Most helpful customer reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful Starter
By alooknac
LATEST REMARKS:
A couple of times I had milk that was getting a little old so I scalded it first by bringing it to 185º and holding it there 5 minutes. It's definitely a nuisance but I noticed both times that the yogurt set up much firmer.

I am still incubating in a cooler and am happy with the system. I usually incubate for 8 hours overnight and no longer add hot water halfway through. Always looking for the easiest way. It turns out fine every time. Still love the taste and convenience of this starter. Still just using half the recommended amount of starter.

My batch of yogurt is actually 5 and a half cups rather than a quart. I use great old heavy glass jars similar to big peanut butter jars. I've never bothered to measure it before, till another reviewer made an issue of the cost effectiveness of making homemade yogurt. So the cost per "quart" for me is even less than the 97¢ plus electricity I mentioned in my comments to "Are You Kidding?".

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I love this starter. It's very convenient to have on hand since I live in a very rural area, and I think the taste is great. I get firm yogurt in my Salton in only 5 hours and I don't think it's anywhere near too tart. I find the flavor to be very pleasant when I lick the spoon. I eat my yogurt with fruit (no added sugar) and the flavor is not at all overpowering. Yogurt gets more tart when it incubates longer but sometimes I have let a batch go 7 or 8 hours and I still think it tastes fine.

Because this starter is so pricey, I use just half of the recommended amount and it works fine. I first used it at the recommended strength for comparison. A half portion is a little less than a teaspoon. Then I tightly reseal the packet till next batch. I also save portions of yogurt for starter. I keep one in the fridge for the next batch, and freeze several. This way, a packet that costs a dollar or more, instead of just making one quart, gives me about ten quarts without too much fuss. On occasion I use second-generation yogurt for starter, but mostly just the first generation.

Now that amazon is now offering a 3-pack of 6-portion boxes for a good price and eligible for Super Saver shipping, this starter has become much more affordable.

Some additions/Dec. 13, 2009:
My Salton died a premature death. Now I incubate in an insulated six-pack-type cooler, using jars of hot water alongside the jar of yogurt (which sits in the insulated holder from my old Salton). I refill the jars of hot water halfway through. I use the hottest tap water--obviously this is a potential variable--but the jars of water can be a lot hotter than the yogurt if they're not right up against it.

It sets up in 6 to 8 hours, flavor still great. I add 1/2 cup dry milk per oversized "quart" and still use just half the recommended starter. I use nonfat milk which is notorious for not making real firm yogurt. Mine is totally firm (curd-like or gel-like consistency) for the first serving. After that the whey separates out some. I either eat it or pour it off. It is not as creamy as commercial nonfat yogurt; I don't think that's achievable at home.

I use store-bought milk and do not scald it. I warm it to 110 degrees, using a cheap candy thermometer bought right here on amazon.com. I believe anywhere from 105 to 112 is OK. I warm everything I'm using ahead of time.

I'm glad my tips have been helpful and hope these details might help someone else out.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Not bad, but not the best
By C. Ruis
First, I am quite surprised at how expensive this product is on Amazon; my local health food store (with a notoriously high mark-up on products) sells it for about 3.59/box. Otherwise it is a good product; definitely more potent than store-bought yogurt as a starter, but I've actually had much better results using my probiotic capsules that I use as a dietary supplement. Here's a quick comparison of results with yogurt starters:

Store-bought yogurt: incubates in about 8 hours, results in runny yogurt
Yogourmet: incubates in about 5-6 hours, results in relatively thin yogurt
2 probiotic capsules: incubates in 3 hours, results in thick, luscious yogurt

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
do not buy it online
By J. Chen
I have used this brand before. it was much better than those I got from amazon.
when I got the package, it was a little bit warm due to the outside weather. Since it took a long way for this package to come to me, they maybe go bad on their way. I thought amazon might have some particular way to transport these sensitive yogurt starter, but I was wrong. and you can not return them.
however, this brand is excellent, just remember do not order it online, espcially in summer.