The 6 Best Yogurt Makers of 2024

What to Look for in a Yogurt Maker

Size and Capacity

How much yogurt your family eats will help determine how big of a yogurt maker you need. Some models make yogurt in one large container, while others have multiple smaller jars, which may be more convenient if you want to make different flavors at the same time. For comparison purposes, most single-serving yogurt cups you find at the supermarket hold between 5 and 6 ounces.

But you'll also have to consider how much room the yogurt maker takes up on your countertop. A higher-capacity machine will generally be physically larger, though some have clever layouts that help pack more yogurt into the same space, such as stacking shelves.

Features

It doesn't take a very complex procedure to make yogurt: You just need to hold milk at a warm temperature for several hours. The setup can be as simple as wrapping a jar with an insulating towel, but most yogurt-making machines offer additional features to control the process and make it even easier. Features like auto-shutoff and timers keep you from having to monitor things at all times, while adjustable temperature gauges allow you to get just the right consistency.

You also may not need a dedicated yogurt maker if you already have an Instant Pot or similar multi-cooker appliance. Many of these have yogurt modes that can hold the right temperature for the long time required.

Accessories

The most basic yogurt makers just have a single container that the milk ferments in. Others come with multiple jars that you can use for multiple flavors at the same time, along with storage lids. Your device might include a strainer for making Greek-style yogurt, too. You'll likely need starter culture to start fermenting yogurt, and some makers include a few envelopes of that, as well. If it's a multifunctional machine, it's also likely to include accessories for pressure-cooking, sautéing, and any other cooking methods available, but these don't help you make yogurt specifically.

Power

Electric yogurt makers plug into the wall and use a heating element to maintain fermentation temperature. This doesn't require very much power, so you generally don't need to worry about a machine's wattage level. It's more important that it can keep the temperature steady. There are also unpowered yogurt makers that simply use insulation to hold heat: You put warm milk inside and the device keeps it warm for long enough to create yogurt.

FAQs

How does a yogurt maker work? 

Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with a mix of bacteria (often called yogurt cultures). The cultures consume natural sugars in the milk and create acids that not only contribute tangy flavor but also make proteins clump together to thicken the final product. A yogurt maker maintains the optimal fermentation temperature of 90 to 120 degrees for the hours needed to create proper yogurt.

The first step is to heat milk up to about 180 degrees on the stove. This step isn't totally necessary, but the high heat kills any undesirable microorganisms and starts to break down proteins. This helps ensure a smooth-textured yogurt rather than a chunky homemade-cheese kind of texture.

After heating, let the milk cool down to 110 degrees or so and add a starter in the form of a packet of yogurt cultures or a spoonful of yogurt from a previous batch, then pour the mixture into the machine, turn it on, and wait. After 8 to 12 hours, you'll have creamy finished yogurt.

How do you make vegan yogurt?

Pretty much exactly the same way as dairy yogurt, by fermenting milk. Non-dairy milks made from ingredients like soy, coconut, rice, almond, cashew, or even potato are all mixtures of sugar, fat, and protein that can be fermented by the same cultures that make dairy yogurt, with similar results. This will work with store-bought or homemade vegan milks, too. The exact temperature, time, and mix of cultures affect the final results, so it might take some experimentation to perfect the procedure with different types of milk.

Is homemade yogurt healthier than store-bought?

It can be, but it isn't always. Many store-bought yogurts use stabilizers, thickeners, and other additives to create a uniform texture across huge batches, something that just isn't necessary with the homemade stuff. Some brands—especially flavored ones—also add tons of sugar, which can be replaced with fresh fruit in homemade yogurt. That said, there are plenty of all-natural, additive-free yogurts available at the supermarket that aren't very different from homemade.

Is homemade yogurt cheaper than store-bought?

For the most part, yes. Think of it this way: A quart of milk makes the equivalent of about six single-serving cups of yogurt. If you buy the milk for $2, that works out to about 33 cents per serving, which is a great deal. However, there are expensive milks and cheap yogurts out there, so store-bought isn't automatically cheaper.

What can I use as a yogurt starter?

The most common way to make homemade yogurt is to use prepackaged starter cultures, which come in powdered form you stir into the warm milk just before it goes into the yogurt maker. There are many different varieties of cultures, each of which has a slightly different mix of microorganisms that create different flavors and textures.

Another method is to simply stir in a spoonful of a previous batch of yogurt, somewhat like using sourdough starter for bread. This can work using homemade or store-bought yogurt as the starter. However, unlike with bread dough, it's not a good idea to just set the warm milk out to be inoculated with the wild yeast and bacteria in the air. This can make the yogurt taste bad, get moldy, or even make you sick.

How long does homemade yogurt last?

The fermentation process helps preserve it, but yogurt—homemade or not—should always go in the refrigerator. A homemade batch will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge. Much like with milk, you should throw it out if it starts to smell or taste bad, or if it starts to change color or grow mold on top. If you plan to use yogurt as a starter for the next batch, it's best to do so within about a week, as the live cultures become less active over time.

How do you clean a yogurt maker?

The proper cleaning technique for a yogurt maker depends on the machine, and you should always follow your machine's instructions. Removable glass or plastic jars are often dishwasher-safe, while you'll have to unplug and wipe down the body of the machine with a damp cloth or sponge. Never let any electrical parts get submerged in water.

How do you make Greek yogurt?

Denser and creamier than standard yogurt, Greek yogurt is made by straining liquid whey out of the fermented mixture. This results in a higher-protein, lower-sugar, thicker yogurt. (Skyr, an Icelandic style of yogurt, is also strained in a similar way.)

If you're planning to strain your yogurt, you should let it cool to roughly room temperature before straining. There are dedicated strainer devices for making Greek yogurt, but you can also use a cheesecloth set over a bowl for a similar result. At room temperature, it should only take an hour to two to remove a good amount of liquid and get proper Greek yogurt. Alternatively, you can put the strainer in the fridge and let it drip overnight (or 8 to 12 hours) for similar results.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Lindsay Boyers is a certified holistic nutritionist with extensive nutrition knowledge and cooking experience. She’s developed over 1,000 original recipes and is constantly on a mission to find the best cooking gadgets at the best prices to help make life in the kitchen more streamlined and efficient.

This roundup was updated by Sharon Lehman, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist who happily makes space for any gadget that makes cooking faster and easier. She personally tested one yogurt maker on this roundup. It was further updated by The Spruce Eats commerce writer Jason Horn, who honestly isn't a big yogurt eater but has become obsessed with the biochemistry of fermentation in his 15-plus years writing about food and drinks.