Yolife Yogurt Maker (YL-210)

If you have to have one, this is the BEST COMMERCIAL one
I am a firm believer that you need no special equipment to make yogurt. I have made yogurt many times using a double boiler and a styrofoam "beer cooler" as is available in various sizes at grocery and service stations every summer for about $4. (see my comments at the end)

However, if you want a maker "off the shelf" this is excellent. It has the following pluses:
* It's instructions actually allow effective production of decent yogurt without further ado or special "mixes" or extras.
* It's got the "high top" lid which allows fairly easy 96oz (3qts, 3liters) of yogurt to be made at one time.. NOTE: For larger amounts you do need to supply your own containers.. not hard as tupperware bowls or mason jars, etc work fine.
* Although I would not rate it "superior" quality, it is decently made and has a 5yr warranty.. definitely above the norm.
* This makes inexpensive yogurt. (under $0.75 a quart for me) You can also use soy milk, goats' milk, etc to make...

Doesn't live up to my high hopes
I bought the Yolife yogurt maker primarily because of the extra tall cover and the claim that it could make up to 80 ounces of yogurt in one batch. Although it works very well when making yogurt in the small glass jars that came with it, I've had mixed results and considerable frustration when trying larger batches.

First, the machine heats the activated milk to a maximum of 105 degrees -- which is on the low side for good yogurt-making.

Unfortunately, that maximum temperature is reached only very close to the bottom of the machine. The only way you can possibly make 80 ounces of yogurt is by using very tall jars -- and the liquid in the upper halves of the jars simply doesn't get hot enough to firm up.

So I switched to making one-quart batches using lower containers -- and that worked fine as long as 1) I heated the milk to 110 degrees before putting it in the machine, 2) covered the Yolife with a heavy towel, and 3) the room was warm. I have to say...

Nifty little machine!
This yogurt maker is really a very simple machine,but it does what it's meant to and it does it excellently.

Isn't that what we all want when we purchase something?

I'd been making yogurt at home, using a combination of a warm oven and in winter, even wrapping the bowl with a small fleece blanket in an attempt to keep the temperature constantly warm enough to let the yogurt set. This method didn't always work and when I think of the sour milk I got half of the time, it makes me cringe.

But The Yolife Yogurt maker takes away all the paraphernalia and planning. Just plug in and the yogurt is ready to consume in 6-8 hours, depending on how "done" or tart one wants their yogurt.

I used a small 6-oz carton plain lowfat yogurt as my first starter. Make sure to look for "contains live and active cultures" and not "made with live cultures".

Also, I have found that 2% milk makes the most smooth, delicious yogurt, as it has just enough fat...

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