How to choose a yogurt maker: what is important to know

Yogurt maker takes pride of place in the kitchen of many families. Using the device, you can prepare a fermented milk mixture containing a large number of lactobacilli. At the exit, you will get healthy yogurt, sour cream or cottage cheese of your own production without preservatives and dyes. It is this feature that encourages housewives to buy equipment, choosing it with great care. Leading manufacturers supply yogurt makers for every taste and budget on store shelves.

What is a yogurt maker

1. The device is a container made of plastic, which has a rectangular or round shape. The yogurt maker is equipped with a transparent glass lid and thick sides.
2. The walls are thermally insulated, which ensures constant maintenance of the required temperature indicators. The regimen must be maintained for the best starter culture based on lactobacilli and milk.
3. In most cases, yogurt makers are quite compact and convenient to use. The classic device is equipped with cups (about 5-15 pcs.) Volume 125-150 gr. everyone. All containers are closed and placed in a common container, a glass lid is placed on top.
4. Each device has an instruction manual, warranty card. All devices are powered by electricity, so installation should be near the outlet.
5. There are standard yogurt makers of the economy segment. The control unit is made in the form of rotating arrows, with which you can set the temperature and time. However, there are devices with buttons and an electronic display, but their price category is much higher.
6. Not all yogurt makers require cups. Some household units are equipped with one solid container in which the ingredients are placed. However, each type of equipment must have a timer that will accurately determine the duration of fermentation.
7. Depending on the timing, the final product may turn out to be liquid or thick, acidic or sweet. When choosing the first thing you need to pay attention to power, control method, cup shape, additional functions.

What are yogurt makers for?

1. Newly made mothers who want to cook a healthy product for their child resort to the device.
2. Most store products contain the strongest allergens. For this reason, people with individual intolerance are better to use the composition of their own preparation.
3. Persons who have problems with the activity of the gastrointestinal tract resort to the use of yogurt makers. If the correct proportions are observed, you can get a quality product that will only affect your health in a favorable way.
4. It is impossible not to single out the popularity of the unit among the fair sex, watching the figure. If you take skim milk as a basis, respectively, and yogurt will turn out low-calorie.
5. Yogurt maker is considered an indispensable tool for people with diabetes. If you use honey or a natural substitute as a sweetener, you can maintain the level of glucose in the blood without fearing for your own health.

Types of Yogurt Makers

Yogurt makers can differ in the principle of work, the number of cups, materials of additional containers.

Principle of operation

Yogurt maker thermos. In devices of this kind, cups are heated evenly, reaching a mark of up to 60 degrees. Further, the equipment turns off, retaining heat. At this time, the mass reproduction of beneficial bacteria begins, which are responsible for product quality.The advantage of yogurt makers of this kind is the short duration of the preparation of the product (about 5 hours). The disadvantage is the high pricing policy.

Yogurt maker with constant heating. After switching on, the yogurt maker reaches the 40 degrees mark as quickly as possible and maintains it until the shutdown. The advantage is that cups that do not go “by default” with equipment can be inserted into the device. Newly made mothers send jars of baby food into the cavity, which is very convenient. The disadvantage is rapid heating, as a result of which the temperature of the composition rises significantly. In addition, the device does not have an automatic shutdown function.

Number of cups

Yogurt maker with one container. The device is equipped with a capacious form with a volume of 1-1.5 liters. It is worth choosing a technique of this kind if you plan to prepare a fermented milk product in large quantities and use it in a short time. In the container, you can prepare cream for the cake, sour cream, stuffing for jelly cake, cottage cheese, etc. The disadvantage is that in one session you can not make the compositions according to different recipes. However, this criterion is to some extent a plus.

Yogurt maker with glasses. The cavity of the unit includes a place for cups, jars can be 4-15 pcs. This type of yogurt maker is suitable for large families with different taste preferences. In each of the glasses, you can cook yogurt according to an individual recipe. A variety is considered a plus, a minus is a long washing of the container after cooking and use.

Cup Material

Glass. Included with the equipment is the number of cups that is provided by the manufacturer. Tanks are not sold separately from the unit. If they break, you have to improvise, substituting other glasses of a similar type in the form.

Plastic. Glasses are made of food-grade plastic, which, when heated, does not emit harmful substances into food. For all containers there is an environmental certificate attesting to the safety of the material. They withstand maximum heating (up to +120 degrees) and cooling (up to -20 degrees). Plastic packaging is ergonomic, it does not break and is easy to clean.

How to choose a yogurt maker: basic parameters

Before giving preference to a particular brand, it is necessary to study the main parameters. General information will provide a basis for reflection, it will be easier for you to navigate among a large selection.

Yogurt Maker Power

1. It is important to immediately clarify that the power of the device does not affect the quality of the final product, its shelf life and taste parameters. This feature only speaks of the degree of electricity consumption.
2. As a rule, all devices have a power of about 12-50 watts, these indicators are enough for use at home.
3. Regardless of the selected power (12 or 50 watts), the yogurt maker will be able to maintain the temperature of the composition at 40 degrees or lower.

Glasses of yogurt maker

1. In addition to capacity, it is also important to pay attention to the presence of cups, their volume, quantity and material of which the containers are made. For many housewives, it is the characteristics of the cups that are decisive when choosing appliances for the home.
2. At will you can choose the device without glasses. It will be equipped with a large container with a volume of about 1-1.5 liters. Or buy an aggregate with a large number of containers, such yogurt makers are convenient to use.
3. If we talk about the material of the cups, they can be made of glass or food plastic. The latter option is more preferable, although it does not have high impact resistance.
4. Modern yogurt makers may contain from 4 to 15 glasses, but in most cases there is a technique with 5-8 containers (and lids, respectively).
5. If we talk about the volume of each dish, there are small (100-125 gr.), Medium (125-175 gr.) And large (from 180 gr.) Cups. The choice depends on personal preference. The larger the volume, the less packaging will fit in the main container of the equipment.

Yogurt Maker

1. As mentioned above, yogurt makers can be either mechanically or electronically controlled. However, there are options in which the technique does not have leverage at all.
2. In the latter case, all functions (including setting the temperature, time, on / off) are monitored by the user.
3. If we talk about electronic control, the yogurt maker is equipped with a timer. The unit turns off automatically, just set the cooking time.
4. In the case of mechanical devices, there are two rotary mechanisms on the front part. The first is responsible for the duration of cooking, the second controls the maintenance of temperature (it may not be).

Additional Yogurt Maker Options

1. Depending on the price category and the manufacturer, the equipment can be equipped with light indicators, an automatic shutdown function and an audible signal to complete the preparation.
2. Many modern yogurt makers with cups have compartments on the lids. Holes and stickers are needed to sign the date of manufacture, recommendations for storage temperature, expiration date and other nuances.
3. If you choose a device with a long cord, it will have a separate compartment for storing the cable (as with vacuum cleaners). The function is extremely convenient, while you overpay a small amount.
4. When choosing a yogurt maker with the function of preparing cottage cheese, most likely a large diameter bowl will go in the kit. With its help, the procedure will be facilitated.
5. Many housewives for some reason buy an ice cream yogurt maker. This is very convenient, since one device is designed to prepare two variants of dishes of different categories.

Practical tips for choosing a yogurt maker

1. Cheap equipment often overheats. If you prefer units of the economy segment, ask the consultant about the conditions of warranty service and possible exchange / return.
2. Perfect yogurt has a slight acidity and moderate density. A similar feature can be achieved using the built-in timer. If possible, choose a device with a scoreboard.
3. The color of the case and the shape of the yogurt maker belong to the aesthetic part. Do not get hung up on these indicators, carefully study the technical specifications.
4. If you plan to cook not only yogurt, but also cottage cheese, choose a technique with an additional wide container. In the future, you can make creams, jellies, etc.

It is easy to choose a yogurt maker for the home, if you have basic information regarding the configuration and technical specifications. Buy equipment with plastic cups, decide in advance on the desired functions. When buying an ice cream yogurt maker, make sure that you have warranty service and give preference to well-known brands (Tefal, Mulineks, Vitek).

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