The working principle of a yogurt maker. Basic rules for using a homemade yogurt maker. How does a yogurt maker work?

Technical progress does not stand still, giving women new inventions every year. Now it’s the turn of dairy product lovers to receive their present. A new kitchen device - a yogurt maker - is designed for making this delicacy at home. Now, when purchasing, gourmets do not have to worry about the expiration date and usefulness of the purchased product. They will optionally have fresh yogurt without dyes or preservatives.

Job Description

This unique device acts on milk placed inside, converting it into fermented milk products. Using this unit you can prepare the following products from milk and sourdough:

• yogurt;
• sour cream of different fat content;
• kefir;
• ice cream;
• cottage cheese.

To prepare it, just mix milk and starter in a certain proportion, add the desired toppings (vanillin, berries, jam). Pour the resulting mixture into glasses and place them inside the device for the required time. After the timer rings, the resulting product must be placed in the refrigerator. Depending on the configuration, you can make one dish at a time or several at once. This equipment is also good because it does not consume a lot of energy, which allows you to get high-quality food while spending much less money than purchasing its store-bought counterpart.

Operating principle

The production of your favorite products is achieved by the 40-degree temperature created by the device, which is the optimal environment for the development of bacteria that ensure the fermentation of milk. To get your favorite treat you need to follow all the instructions:

1. Before using the device, pour boiling water over the cooking containers.
2. Warm the milk to room temperature and add the starter. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly. Attention! The mass should be homogeneous and without lumps.
3. Distribute the mixture into containers and seal tightly with boiled lids.
4. Load the containers into the machine and set the timer for the required cooking time.

Important! Be sure to immediately put the finished product in the refrigerator. If this is not done, the bacteria will continue to multiply and make the food unfit for consumption.

Yogurt is very beneficial for the digestive tract, but only when it is natural. Stores mainly sell a product that contains various dyes, thickeners and other additives, and natural yogurt is expensive. Such modern household appliances as a yogurt maker allow you to prepare a healthy and tasty natural fermented milk product at home.

Species

There are several types of yogurt makers, which differ from each other in several parameters.

According to the principle of operation, such devices can be of the following types:

• Works on the principle of a thermos. Gradually, the form with its contents heats up to 60 degrees, after which the device turns off. Due to its high thermal insulation characteristics, heat is retained for a period of time that is sufficient to obtain finished yogurt. Such devices allow you to prepare this product in just 4-5 hours, and not in 8-10, but their cost will be high.
• Operate at constant temperature. In this case, heating occurs up to 40 degrees and is then maintained at this level until the end of the cooking process. If the device is not equipped with a shutdown timer, the fermented milk product may overheat. In such devices you can use not only factory cups, but also baby food jars, which is very convenient.

There is a division into types and by the number of jars that can be installed in the device at the same time:

• With several glasses, there can be from 4 to 15 pieces. This allows you to do simultaneously different types yogurt and it is convenient to take cups, without affecting the contents in other glasses. The disadvantage is that you have to pour the starter and milk into each glass separately, and then wash them, this takes more time.

• With one container. Usually its volume is about 1-1.5 liters, this is convenient when you need to simultaneously get a lot of fermented milk product for a large family or for making homemade baked goods, but you can prepare only one type of yogurt at a time.

In addition, cups made from different materials. Plastic products are designed for temperatures from -20 to + 120 degrees, they are light in weight and do not break, but unscrupulous manufacturers may use low-quality material, which will emit when heated harmful substances. Glass cups will not emit harmful substances, but they break easily, and finding a similar replacement is not always easy.

Device

The yogurt maker can be made in the form of a square, rectangular or round container with a transparent lid. In order for lactobacilli to develop well, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature, so the walls of the device have good thermal insulation characteristics.

If cups are used, there are usually 5-7 of them, their capacity is 125 or 150 ml. They also have heating element, with which heating is carried out. The control panel has a button to turn on the device, and the presence of a timer allows you to set the cooking time for the fermented milk product. Experimentally, you can learn how to produce yogurt of varying thickness and acidity.

Operating principle

The design of this device is quite simple, so devices from different manufacturers are similar to each other. Milk and lactic acid bacteria are poured into a bowl or cups, after which it is placed in a yogurt maker. If there is a timer, then the cooking time is set, and if there is none, then the device is simply plugged in. Using a heating element, the required temperature of the product is achieved, and then it is maintained within specified limits. The presence of thermal insulation walls allows you to maintain temperature well. After some time, depending on the model, this can be from 4 to 10 hours; you need to turn off the device or this will happen automatically.

Since the yogurt maker is silent, you can turn it on at night without disturbing your sleep. During operation, do not move or rearrange the yogurt maker.

Scope of application

This device is designed for preparing yogurt, and it can be drinkable or thick. To do this, you will need fresh milk and a special starter, which can be purchased at a store or pharmacy. A mixer is used to mix the milk and starter, but you can also do it manually.

A modern yogurt maker can also be used for making sour cream or kefir, fermented baked milk, fermented milk cheese, fruit desserts, ice cream. Each product has its own recipe, cooking time and different starters.

How to choose the right one

• Power. The devices have a power in the range of 8-20 W, but there are devices with higher power. The quality of preparation of the finished product practically does not depend on this indicator, but electricity consumption will also increase with its increase. During operation, the device periodically turns off, so even a powerful model will spend a small amount of electricity during the entire cooking process.
• Capacity. There may be several cups, or one container, but on average the total amount of prepared product is about 1.2 liters. For small children, it is better to use devices with several cups, as they can be used to prepare yogurt with different fillings and are more convenient to store it.
• Lid. It is more convenient when the lid is plastic, since it does not come into contact with the product, so there is no chance of harmful substances getting into it. The glass cover may break, and it is very difficult to find the same one, and you may need to purchase a new device.
• Automatic shutdown. This is a convenient feature, but its presence increases the cost of the device. In this case, the cooking process occurs automatically and after its completion, the unit will turn off automatically. If you purchase budget option, in which there is only a light or sound indication notifying the end of cooking, then you will have to turn off the device manually.
• Additional features. There are a number of functions that provide more comfortable use of such a device, these include: automatic cord winding, electronic screen, timer, and the ability to mark dates on cups.

Pros and cons

Before you start buying a yogurt maker, you need to familiarize yourself with its advantages and disadvantages.

The yogurt maker has the following advantages:

• Possibility of obtaining a tasty, healthy and fresh natural product.
• Easy to use, you just need to pour the mixture, and then everything happens without human intervention.
• Silent operation, so you can cook at night.
• The ability to prepare not only yogurt, but also other fermented milk products.

There are practically no disadvantages to this technique, but the following can be noted:

• A yogurt maker is intended only for preparing fermented dairy products, so many housewives prefer to use multifunctional appliances.
• It takes a lot of time to prepare, but these are fermented milk products and you can’t get them any other way.
• You'll have to buy special starters, at least for the first time, then you can save some yogurt and use it to make a new one, but it's still cheaper than buying a ready-made product in the store.
• Occupies a certain place in the kitchen.
• Since the yogurt maker is electric, its operation, although in minimal quantities, still requires electricity.

Secrets of making delicious yogurt

In order to get tasty and healthy yogurt at home, you need to know the following features of its preparation:

• Homemade milk should be boiled and used after it has cooled to 40 degrees.
• There is no need to add fruit to unprepared yogurt; it is better to do this after preparing it or at the very last moment before use.
• The calorie content of the finished product depends on the fat content of the milk used.
• For sweetness, it is better to add honey rather than sugar.
• While the device is operating, it should not be shaken or moved, otherwise the consistency of the product may be incorrect.
• After preparation, the yogurt should be placed in the refrigerator for several hours to obtain a soft and dense consistency.

A yogurt maker is a simple but convenient kitchen appliance with which you can easily prepare various fermented milk products. You shouldn’t overpay a lot of money for a famous brand, since the design of such devices is the same and it’s enough to just choose according technical specifications one that will suit your requirements.

A yogurt maker makes preparing this miraculous drink as easy as possible. Ignoring the position of some doctors against acidic bacteria, we must admit: the device is useful. The difficulty is the need to firmly maintain the temperature. When the threshold of 45 degrees Celsius is exceeded, bacteria pharmacy kit to make yogurt they feel faint. Let's reduce the effectiveness of using such nutrition to zero. Let's see how to choose a yogurt maker.

Interesting! Most bifidobacteria and lactobacilli grow within a limited temperature range. Not without reason: they are called upon to populate the human intestine, where the constancy of the environment is maintained by homeostasis. Factor affects pathogenic flora. Salmonella thrives when encouraged by temperatures ranging from 4 to 45 degrees Celsius. Laboratory strains are grown at 37-38 degrees.

The work of a yogurt maker

A row of jars with prepared ingredients is lined up on a tray equipped with a heating element. Typical yogurt maker. The process is simple: you need to keep the product at a given temperature for several hours. The functions of the yogurt maker are limited to providing laboratory conditions. Inside there is a thermal relay that controls the operation of the heating element according to sensor readings. Where the temperature can be changed, the circuit changes the settings. As a result, the operating mode of the relay changes.

Temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius are harmful to bacteria. Avoid abusing user settings. The heating mode of multicookers is not suitable for the purpose of making yogurt - it is too hot. Not all devices work the same. According to the consultant of the “Everything Will Be Good” program, at least two functioning schemes have been developed:

1. In the first case, the yogurt maker heats the compartment evenly, achieving a temperature of 40 degrees, and maintains the mode for the required amount of time.
2. In the second case, the temperature reaches 60 degrees Celsius, then drops evenly. The process continues cyclically for the required time. Helps reduce the number of relay trips.

How to choose a yogurt maker. The advantage of the second solution: the ability to work in any conditions, ignoring temperature environment. The heating element is powerful, otherwise it would take a long time to heat up to a temperature of 60 degrees. The main sign of differentiation between the two families in the store. Let's remember: the power consumption of the multicooker in heating mode is 20 W. With a yogurt maker we have a much smaller volume. Choose below 15W. Surely the device works according to the first scheme and will not harm bacteria.

What properties does a yogurt maker have?

The device is represented by a heated tray. The surface is traditionally flat, sometimes molded. Which one to choose? In the first case, we can use our own container to infuse the starter. The purchased one is out of order, we take baby food from the store. We eat the contents and use the jar as a container for making yogurt.

As a result, you can flexibly vary tasks. Manufacturers use a cut bottom for two reasons:

• Force the consumer to buy containers if the old one fails.
• Ensure uniform heating using simple means.

Obviously, there is no need to indulge the first desire; the second group of yogurt makers can be distinguished by their relatively deep nests for jars. The principle is this: the air in the tray warms up, the heat spreads to the tray. The air acts as a heat accumulator, making cooking more efficient. Which option to choose, decide for yourself. Considering the plight of the country's inhabitants, you will probably like the flat bottom; we can put any utensils in the yogurt maker.

The container is glass, or you can throw it away after purchase and replace it with homemade one. According to the rules, plastic surgery for food products contains a special icon: glass plus fork. None - Avoid trying to use yogurt cups. You can trust yogurt makers made in China. They stopped producing plastic, which is the cause of the strongest allergic reactions. After standing for hours of cooking, the yogurt will become saturated with harmful substances.

Regarding steel, let us take into account: foreign brands do not compare well with ours (used by the USSR for the manufacture of dishes). Complements the question of choosing the body material. There is zero difference to the average person: the brand obviously diverges from the hygiene standards of the Union. Why did they remember the USSR? There were much fewer problems of this kind; there were plenty of canteens and other catering establishments. Consequently, we will accept the norms of a collapsed state as a standard. The West is overwhelmed by allergies; the USSR was rarely affected by atypical reactions of the immune system.

You can buy a cheap model - a source of low-quality plastic, throw away the container, and replace it with glass. The cans are open when preparing the drink. Sour milk will absorb a lot of harmful substances from the environment, emitted by the lid and tray, the effect is much lower than that described above. Feature food products - adsorb harmful substances (sugar gains odor).

Let's summarize:

Which manufacturer to choose. Visit Yandex Market. Apparently, yogurt makers can hardly be called top-end products at a first approximation. The cost is relatively low. Therefore, it is easy to pay an extra 500 rubles when buying a brand name. In conclusion, most yogurt makers have simple qualities. For example, some have a double lid, we put the caps of the cans there. We cannot answer the question regarding the existence of meaning; everyone is free to decide for themselves.

Quantitative characteristics of the yogurt maker

Yogurt makers of different sizes. The capacity of the cup is 200 ml, the volume is often measured by the number of cups. At first glance it’s unusual, but later you get used to it. Yogurt cannot be stored for a long time; the prepared supply is enough for a week. Choose your container accordingly. Be guided by the number of eaters, appetite, tastes. We avoid giving recommendations from doctors: Hiromi Shinya shares a negative opinion about the use of medicinal purposes fermented milk products, including yoghurts.

Please note: the power of the yogurt maker does not depend on the size. Processes proceed inertially. There is nowhere to rush; the heating rate does not play a leading role. Can be demonstrated with an example. Let's say there are 2 liters of yogurt inside at room temperature +22 degrees Celsius.

The specific heat of milk is 5% lower than water. We find the amount of energy spent on heating the volume to 40 degrees. 3.9 x 2 x 18 = 140 kJ. Using a power of 15 W, we continue heating for 2.5 hours. The existence of models equipped with high power consumption becomes clear. Let's speed up the cooking process. An initial temperature of 60 degrees will speed up heat transfer. The professional’s opinion was retold above.

The larger the volume, the longer the cooking process will take at the same power. It will take quite some time. Let us explain, the yogurt maker works for 6-8 hours to get the result. Decide for yourself whether one hour plays a role. We hope we explained to readers how to choose a yogurt maker.

Cooking process, drinking yogurt: harm and benefit

The author of the note reporting: pieces of yogurt fruit are sterilized by gamma radiation is unknown. More precisely, in addition to thermal effects (pasteurization), a number of methods for destroying microbes have been invented. Let's touch on briefly, process concerns yoghurts. I wonder if gamma radiation kills lactic acid bacteria. Like everything alive. Which yogurt maker is better to buy, filling the drink with the fruits of your own garden, stuffed with pesticides, insecticides, watered with acid rain, devoid of radiation.

Hiromi Shinya, a true American Japanese, is against dairy products, yogurt maker. The luminary of medicine says: the products are unnatural, deeply alien to the adult body, and cause intestinal disorders. He writes: the lion's share of yogurt bacteria is destroyed by the acid of the gastric juice; those that pass the barrier cause negative consequences. We take trivial diarrhea to relieve constipation with yogurt. Great!

We are inclined to believe that in Japan what has been said is true. Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun are accustomed to eating mostly products of plant origin, caught from the ocean; yogurt makers rarely remember. Joe Weider, a considerable expert in nutrition, writes: science has found that people are more suited to foods grown in their native area. The Chinese love rice, the Belarusians love potatoes. Since the time of Columbus, the fruit has reached Russian soil.

Our grandmothers and grandfathers did not make yogurt; every family, except the poor, chewed cows. We are powerless to believe that strong peasant families who have not tried seafood were wrong. Therefore, Hiromi Shinya is right in particulars, and is probably close to the truth regarding yogurt. An additional blow will be food sterilization methods. Science produces yogurt as if it were planning to destroy the population. Some ways:

1. In pharmaceuticals and some other areas, treatment with ethylene oxide is popular. The gas destroys microbes. It must be said right away: the yogurt was processed after packaging, the container allows EO to pass through. The materials are produced in factories, the container is expensive. It is interesting that after exposure to the sterilizing factor, time must pass: the gas will disappear. Sometimes it takes weeks. Along the way, the laboratory monitors that microbes do not resume growth. Products sterilized by the EO method are equipped with a detector strip for the presence of pathogenic factors.
2. The second method uses exposure to gamma radiation. High frequencies that penetrate everywhere. Light, compared to gamma particles, occupies the bottom of the spectrum; WiFi 2.4 GHz from a height is simply not visible on the graph. Thanks to its pervasive properties, radiation is omnipresent, destroying the DNA chains of microbes, blocking reproduction, killing. Not every material can withstand radiation. Today there are a lot of patented brands.

Rumors have surfaced: yogurt pieces of fruit are being processed in a dangerous way. First, readers were asked whether gamma radiation kills lactic acid bacteria. Imagine, the milkmen closed up the yogurt with fruit in packs, they are powerless to process it - the benefits are lost. We believe that the process of preparing yogurt is complemented by sterilization and pasteurization of milk. The fruit is discarded, bacteria are added, sealed, placed in a warm place, and never touched again. To ensure that the fruit pulp is evenly distributed, mechanical manipulation is performed.

The detailed technology of yogurt production is kept silent by factories. It is the reader's responsibility to understand the following:

• Rospotrebnadzor is unable to control the quality of yogurt starter throughout Russia.
• The electron radiation method is relatively safe (they didn’t tell), it’s just being introduced, it’s expensive, and the container has not been invented.
• One can only guess where the fruits and berries come from. What did you do with the yogurt ingredients before packaging?

Readers will exclaim: it’s not better to buy a starter for a yogurt maker and make some goodies with your own hands. We are directly reviewing yogurt makers.

Choosing a yogurt maker

The first thing you should learn is that a rare yogurt maker can turn itself off. We missed the moment, the drink will thicken for a while, then who knows what will happen. Is it possible to drink? Yes. but we cannot recommend it to readers. Please note that you can make yogurt thicker by choosing full-fat milk or by increasing the exposure time. By lengthening the cooking cycle.

Conventionally, we will divide the yogurt makers as follows, guided by the type of control of the cooking progress:

1. Automatic yogurt makers turn off automatically when the work cycle is completed. Convenient, expensive (heart, pocket) option.
2. Yogurt makers equipped with a built-in alarm clock will announce the appointed hour: it’s time to take out the cups and fill the refrigerator.
3. Simple yogurt makers are fun at the same time. They work all the way, some are equipped with a mechanical marker. Scale 1 - 12 on the front panel of the yogurt maker: a person sets the start time or end time of the cycle. Then we run around the kitchen, checking the clock on the yogurt maker. The first person to notice the end of the cycle receives a delicious glass. Others will first remove the thicker drink, then who knows what from the yogurt maker (good bacteria die, harmful bacteria that get into the milk from the air or dirty dishes multiply).

It’s hard to do without mechanical fun markers; they don’t require power. electric shock. It becomes possible to indicate the day and hour on each glass; it helps to properly store fresh starter and yogurt. We said earlier: an expired product acquires the wrong taste, we avoid going into more detail.

Yogurt is stored in the refrigerator, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli are almost eaten nutrients, are powerless to reproduce further (we will consolidate the result with low temperature). At normal temperatures, the drink will be attacked by harmful strains and will find something to profit from.

Plastic cups in yogurt makers are going out of fashion today. Glass yogurt jars are easier to boil, sterilize (without using gamma radiation), preferable. Advanced manufacturers make a working compartment; a third-party, standard glass container fits under the lid.

Let's check whether you can buy jars for a yogurt maker in a food supermarket and, freeing them from excess mayonnaise, use them for their intended purpose. It is recommended to carry out small measuring operations. Concerns third-party glass containers of the food retailer, the working compartment of the selected device. As a result of simple mathematical operations and elementary imagination, everyone will be able to tell which yogurt maker to buy from those standing on the counter.

The house is full of Soviet jars - it’s logical to try on old ones. Please note: if the temperature in the yogurt maker is low, the plastic lids do not suffer; we will come up with something else to sterilize the lids. Clearly, gamma radiation is useless. There are rumors: you can boil the lid for 5 - 10 minutes, try the advice first. Rather, we are talking about the old Soviet ones; the yogurt makers sold to cover the containers are different.

The factory packaging supplied with the product is square. Logical. Round jars are made based on considerations of saving material and increasing strength. Square containers rationally fill the volume. Remember when you start choosing cups for the Tefal yogurt maker. The named brand is considered a leader, along with Ariete. Women believe that yogurt makers from these companies are of good quality at affordable prices.

The story is incomplete if the authors do not mention the controls: it can be mechanical, electronic. The first is much more accurate; it cannot be said that yogurt makers cost much more. The electronics turn off automatically. Knowing the intricacies, manufacturers do not try to produce a mechanical yogurt maker equipped with a timer. They work until the chef whistles!

Next time we promise to discuss how to buy a yogurt-ice cream maker. There are a lot of household appliances, it’s dizzying. The opportunities are duplicated, the real question is where to invest the money. Multicookers are often equipped with a function for making yogurt. It makes no sense for device owners to pay more. The yogurt maker costs money. Not much, around a thousand. What do we get by purchasing a separate device?

Firstly, the yogurt maker, with few exceptions, will fit more jars. Secondly, there is no need to occupy the main device - the multicooker - with additional needs. Thirdly, the multicooker works according to the program; the yogurt maker, as discussed above, in the worst case, may forget to call the owner.

Yogurt is a healthy fermented milk product. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines, strengthens the immune system, and is a source of calcium, milk protein and other elements necessary for humans.

The stores offer a wide range of different yoghurts - both natural and with various flavoring additives. Unfortunately, you can’t always be sure of their quality. If you care about the health of your loved ones, it is better to buy a yogurt maker - a household appliance that makes it easy to prepare delicious fermented milk products at home.

Types and features of yogurt makers

To make yogurt, you need two starting components: milk and starter culture. You can buy a special powder at the pharmacy or use regular kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, Actimel or another product that contains live bacteria instead.

According to the principle of operation, they are divided into two types:

• Thermoses.
• Network-powered models.

Yogurt maker-thermos belongs to the most simple devices. It consists of two containers: external and internal, which is used directly for ripening. The set also includes a stand and cover.

As you can see, the design is really very simple. The main advantage of this model is that it does not depend on electricity; to maintain the temperature it only needs hot water. Another advantage is low cost.

Of course, if you first need to save money, then yogurt can be prepared in a regular thermos or even in a glass jar. But in this case you will have to preheat the milk on the stove or in microwave oven up to 37-40 degrees, accurately measuring the temperature - otherwise the product will not turn out or will acquire an unpleasant taste.

Characteristics of yogurt makers

The main characteristics of yogurt makers include:

• number of containers;
• volume of finished product;
• the material from which the jars are made;
• possibility of marking;
• number of modes;
• power consumption;
• presence of a display;
• automatic shutdown function;
• timer;
• sound indication.

Yogurt makers have different number of containers– they produce models with both one and several jars (usually from 4 to 12). The jars also vary in size, they can hold 100-200 ml of yogurt. On average finished product volume for models with multiple containers it is 1.2-1.4 liters.

Which device to choose depends on the number of eaters and whether you plan to add various fillers to the product. If you will be preparing yogurt for a large family, it is better to purchase a model that includes several jars. This will allow you to immediately distribute the product into portions and will be more convenient from a storage point of view.

Another important characteristic is the material from which the jars are made. Options with glass, plastic and ceramic containers are available.

Glass jars are safe for health and easy to clean, they can be sterilized frequently. The main disadvantage of such containers is that they break when dropped. Many manufacturers sell sets of replacement glass cups, but the price is often comparable to the cost of a new yogurt maker. There is another way out - in order not to waste money, you can replace the broken one with a similar jar of baby food.

Plastic containers are lighter and more durable, but they have their own peculiarity. Even in high-quality plastic, microscopic cracks appear over time, where food residues begin to accumulate and microbes begin to multiply. If the manufacturer has not paid due attention to the quality of the plastic, then it can be dangerous, releasing toxic substances during heating.

The third type of jars - ceramic. They are as healthy as glass ones, but at the same time they are more durable and distribute heat well - this minimizes the risk that the yogurt will fail. The only disadvantage of models with ceramic containers is their price - they usually cost more than devices with glass or plastic cups.

Not only the jars differ, but also the lids of the yogurt makers. They are mostly plastic, but there are also models with glass lids. In this case, the material is not too important since it does not come into direct contact with the yogurt. On the contrary, the glass lid is not very practical - if it breaks, it is unlikely that you will be able to find a replacement.

Devices with a completely flat bottom are more convenient: you can place any glass, plastic or ceramic dishes of a suitable height in them.

Power consumption Most standard yogurt makers range from 10 to 20 W, but models are also produced that consume 40-50 W. This characteristic is not too important when choosing - yogurt makers do not consume a lot of electricity.

Makes it easier to use and auto shut off function. You can put jars of milk and sourdough in such a yogurt maker and leave home - the device will turn itself off after a certain time.

Timer allows you to set the time intervals required to obtain different products. For example, it takes 6-9 hours to prepare yogurt using dry VIVO starter, 8-10 hours for cottage cheese, and 10-12 hours for kefir. Sound indicator will tell you when to turn off the device.

Yogurt makers may have other useful options, such as automatic cord winding or a compartment in the body for storing it.

Selection criteria

When choosing, first of all, decide how many jars you need. If you plan to prepare kefir, fermented milk salad dressings, or cottage cheese, which will later be used for casseroles or cheesecakes, it is better to choose a model with one container.

When fermented milk products are primarily intended for feeding young children, optimal choice will become

Good day, dear readers!

Today we will get to know you better about such wonderful kitchen appliances as - yogurt maker, and also find out its purpose and characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing a yogurt maker. So…

Yogurt maker– an electric household appliance for making yogurt at home.

The first yogurt makers appeared in Western countries and quickly gained popularity throughout the world. Now they are produced by different manufacturers, but practically do not differ from each other. It is worth noting that the function of making yogurt is also present in some.

Of course, for many this is a completely unnecessary household appliance, but let me highlight some of the advantages of this kitchen appliance:

- the first advantage, of course, is that making homemade yogurt is a healthy fermented milk product, especially useful if it is consumed without additional preservatives and other chemical impurities used in many store-bought yogurts;

— in a yogurt maker you can also make homemade sour cream and kefir, and in some models even cottage cheese.

As a result, we can always have a natural product at hand, this is especially true if there are children in the house, whose bodies should be properly nourished.

Perhaps earlier, during the times of the USSR, there was no need to have such kitchen appliances, because those dairy and other food products had a completely different level of quality, but what can I say now... Let's leave it.

How the yogurt maker works

The principle of operation of the yogurt maker is to heat the milk mixture, previously tightly closed in a jar/container, at a certain temperature for a certain amount of time, turning the milk mixture into required product– yogurt, kefir, sour cream or cottage cheese. Heating is provided by a heating element located in the device body. Power is supplied from the mains.

Cheaper yogurt makers do not have a heating element. Preparation of the product comes down to the initial heating of milk, which, along with other ingredients, is poured into a special thermos container, and after a few hours, usually 8-10, the product is ready for use.

All yogurt makers are mainly divided into 2 types - a yogurt maker with several jars (5-12) and a yogurt maker with 1 large container.

Cooking type

As I already wrote above, in principle the operation of yogurt makers, these devices are divided into manual and electric.

Manual yogurt makers are not heated. You yourself need to heat the mixture and then place it in a container that is shaped like a thermos. Next, the mixture “languishes” until it turns into a fermented milk product.

Electric yogurt makers have a heating element. You just need to pour everything into the cooking container and plug the device into a power outlet. Of course, further preparation still depends on other characteristics, but the principle is approximately the same.

Characteristics of yogurt makers

After a short excursion into the world of yogurt, let's now look at what you need to look for when choosing a yogurt maker.

Control type

Yogurt makers can have mechanical or electronic controls. Electronic is more preferable, although it is not the most important parameter when choosing a yogurt maker.

Container for preparing yoghurt (jars-cups)

As I already wrote above, the number of containers in a yogurt maker can be 1 large or 6-12 small.

A large container, as a rule, has a volume for preparing food in the region of 1 liter.

Small glasses have a volume, depending on the model, from 100 to 250 ml.

Be that as it may, the total volume of the product, both in the first and in the second type of yogurt maker, comes out in a volume of 750 to 1.5 liters.

Bowl or cup material

The bowl or cups of yogurt makers can be made of glass or plastic. Of course, the plastic used is certified and safe for health, but, nevertheless, it is better to choose glass, because... You never know, given the entrepreneurial spirit of modern people, you can buy anything. In addition, glass cups can be used to heat other products, because... They are usually heat resistant.

Power

The power of most yogurt makers ranges from 12 to 20 W, which is enough to maintain the required temperature for preparing yogurt, but there are also other models on the market with a power of 600 W, which is necessary for more heating so that you can prepare various desserts.

Markers

Some models of yogurt makers have so-called markers. For some they are located on the very lids of the cups, for others - on the body of the device itself.

Markers are designed to set the time when the product was prepared in order to monitor the expiration date of the product. In addition, using a marker, you can set the start time of cooking the product in order to control the cooking process.

Operation indicator. LCD display

In order to control the process of preparing yogurt, yogurt makers are equipped with operation indicators. For some it is just a light indicator, for others it is a functional LCD display on which you can even see the time remaining until the end of cooking. In addition, such a display can display the preparation program for a particular fermented milk product.

Auto power off (timer)

The timer is quite a useful function, because thanks to the automatic shutdown of the device, you will not be distracted once again by preparing yogurt, because... The yogurt maker will switch itself off at the required time.

Sound notification

It is good if the device is equipped with a sound notification about the end of cooking. Although this is a small thing, it is pleasant.

Brand

The brand (manufacturer) is also very important point when buying a yogurt maker. This is especially true, because this technique relates to household appliances related to food. Devices from an unknown manufacturer, especially those purchased on spontaneous markets, can be fakes and also cause harm to health. It is not a fact that the materials used in the product have quality and safety certificates. In addition, in case of a warranty claim, it is always easier to find service centers famous manufacturers.

The most popular manufacturers of yogurt makers: Ariete, Arzum, Becker, Binatone, Clatronic, Cuisinart, Delfa, Delonghi, Dex, Elbee, Hilton, Kenwood, Maxwell, Moulinex, Mystery, Orion, Redmond, Rotex, Russell Hobbs, Saturn, Scarlett, ST, Steba, Tefal, VES Electric, Viconte, Vinis, Vitek

How much does a yogurt maker cost?

You can purchase a yogurt maker starting from $15, which will have everything you need to prepare the main product for which it was created - yogurt.

More expensive options, with a timer and the ability to prepare even cottage cheese and fermented milk desserts, can cost up to 150 USD.

Video about yogurt makers