is cheaper, healthier and is not that complicated to make.
Now you don’t actually need a yogurt maker but it does make it quicker and easier. By using a decent machine you can make different types of yogurts, whether you want to make greek yogurt or regular yogurt. These are made differently but the best yogurt makers will come with getting started guides and recipes, ill also go into detail on how to make your own yogurt further below.
As well as advice on making them, below you will also find the best rated yogurt maker. I have gone through 7 of what I think are the best yogurt maker reviews. Whether you are looking to make greek yoghurt or regular yoghurt, you will find a maker that is perfect for you and your needs.
Best Yoghurt Maker 2020
1. Lakeland Multi Yoghurt Maker - Best All Rounder
- Capacity: 1.6-1.8 litres
- Weight: 1.14kg
- Temperature Range: 25-65 (Celsius)
Lakeland are well-known for providing excellent kitchen equipment and this is no different when it comes to yogurt makers. I have even rated this as the best all rounder, as you can use it to make regular yogurt as well as greek yogurt.
Some machines make it very difficult to test using different ingredients such as honey or plant based milks, it is however very easy with the Lakeland multi Yoghurt maker. This is because you are able to set a wide range of temperatures from 25-65 degrees celsius. Since you can set it as low as 25, you are also able to make Kafir, most other machines will be too hot to do this.
Most yogurt machines now come in individual pots which some do find more convenient, however the pot from this one will still fit in your fridge. At Least having it all in one pot, you know that all of the yogurt is going to have the same consistency.
Price wise it is very reasonable and has a lot of positive reviews online. From the above you can see why it would be recommended as the Best all rounder.
What I Like
- Easy to use
- Wide temperature range
- Nice digital display
- Makes different types of yoghurts
- Low price - Great Value
What I Don't Like
- Reports that the temperature on the machine is not always exact
2. VonShef Digital Yogurt Maker
- Capacity: 180ml x7
- Weight: 2.14kg
- Temperature Range: Automatic
A fairly unknown brand when compared to others but I have used a number of their kitchen products and have always been happy. The Vonshef Digital Yogurt Maker is incredibly easy to use and is very affordable. I really like that it comes with 7 individual jars, allowing you to make different yogurts at the same time if you wanted to. Each pot will allow you to make 180ml of yogurt, which is around about 1 serving per pot.
With an electric yogurt maker you need to keep it on for between 8-12 hours, since its only 15 Watts it wont massively impact your electric bill. Some machines can be confusing to use, however this one does come with clear instructions. One downside is that it doesn’t have an automatic timer, but I don’t think this is not a major issue.
Vonshef do make good quality products and the VonShef Digital Yogurt Maker is no exception. Its circular in design and is made from stainless steel to give it that nice modern look. It should really fit well in most if not all kitchens.
What I Like
- Individual yogurt pots
- Incredibly easy to use
- Very affordable
- Stylish to look at
What I Don't Like
- Not able to set temperature
3. Luvele Pure Yogurt Maker
- Capacity: 400ml x4
- Dimensions: 25cm x 15cm
- Temperature Range: 36-40 Celcius
The Luvele Pure Yogurt maker is the most expensive machine in this best list, however it is still great value and well worth the price tag. It offers 1600ml capacity but this is split into 4 pots, which means you can still portion them well and even test out different flavours.
Luvele have wanted to keep things simple and instead of giving a wide range of temperature settings, they instead have 3. These are 36,38 and 40, which should be enough to create the yoghurt you are looking to make. One of the great features of this Yoghurt Maker is the automatic switch off, in case you have to nip out whilst its making and worry about leaving it on for too long and ruining your hard work.
The cost might put many people off as it is more expensive than most, however the quality does certainly warrant the price. Its build quality is incredibly high and the jars are also higher quality than alternatives.
What I Like
- Three temperature settings
- Compact design
- Good quality jars that are a decent size
- 24 hour digital timer
- Excellent ratings/reviews
What I Don't Like
- More expensive than some alternatives
4. Severin JG 3519 Yogurt Maker
- Capacity: 150ml x14
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Temperature Range: 42 °C
The Severin JG 3519 Yogurt Maker is a great choice if you are looking for something that can help you make yogurts in the masses. Even though it only holds 7 jars, it comes with 14 so you can put another batch on as soon as the first is done.
The JG 3519 is incredibly simple to use and even has a unique memory dial, to help those that are looking for a minimal yogurt machine. There are many confusing machines with lots of settings, this one is however one of the most straightforward.
If you are looking for the best low cost yogurt maker, this one might be a good choice as its is very reasonable in price.
What I Like
- Easy To Use
- 14 Jars Included
- Good Value For Money
What I Don't Like
- Some reports that its cheaper plastic
5. Aicok Electric Homemade Yogurt Maker
- Capacity: 170ml x8
- Weight: 2.66kg
- Temperature Range: 25-50 °C
When comparing other machines, the Aicok Electric Yogurt maker is slightly more sophisticated, but is not over complicated. It has a decent temperature range of 20-50 degrees Celsius and a time, which is perfect if you want to leave it making yogurts during the day whilst out. It also has an automatic shut off, which is a great feature.
Most alternatives come with 7 glass jars, however the Aicok comes with 8. I also like the fact that they are dishwasher safe, making it much easier to clean out when finished. (Crazy to think that some are not!)
The yogurt making machine itself is made from stainless steel and has a nice LED display, so is durable and will look great on your kitchen worktop. Cost wise it is a bit more expensive compared to some of the others, although still very good value. I would say that it is worth the price.
What I Like
- 8 Good Sized Jars
- Jars are dishwasher safe
- Good temperature range
- Automatic shut off
What I Don't Like
- More expensive than alternatives
- Quite heavy
6. Duronic YM2 Yogurt Maker
- Capacity: 125ml x8
- Weight: 998kg
- Temperature Range: 40 °C
In my opinion the Duronic YM2 Yogurt Maker is one of the best looking machines and even though it looks complicated, it’s still very easy to use. It is very lightweight and can easily be moved around your kitchen if needed.
Most machines will allow you to make yogurt in 8-12 hours, this one however uses a timer that can be set up to 24 hours. The benefit of this is that it gives you much more freedom, allowing you to make yogurts that are thicker or even use different milks such as soya.
The Duronic YM2 comes with an impressive 8 pots, each holding 125ml of yogurt. I feel this is an ideal size for a single portion per pot. The pots themselves are made of high quality ceramic and not some cheap plastic, they are airtight and are dishwasher safe.
Price wise, it is probably one of the more expensive. I do however think it’s worth every penny, as its high quality, full of features and incredibly simple to use.
What I Like
- Good amount of jars
- Easy to clean
- Looks great
What I Don't Like
- No auto shut off
Yogurt Machine - A Buyers Guide
There are so many machines available, how are you going to know which is the best yogurt maker for you and your needs? Below I have written a comprehensive guide to help you find the right one.
Temperate Controls
Did you know that regular yogurt, greek yogurt and Kafir all require different temperatures to make? Advanced and more modern yogurt machines will give you the option to pick a desired temperature, whereas others might only have a couple of pre-sets.
How Much Yogurt Can It Make?
Are you looking to make homemade yogurt for just yourself, your partner or your family? The amount of yogurt you are going to make would determine which brand you get. These machines will either come with one large pot or several smaller pots, the bigger the machine the more jars it will usually have. The great thing about these jars is that you can test out different types or flavours of yogurts.
How Easy Is It To Clean?
One of the things I get frustrated about with some kitchen equipment is how hard it is to clean, I have had blenders in the past that I would simply refuse to use again as they are such a pain. When looking for a good yogurt maker, I would therefore look for one that will make life easier and therefore be easy to clean.
I would personally look for one that is dishwasher safe or you can at least put some of it in the dishwasher. It’s important to make sure everything is completely clean before using again, since its going through fermentation.
What type of yogurt do you want to make? (Regular or Greek Yogurt)
The yogurt maker you decide to buy should be capable of the type of yogurt you intend to make. If you are wanting to make greek yogurt then you don’t want to be getting a machine that will only make regular yogurt. At the same time if you want to make Kafir then you need to get one that can make yogurt at a lower temperature.
Most modern machines will allow you to make all different types, and most of the ones in the best list above will.
How Long Does It Take To Make?
Typically it will take 8-12 hours for your yogurt to ferment, some other types might take a bit longer. I would always recommend going for a machine that has a timer and ideally an auto shut off, so you don’t have to worry about it staying on if you have had to nip out.
Price
Price is naturally a big factor for many of us when we look for a yogurt maker, you don’t want to spend too much and waste money but at the same time you don’t want to get a cheap one that will break.
The great thing about them is that you can actually get a really good machine at a very responsible price. You can get a good one by spending as little as £20-£30 and its really only the Luvele pure that is over the £50 price tag.
How To Make Yogurt With A Yogurt Maker
If you are looking to make yogurt with a yogurt maker, you are going to need a few things other than the machine itself.
- Saucepan
- Liquid Thermometer
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
- Ladle
- Fresh Milk
- Starter Yogurt
Before you get started, make sure you read the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your yogurt maker.
1. Heating the milk
The first thing you need to do is to heat the milk, place it into a saucepan and heat on medium. After a couple of minutes the milk will start to heat up, once its making foam along the edge you want to take it off the heat.
Do not mix the yogurt in just yet as it will be too hot and will split. It’s important that you wait for it to cool down to about 110F, which is why you need the thermometer.
2. Tempering
It’s important that you don’t just pour all of the yogurt into the milk, you need to do it gradually. Once the milk is at temperature, get the ladle and pour a ladle’s worth of yogurt into the milk and stir with a wooden spoon. You want to continue doing this until it has a smooth texture and the milk and yogurt has blended properly.
3. Place into the yogurt maker
Now it’s time to pop it into the machine.
Place it into the pot provided, whether it’s a single large one or multiple small ones. Make sure the pots are clean on the outside and then pop them into the yogurt maker. Leave for 8-12 hours (depending on recipe). Once done, it is recommended to put it into the fridge for 3-4 hours.
Cleaning & Caring For Your Yogurt Maker
If you want your equipment to last many years of continued use, you need to make sure you look after it and keep it clean.
Blades should be washed after every use
With continued use the blades will get build up on them, it’s therefore important that you take the blades off after every use and give them a really good clean. This is also incredibly important for general food hygiene reasons.
Use a dishwasher when possible
Check whether or not parts of your yogurt maker can be placed into the dishwasher. If they can then I would put these into the dishwasher after every use. It’s important that you ONLY put them in the dishwasher when the instructions advise that you can.
Common Questions
Should I buy a Yogurt Maker?
If you love the taste of yogurt and you eat a lot of it, you should buy one. Making homemade yogurt will often save you some money as it is usually cheaper than store bought. Its also important to remember that store bought yogurts will often have artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and flavorings. One ingredient that puts many of is pectin, which is used to thicken it.
When you make it yourself, you know exactly what is in it. This makes homemade a lot more healthier for you than the store bought ones.
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Top Yogurt Makers
