Yogurt in the Instant Pot

Original recipe from Clearing Clutter for Clarity.

Yogurt making with the Instant Pot is so easy. It takes several hours to be completed, but your active time is short and simple. Your Instant Pot likely comes with its own directions, but if it's anything like mine (I have the 6 quart DUO), this will work perfectly. Click here to read on how to make yogurt in a crock pot. Fermented foods are significantly healthful, and yogurt is a very easy and delicious fermented food! Our kids love it plain, but we often switch if up with creative additives as well.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups milk of choice (whole milk lends for a delicious creamy taste)
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Be aware this process takes almost 10 hours, and plan accordingly.
2. Pour milk into the Instant Pot insert and cover with lid. No need to play with the steam release valve, as the pot won't be pressurizing for this recipe. My inner pot is labeled for measuring, but the labels are off. I pour milk until the 6 CUP mark, which is a perfect half gallon for me.
3. Hit the "yogurt" button and then the "adjust" button until the screen says "boil."
4. After about 30 minutes, the milk will have been heated thoroughly (killing unwanted bacteria) and the pot will beep.
5. Remove the insert to cool milk. I set mine, uncovered, on the counter for 1 hour (set timer so you don't forget it!). You can also fill your sink with an ice bath and cool the milk that way, taking about 10 minutes.
6. Skim off the "skin" which probably formed on top of the milk. I use a fork for this.
7. Thoroughly whisk 2-4 T of plain yogurt into the milk. Return it to the Instant Pot and hit the "yogurt" button again. Now push the "adjust" button until the screen reads "8 hours"--I find this to be a perfect amount of time. If you leave the yogurt longer, it will grow more sour, so you can play with the time. Once it begins its ferment, the Instant Pot screen will count up toward your end time.
8. When the pot finally beeps, remove the inner pot and cover it with a lid, plate, or plastic wrap. Put it straight into the fridge for a final congealing before you dig in. This step isn't necessary, but I find it preserves the constitution a little better.
9. Once chilled, pour the yogurt into storage containers. Don't forget to save aside a small container for your next batch!

Uses

1. Enjoy plain! Or mix individual servings with sweeteners such as cinnamon sugar, honey, jam, apple butter, fresh or dried fruit, or granola.
2. Use in baking: plain yogurt is the secret ingredients to some of our favorite dishes!  For instance, try these versatile yogurt muffins, creamy rice pudding, or savory eggplant wild rice.  Add it to smoothies, use it in place of sour cream, top pancakes or hot cereal with yogurt and fruit, or turn it into Greek yogurt.  The possibilities are endless!