Cheap&Easy way to make Greek yogurt
Since I love the stuff, I shopped for Greek yogurt makers and nearly fainted from the prices. Major sticker shock. Whatever the traffic will bear, I guess.
However, it's stupid to waste $ on an appliance you don't need, when you probably have the ideal thing already - a slow cooker.
Put in the milk of choice along with starter - either some bought yogurt with active cultures if you're making your first batch or even starter powder in a pouch. Later on, of course, you save a little of your previous work to start the next just as in making sourdough bread.
Set the cooker to warm (check to make sure that's between 100 and 125 degrees) and leave it 8-12 hours. Then put the results in a strainer - you can even use a colander lined with coffee filters - and leave that in the frig 8-12 hours. Remember to leave enough room between the bottom of the strainer and the container into which the contents are going, so you don't interfere with the actual straining process.
Really, that's all Greek yogurt is; strained regular yogurt. If you can get goat's milk, you'll have a rich dessert all on its own. But I like to add fresh fruit to mine, so skim milk works for me.
I'm not your garden variety miser at all. I LOVE spending $. Just hate wasting it, that's all. If you've going to spend close to $100 for a fancy machine you don't need, you're either lazy or too rich or both. Take that extra cash and do some good with it. If you're smart enough to boil water, all that expensive machine does is save you the (groan) LABOR of the straining process.
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