There’s yogurt and then there is HOMEMADE yogurt. You’ve got to try this recipe to get a taste of the fragrant and deliciousness of a freshly crafted yogurt. Yogurt, probably super difficult to make, right? They sell so much pre-made in sooo many different flavors, but none stand a chance against the homemade version. This dish has become a little treat we enjoy nearly every day now and we simply eat it plain!
Yogurt Recipe for Sous Vide
The origins of our yogurt making date back to a recent crusade to find digestive health. We had been reading the SCD Diet and along with that, they recommended a homemade yogurt with specific cultures. GI ProStart Yogurt Starter is the brand we have been using with great success. If you just want to get your feet wet and try this without ordering a culture, just grab a container of Fage yogurt for the starter. This is one of the few yogurt brands without lots of thickeners and non-sense added.
I recently began making our yogurt with the Annova Sous Vide machine. The results have been pretty awesomely creamy and consistently fermented each time. I have also made batches of yogurt the old fashioned way with a cooler and warm water added every few hours. This kinda works, but the Sous Vide is by far an easier way to get great results.
For the milk, we have made delicious yogurt with both grass fed whole cow’s milk and whole goat milk. The cow’s milk tends to have a bit of a creamier and more gentle flavor. The goat’s milk goes a little more sour and maintains a bit smoother texture. Try them both and let us know how they turn out for you.
Let’s Cook!
Ingredients
1/2 Gallon Grass Fed Cow’s Milk
1/4 teaspoon Yogurt Starter or 6 tablespoons Fage Plain Yogurt
Tools Needed
Sous Vide Machine – I use the Annova Sous Vide
12 Qt Plastic Tub with Lid – Rubber Maid one works well or just any container to get mason jars in and covered with water
2 – 32 oz Mason Jars
Medium Sized Saucepan
Instant Read Thermometer
Step-by-Step Recipe How to Make Homemade Yogurt with Sous Vide
Add the entire 1/2 gallon of milk to saucepan and warm over medium heat. Stir regularly and check the temp consistently to keep from over-heating. It is a terrible mess if you forget about it and it boils over… Might want to stay close for this step.
Heat milk to a temperature of 180°F and then remove from heat immediately.
Let milk cool to 100°F and add the powdered culture or yogurt starter.
Transfer to mason jars and secure lids. It’s a good idea to run your jars though the dishwasher prior to use to get them extra clean. A canning funnel can also be helpful for this step. I often spill a little milk getting it from pan to jar. Don’t tell Priscilla!
Set up sous vide on 105°F and fill bucket with water. If you have the Rubbermaid 12 qt tub, add about 10qt to get your jars covered.
Set it and forget it! Let the sous vide do its magic for 24 hours and then the yogurt will be ready.
Let’s Eat!

Homemade Yogurt Sous Vide Method (Cow or Goat Milk)
Ingredients
- 1 Half Gallon Milk
- 1/4 tbsp Powdered Yogurt Starter
Instructions
- Add the entire 1/2 gallon of milk to saucepan and warm over medium heat. Stir regularly and check the temp consistently to keep from over-heating. It is a terrible mess if you forget about it and it boils over... Might want to stay close for this step.
- Heat milk to a temperature of 180°F and then remove from heat immediately.
- Let milk cool to 100°F and add the powdered culture or yogurt starter.
- Transfer to mason jars and secure lids. It's a good idea to run your jars though the dishwasher prior to use to get them extra clean. A canning funnel can also be helpful for this step. I often spill a little milk getting it from pan to jar. Don't tell Priscilla!
- Set up sous vide on 105°F and fill bucket with water. If you have the Rubbermaid 18 qt tub, add about 15.5qt to get your jars covered.
- Set it and forget it! Let the sous vide do its magic for 24 hours and then the yogurt will be ready to eat!