The Easiest Instant Pot Yogurt Recipe (2024)

This homemade Instant Pot yogurt recipe is the easiest way to make yogurt. Top this recipe with crunchy granola and fresh fruit for a healthy and delicious snack.

Yogurt making has been more of a saga over the last ten years than something I could say I confidently mastered within the last five years.

First, I tried the crock pot method. It went something like this. Get the milk super hot in the crock pot. Then after it cools back down, wrap it up in five towels to trap the heat in.

Ask me how many milk-soaked towels it took for me to quit that method.

Next, I tried something similar with heating pads and a cooler. My results were inconsistent at best.

In 2016, my family went on the GAPs diet, a gut-healing protocol, which is when I learned about 24-hour yogurt. The premise behind this is that the gut can’t easily digest lactose, but when yogurt is fermented for at least 24 hours, the good bacteria consume all the lactose.

I might be reporting the science a little wrong, but it is definitely somewhere in the neighborhood of right. Basically, yogurt that has been fermented for 24 hours is suitable for a gut-healing protocol.

Now, do you think my crock pot or cooler method can keep milk at a constant and correct temperature for 24 hours? Not a chance.

Because of this, we stopped consuming yogurt and dairy products altogether while we were on the GAPS protocol.

Enter Instant Pot Yogurt

November 2016, I finally tried outthe Instant Poteveryone was talking about. And boy, oh boy, my yogurt dreams came true!

Here there was this magical little machine that could effortlessly convert a gallon of milk into gut-healthy whole milk yogurt. You have to be sure to getan Instant Pot that has the yogurt function, because they don’t all have it! (This onedoes.)

I have tried raw milk yogurt, as well as regular yogurt that is comparable to store-bought. I’ve fermented it anywhere from 8 hours up to 24. All with great success!

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Why you will love this recipe:

Easy: There is very little hands-on time with this recipe. The Instant Pot does all the work and keeps it at a steady temperature for however long you desire.

Delicious: There is nothing quite like a healthy bowl of yogurt, drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with berries.

Inexpensive:You can make a full gallon of yogurt for about the same price as one quart at the store.

Control over the ingredients:I love that we have control over the quality of the ingredients.

Tips

• Use a culture from another batch of yogurt or buy a starter culture.
• If using yogurt from a previous batch of yogurt, only use about 4-5 times before replacing the culture entirely and using store-bought yogurt to culture your homemade yogurt.
• If you have a little issue digesting dairy, try fermenting the yogurt for 24 hours.
• For the kids, I will ferment it for 8 hours, but any longer and they will say it is too sour.
• Serve it with somehomemade granolaand fruit for a delicious breakfast.
• Don’t use the silicon ring in the Instant Pot, since it tends to harbor smells.
• Instant Pot Models will differ on the process. See below for older models and new models.
• Reserve some starter yogurt for the next batch of yogurt.

Supplies You May Need

• My Instant Pot with Yogurt Function. The newer version
• Pocket Thermometer
• Half Gallon Mason Jar
• Wide Mouth Plastic Lid

Ingredients:

Milk:Whole, 2%, skim, and even non-dairy milk like almond milk and coconut milk will work. Whole milk will give you a thicker and creamier yogurt compared to skim milk.

Yogurt Culture:You can use a store-bought yogurt from the grocery store that has live cultures, yogurt starter cultures, or your own yogurt from a previous batch. If you are using yogurt from a previous batch, eventually you will want to start with new cultures again.

How to Make Yogurt in the Instant Pot: Older Model

Pour a half gallon of milk into the Instant Pot and press sauté. Whisking constantly, allow the milk to rise to 180 degrees. I use a smallpocket thermometerto test the temp. After coming to temperature, press “cancel” to turn it off.

Allow the milk temperature to cool back down to 115 degrees.

Whisk in 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. You can either use store-bought or start with a starter culture. I started withthese cultures, and now I make the next batch with a little yogurt from a previous batch. I don’t like to get too far removed from the original starter, so after four or five rounds of using the yogurt from a previous batch, I will return to anotherstarter packet.

Press the yogurt button on the Instant Pot and set for 8-24 hours. For a tangier yogurt, allow the IP to run for a full 24 hours.

After the fermentation has finished, remove the inner pot of the Instant Pot, cover and store it in the refrigerator for at least 12-24 hours before serving. You can also pour the fresh yogurt into individual glass jars like mason jars, then cover, and place in the fridge.

Instant Pot Yogurt: Newer Models

Add milk to the Instant Pot, place on the lid, and press the yogurt button. Adjust until the screen says “boil”.

When the Instant Potbeeps, the milk should be nice and hot.

Allow the milk to cool down to about 110-115 degrees.

Whisk in the yogurt culture or plain yogurt to the warm milk.

Place the lid back on and press the yogurt button again. Adjust the time to 8-24 hours. The longer the yogurt ferments, the thicker and tangier it is.

Once the time is up, stir, and refrigerate.

Recipes with yogurt:

Strawberry Popsicles

Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese

Sourdough Lemon Pound Cake

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What to serve with yogurt:

• Granola
• Fresh fruit. I especially love fresh berries.
• Turn it into vanilla yogurt with a little vanilla extract.
• Frozen fruit
• Chia seeds
• Honey or maple syrup
• Nut butter
• Add it to smoothies
• Nuts or seeds
• Jam
• Mix in pumpkin puree

FAQ

Check out some of my other favorite Instant Pot Recipes:

• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Bone Broth
• Beef Carnitas
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• How To Cook Pumpkin
• Whole Chicken
• Raw Milk Yogurt

If you try this recipe, let me know by leaving a comment. Love it? Give it a 5 star rating!

This post was updated March 25, 2024