Yogurt Maker: The Ultimate Yogurt Machine Review

The demand for yogurt has been rising over the years with the many variances making it a favorite desert. You can always have it as a desert or even a snack and knowing how to make it at home makes it possible to have all the flavors that you desire with the guarantee of quality and availability. You will enjoy your yogurt even more knowing that you have walked through every step of its processing and tweaking the ingredients to suit your desires.

There’s a common trend of an avalanche of yogurt machines following the popularity of foods and this is no different with yogurt. The market is now awash with tons of yogurt related machines. One of the devices that will make it easy for you to make your yogurt at home is a yogurt maker. Its operation is as simple as the name sounds but the results are splendid. Let’s walk together in this yogurt machine buying guide and find out what these machines have to offer while reviewing some of the best yogurt machines.

Top 5 yogurt makers

1. Cuisinart CYM 100 Electronic Yogurt Maker

Cuisinart is renowned for its outstanding yogurt machine models and the Cuisinart CYM is yet another ingenious product. It features an in-built cooling system making it a favorite for frozen yogurt lovers. The high-end maker allows the user to over 8 servings as it is equipped with a 50 ounce container.

The simple and friendly Cuisinart yogurt machine is considered to be on the higher end when it comes to pricing but that shouldn’t stop you from exploring what that price tag hides. The machine is not only beautiful but is exceptionally flexible. It will automatically set the fermenting time, detects when the process is done and keeps the yogurt cool until when you power it off.

For Greek yogurt lovers, this maker may not make this yogurt on its own and you will need to manually heat your milk and strain your yogurt once it’s ready. You can alternatively get a machine that is specifically designed to make Greek yogurt.

Features of the Cuisinart CYM 100

  • Size: 9.8x7x9.9 inches
  • Weight: 3.17kg (7 pounds)
  • Capacity: 1 ½ quarts
  • Material: stainless steel & plastic
  • In-built cooling system
  • Warranty: 3yrs, limited
  • Fitted with automatic timer
  • BPA free

Check out best priced Cuisinart CYM-100 on Amazon

2. Instant Pot DUO60

Yogurt making should be interesting and exciting and the Instant pot DUO60 guarantees that. This yogurt maker that makes more than your average yogurt offers so many functionalities acting as a pressure cooker, sauté pot, warmer, rice cooker, steamer and ultimately as a yogurt maker. It is a multi-use machine that comes with a huge programming interface. A click of the button will simply change its functioning and deliver the desired results.

Though considered to be among the expensive yogurt makers, it gives you the versatility that you may not get from other brands. The whole yogurt making process will be done in the machine making your work quite easy. Heat the milk in the pot, add your starter, set the fermenting time and wait for delicious results.

Features of the Instant Pot DUO60

  • Size: 12.5×13.4×12.2 inches
  • Weight: 5.35 kg (11.8 pounds)
  • Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Material: stainless steel & plastic
  • Warranty: 1yr, limited
  • Safety: steam release, automatic temp control, electric fuse, anti-block shield, overheat protection, safety lid lock and leaky lid detection
  • Fully programmable
  • BPA free

Check out best Instant pot DUO60 price on Amazon

3. Euro Cuisine YM80 Yogurt maker

Creativity makes all the difference in yogurt making. You may use the same ingredients but get totally different results. If you want to explore and try out different twists, the Euro Cuisine may be the yogurt maker of your choice. The inexpensive appliance has a capacity of 42 ounces and will make yogurt within 6 to 10 hours. It allows you to customize your yogurt with extra ingredients such as honey, coffee and fruits thus gives you unique tastes and flavors.

The seven glass yogurt making machine is designed to deliver fuss free delicious yogurt with the sever glass jars making it possible to prepare different flavors at the same time. It may not have many advanced features but it does most basic functions just fine.

Most reviewers have lamented about the difficulty in washing the glass containers manually but you shouldn’t have a problem cleaning with a dish washer. You may also need to inspect the lid for leaks as this yogurt maker doesn’t include leak detection technology.

Features of the Euro Cuisine YM 80 Yogurt maker

  • Size: 9.5×9.5×6 inches
  • Weight: 1.81 kg (4 pounds)
  • Warranty: 3yrs
  • Seven 6oz glass jars
  • BPA free
  • Inbuilt timer

Check out Best Euro Cuisine YM80 yogurt maker price on Amazon

4. Yogourmet 104 electric yogurt maker

The yogourmet electric yogurt machine stands out as one of the most affordable easy to use yogurt making appliances. This is a machine that quickly mixes and blends your ingredients to give you that fine finish. Its water-bath system creates an even heating wall that guarantees even yogurt incubation. The yogurt will thus be smooth and consistent. This is quite important as uneven cooking exposes you to the risk of having harmful bacteria in your yogurt.

The appliance is dishwasher safe thus easy to clean and maintain. Its plastic is made of PVC and is BPA free thus will be safe for you and your environment. You however need to have a keen eye on the machine while in operation as it doesn’t have temperature control functionality and the room temperature may affect the quality of your yogurt.

Features of the Yugourmet 104 electric yogurt maker

  • Size: 7.75×7.75×10 inches
  • Weight: 1.50 kg (3.3 pounds)
  • Capacity: 2 quarts
  • Material: Plastic
  • Warranty: 1yr
  • Innovative water bath and a cheese bag

Check out the best Yogourmet 104 electric yogurt maker prices on Amazon

5. Amazonbasics Automatic Frozen Yogurt Maker

This is a yogurt maker that was essentially designed to make ice cream, gelato, sherbet and frozen yogurt. It is equipped with an easy lock lid that guarantees safety and you can sit back as it smoothly mixes your ingredients to give out a smooth and tasty finish. It’s fully automatic and will automatically stop when the process is complete.

This is a yogurt machine that can easily prepare 1.5 quarts of sorbet or frozen yogurt regardless of the recipe in use. Just play around with the ingredients and wait for the machine to deliver. You may however have to preserver with the noise as it is considerably loud.

Features of the Amazonbasics Ice Cream Maker

  • Size: 8.78 x 7.51 x 10.59 inches
  • Weight: 2.30 kg (5.08 pounds)
  • Material: Plastic
  • Warranty: 1 yr
  • Fully automated
  • Easy lock lid

The Buying Guide: What To Look For In A Yogurt Maker

· Functionality

The ultimate goal of buying a yogurt machine is getting the desired yogurt with ease. This can only be achieved with a yogurt maker that offers the functionalities that match your needs. While some appliances will let you make traditional yogurt varieties, others will let you make both traditional and Greek varieties. Additionally, some will serve as slow cookers while others will double as slow cookers and pressure cookers.

In the current era where time is limited, you might want to get a ‘set and forget’ maker. This is a machine that practically takes care of the whole process. You only need to set the timer, temperature and power on and the yogurt making process kicks in.

· Design And Flexibility

Most makers are ergonomic and will serve you just fine. However, you need to get one designed for flexibility. This is a machine that would let you customize ingredients. This makes it possible to prepare small servings with varying tastes and flavors. Such yogurt making machine challenge you to explore and widen your culinary skills. It would be an added advantage to have one that can make small and bulk servings at the same time.

· Automation

Though we are in an era where automation is the order of the day, there are still loads of yogurt makers that aren’t fully automated. In fact most of the brands have models which aren’t fully automated. This thus should be a point of consideration when shopping for your machine. While some people will prefer the semi-automated machines that allow them to adjust different stages to suit their preference, a fully automated machine may make the work easier and save on time.

· Bowl Type And Capacity

The bowl type will determine the servings that you can prepare with the specific machine. It is the bowl type that will definitely determine the machine’s capacity. While some will have large bowls others will have serving-sized ones and others will have versatile bowls. A good decision would be going for the bowl size that meets your daily needs. The large sized bowls will be best suited for complex standard yogurt production.

· Timer

Timing is quite crucial in yogurt making and almost every high end yogurt maker will come with a timer. The fermentation process varies and may take five to eight hours. Having a timer helps you keep track of the fermentation process and allows you to prepare the next batch in time. In addition to the in-built timer, some machines will have an auto shut off feature that automatically turns off the machine once the process is complete.

· Freezing

The freezing aspect of the yogurt is of major interest not only to the user but also to the manufacture and most brands have invested in high end freezing technology. While some machines focus on frozen desserts, some require the user to freeze the bowl too. Again only go for the machine that will be convenient. Efficient freezing is not easy coming and some research will be necessary before investing in a frozen yogurt maker.

· Cleaning And Maintenance

Just like any other appliance the yogurt machine will need cleaning after every use and regular maintenance. It would be a great idea going for a machine whose parts can be removed and probably dish washed. Such a machine would make your work easy and guarantee top notch hygiene. Dish washing safety may almost be guaranteed by the high end machines but this may not be available in some brands.

· Cost

Every purchase you make is an investment and the price factor will always come into play. Most people actually make their decision entirely based on the price. This sometimes limits them when it comes to functionality but sees them stick to their budget. It is always advisable that you go that extra mile and invest in a high quality yogurt maker. This machines are considerably affordable and stretching your budget by a few dollars may see you land on the best brand.

Conclusion

Every purchase needs to be made from a point of information and clear understanding of what you are getting into. The debate about the best yogurt makers isn’t coming to an end any soon considering that new brands and models are coming into the market every day.

We have however reviewed five of the best yogurt makers and we hope this yogurt machine buying guide will help you make up your mind. You can also check out other milk preservation techniques and probably settle on a machine that will help you make your yogurt, cheese and ice cream among other milk products. Have fun experimenting with these top of the range appliances.

Dairy Milk Preservation: Tasty Healthy Milk Shake

Boost your dairy revenues by adding value to your milk. One of the best dairy milk preservation strategies is making milk shakes. But how do you make milk shakes? Let’s walk through the easy and interesting milk shake making process.

What Is Milk Shake?

Before we can make a milkshake why not discuss what it entails! A milk shake is a delicious ice cream treat. It can be made from iced milk, ice cream or natural milk. In most cases, it will have sweeteners such as caramel sauce, fruit syrup, butterscotch or chocolate syrup.

Types Of Milk Shakes

Milkshakes come in a wide range of selections. These are milkshakes that were traditionally made from all ice cream flavors. The popular flavors include malt powder, malt syrup and chocolate syrup. The flavorings are added before mixing and they give one a wider variety of flavors than handmade shakes.

Milkshakes will come in different varieties and flavors. There are milkshake recipes that will include fruits and no ice cream. Such milkshakes are known as smoothies. These smoothies may use frozen yogurt or sherbet. For malt lovers, a maltshake(malt shake), malted milkshake or simply a malt will do.

Milk Shake Machines

These are machines used to make large scale milkshakes. They are made of metallic cylinders with beaters. They have the capacity to refrigerate and freeze pre-made milkshake mixtures. Normally, the machine will have several tanks. These tanks will determine the flavors that can be made.

The milkshake machines come in different models and sizes. The smallest machines are counter-mounted. These can make one flavor milk shake. They have a 5 L capacity tank. On the other hand, large machines come with multiple 5 L tanks. The many tanks enable the user to make different shake flavors. They are normally floor-mounted.

There are carbon-dioxide based large scale machines that dispense different flavors. The mixing is done during dispensing. Some restaurants also have thick milkshake machines. These are 12 L capacity machines.

How To Make Milk Shake

Making a milkshake is easy. There may be variances in the ingredients when making different flavors but the process is pretty the same. Here’s how to make these delicious treats.

Making your milkshake in a blender

Blenders are commonly used to make thick milk shakes. For such treats, you will need to have ultra-thick ice cream, milk and flavorings. The secret to a creamier shake is using low butterfat ice cream. Light ice cream will make better emulsion with milk.

Run the blender on its lowest speed. Add the ice cream as well as the flavors. Slowly add the milk. This process is similar to that followed when making vinaigrette. The slow action of adding milk gives the two milk products time to blend in seamlessly. Stir while checking the thickness for a velvety texture.

Remember to taste before serving. This helps you make sure that the flavors are right and shine brightly. You wouldn’t want to have a chocolate hake that tastes like vanilla. The adjustments can be made by adding fruit or syrups.

Making Milk Shakes Without A Blender

Having a blender makes your work easy but worry not if you do not have the machine. You can simply shake the ingredients by hand.  The secret here is having a spoon inside the jar. The spoon acts as your ad-hoc mixer.

The shaking can take toll on you. Consider stirring instead and channel in your bartender. A cocktail shaker will work just fine. Remember to let your ice cream sit for 20 minutes out of the freezer before adding it to the mixing vessel.

Stir constantly but slowly while adding small amounts of milk. The principle here doesn’t change, slow but consistent.

You can always make your work easy by using an immersion blender. Have a long jar just to be sure that the contents won’t pour out. Use it on its lowest speed.

Spicing Up Your Milkshake

The fun behind milkshake making is the tweaking of flavors. This is where your creativity kicks in. Do not let anything bar you from making your desired shaker flavors. Grab some frozen fruits such as strawberries and bring them in the mix. There’s no need to thaw them. Just like in frozen yogurt options, the frozen fruits will help blend the milkshake.

Double or triple the flavor to get that exquisite taste. Mix chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup and chocolate milk to satisfy chocolate enthusiasts. You can even top and garnish with the chocolate syrup.

Why not try some flavor combos such as chocolate and mint, chocolate and banana or even chocolate and peanut butter? Its so much fun pairing these flavors. You can try adding tropical fruits such as pineapple, papaya, star fruit and mangoes. Some shakers will even let you add some veggies. You haven’t had the best shake until you tried a creamy avocado milkshake.

Milkshakes Without Ice Cream

Ice cream sounds like the primary ingredient but did you know that you can make tasty treats without it? Well, prove the skeptics wrong by creating satisfying sippers without including ice cream in your recipe. The trick here is dropping a few ice cubes. These are meant to frozen the milk, fruit and syrup. It makes the mixture ultra-creamy. Frozen bananas are also known to play the trick delivering yummy banana shakes.

Making Milkshakes With No Milk

The idea of skipping milk makes one wonder what kind of a shake that would be but why not give it a try? In absence of milk, coffee ice cream kicks in. Chai latte, vanilla or orange may also be used.

Slowly stir the ingredients to get the right consistency. The frozen ice cream will go a long way in making the milk shake smooth and easy to make.

Conclusion

Milkshakes are easy to make and will brighten your day. You can always have them at home or even take the frozen options to the office. Whichever way you love it, you will definitely enjoy the shakes especially those homemade options. Try out the tricks listed herein and make yummy milk shakes that everyone will want to have a taste.

Learn How To Make Tasty Dairy Yogurt At Home

When we started researching about the best milk preservation techniques, yogurt making stood out and proved to be one of the most reliable techniques. Many people have loved it but the challenge has been making natural homemade yogurt and we found it necessary to shed some light on some of the easy homemade yogurt recipes. Let’s walk through the yogurt making process together and see how we can tweak the ingredients to give different tastes and flavors.

Yogurt making is not difficult and only requires you to have basic skills. It is fun packed and doesn’t have to follow a strict process explaining why different blogs will have different techniques. The secret behind every procedure used is understanding how to use the bacteria that gives yogurt its tangy flavor.

The common bacteria used in yogurt include Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles. These are safe bacteria that eat the sugar in milk and produce lactic acid that curdles milk proteins turning the milk into yogurt.

The Yogurt Making Process

Different techniques have been invented in a bid to save time but there are two main procedures that have proven to be very reliable. The first is the cooking of milk on a cook stove and incubating it in a cooler or oven and the other is the use of a modern yogurt maker.

We prefer using a yogurt maker for several reasons. First, incubating the natural homemade yogurt in your oven means that you cannot use the over for the 8 hours. This can be a little inconveniencing considering how valuable time is. Well, you may think of incubating the yogurt overnight and using the oven during the day. This may work perfectly but not if you had a busy day and all that is ringing in your mind is getting some sleep.

Secondly, there are advanced yogurt makers that have a large pot and will automatically make the yogurt for you. These makers will portion out the yogurt into servings and will allow you to prepare different flavors at the same time. Isn’t that interesting?

Lastly, yogurt makers increase your efficiency. It is quite disappointing spending your time making yogurt batches and end up with several batch failures. This is not only frustrating but results in losses. Yogurt makers increase efficiency as they will regulate the temperatures and give the yogurt the mix that it requires. To crown it all, you do not have to keep track of time as the machine will turn off automatically after the yogurt is ready.

The 6 Basic Natural Yogurt Making Steps

Choose Your Milk

High quality yogurt will definitely come from the best milk. Many people will use any milk to make their natural homemade yogurt but it is important to note that only healthy milk will produce healthy yogurt. If possible, use raw milk especially if you are following the GAPS protocol. If you do not have access to raw milk, you can use low pasteurized non-homogenized milk. This is the milk that has the yummy cream layer. Goat milk has proven to have a very thick layer. It is also very nutritious and has numerous health benefits.

Heat The Milk

This is a very crucial step as it is at this step that the harmful bacteria are killed. Milk heating is determined by the yogurt starter culture and milk type in use. If you are making mesophilic yogurt using pasteurized milk you do not need any heat. You however need the heat when making pasteurized thermophilic yogurt.

Heat the milk to a temperature of 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit to kill unsavory microbes larking in the milk. At such temperatures, all the pathogens, mold and spores will be killed. This way, you are sure that the only bacteria that will be present in your yogurt will be the safe bacteria introduced later.

Heating your milk also increases your yogurt thickness by evaporating a significant amount of water content and changing the protein structure.

Cool The Milk

Once the milk has reached 180 degrees Fahrenheit, transfer it into canning jars. Have a pair of tongs and a stainless steel funnel to ease the work. The milk should then be left to cool until when the temperature falls to 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The cooling process can be hastened by putting the milk in a water bath. You can also leave it on the counter to cool naturally. Just ensure that you have a keen eye on the temperature change.

Add Culture

Once the temperatures have dropped to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to add some yogurt. This can be ready yogurt from your previous batch or that bought from a store. It’s advisable that you go for plain Greek yogurt. Stir to incorporate the plain yogurt into the milk. Replace the lids to keep off dirt.

Incubate The Yogurt

The active natural homemade yogurt making stages are over and you now need to leave the yogurt to cook on its own. Ensure that the lids are replaced and incubate in an oven. At this stage temperatures should be maintained at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 1150 can kill the culture but temperatures slightly below this wouldn’t have a huge impact. You can always try replacing the 40 watt bulb with a 60 watt one if you find it hard to achieve the optimum temperature.

Incubate the yogurt for 10 to 12 hours. If you are in no hurry, you can let it sit for 24 hours. GAPS protocol recommends 24 hours as it lets most of the lactose to be consumed by the bacteria introduced by the culture. It also gives your yogurt the desired deep tangy flavor.

Refrigerate The Yogurt

Once the incubation period is over, refrigerate your yogurt. You can always pour out the whey and use it while preparing the next batch. At this stage, you can use a cheese cloth to strain your yogurt. Straining gives you thick and consistent yogurt.

This practically marks the end of the yogurt making process. You can then use it in natural homemade yogurt recipes, desserts or simply drizzle raw honey and enjoy your freshly prepared yogurt.

Conclusion

Yogurt serves so many purposes and comes packed with nutrients. Having some skills to make your homemade yogurt comes in handy in making the best from your dairy products.

It benefits you even more if you have several homemade yogurt recipes to choose from as you can easily make different yogurt flavors. You can always try out homemade frozen yogurt recipes too to boost your culinary skills. Have fun preparing your yogurt from home and save lots of money.

Dairy Yogurt: History, Types And Health Benefits

Did you know that yogurt is a staple food in some cultures? Yogurt has its origin in the Middle East and Western Asia. Its name is believed to be derived from the Turkish word ‘yoğurt’ which means tart, coagulate, thicken, thick milk or curdle milk.

Natural yogurt making is as simple as leaving fresh milk in a clean environment and letting healthy and friendly bacteria act on the milk. The reaction gives a sweet and delicious yet sour taste. The reaction results in production of lactic acid that acts as a preservative

The History Behind Yogurt Making

Historically, yogurt was a product from herdsmen’s pouches (intestinal gut). As the herdsmen walked around, the milk in their pouches which were made from animal skins fermented and turned into yogurt. The animal skin produced enzymes that reacted with the milk with the facilitation by the body heat.

The modern yogurt making procedure has a lot of similarity to the process followed in making the edible food in herdsmen’s pouches. Today, yogurt is made by combining bacteria (Streptococcus thermophiles or Lactobacillus bulgaricus) with milk and leaving it to sit at warm temperatures (1100F-1150F) for some hours. Commercial yogurt making may however have some variances.

Yogurt is an ancient food and has been in use for decades in different parts of the globe. It goes by different names depending on the location. Some of these names include; katyk (Armenia), leben raib (Saudi Arabia), cuajada (Spain), roba (Sudan), mast (Iran), matsoni (Russia, Georgia, and Japan), dahi (India), coalhada (Portugal), dovga (Azerbaijan), zabadi (Egypt), laban (Lebanon and Iraq) and iogurte (Brazil).

Yogurt has been incorporated in diets across the globe since 10000-5000 BC. Its usage was boosted by the domestication of milk producing animals such as sheep, cows, yaks, buffalo, camel, horse and goats.

Today, yogurt is readily available in stores across the globe. Online stores have made it possible to access yogurt even in areas where dairy farming isn’t practiced.

Popular Types Of Yogurt

Yogurt has received endless love in the past decade. It’s not only a breakfast staple but also easily wins as a snack. The fact that it blends nicely with baked foods and sauces makes it very popular. Some of the popular types of yogurt include;

Probiotic Yogurt

One may argue that every yogurt is probiotic. Well, it’s a fact that every yogurt starts with probiotics. However, it’s not all the yogurt that maintains the probiotics. Some lose it during the processing.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are ‘friendly’ bacteria. They include bacteria and yeast that are friendly to human body. Probiotics keep the gut healthy. They can be found in yogurt and other food supplements.

Probiotics in yogurt play the vital role of replacing lost probiotics. Intake of antibiotics leads to loss of probiotics and yogurt will be a great source of the probiotics. Intake of yogurt ensures that you are striking a balance between the ‘bad’ and ‘good’ bacteria.

Types Of Probiotics

Probiotics are quite many. They fall in different categories. The two main categories are lactobacillus and Bifidobactrium. Lactobacillus is found in fermented foods such as yogurt. Bifidobacterium on the other hand is found in dairy products. They are very effective in eliminating irritable bowel syndrome.

Plain/Traditional Yogurt

Traditional yogurt is popularly known as milk yogurt. This is the thick creamy yogurt that is rich in vitamins. It is normally made with whole milk thus contains all the nutritional value found in dairy milk.

Traditional yogurt is normally served plain but some brands have introduced flavored options. The yogurt is flavored with natural fruits and may even have real fruits and berries in the yogurt.

Yogurt lovers who are conscious about the protein intake will find traditional yogurt to be very friendly. The yogurt has low protein content making it a healthy treat.

Homemade Yogurt

Yogurt making is easy. Homemade yogurt has gained popularity over the past few years. With the increase in the types of yogurt makers, everyone now wants to make their yogurt at home.

Homemade yogurt making requires the milk to be heated to a high temperature enough to denature milk proteins. This process is known as scalding. The milk is then cooled to a temperature that is favorable for bacteria activity.

Once the milk has cooled, starter culture (bacteria) is inoculated. Usually, Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Streptococcus thermophiles bacteria will be used. The milk is then left in a warm area for a few hours. The yogurt should be ready in 5-12 hours.

Some people tend to like homemade yogurt that has fermented for long hours. Leaving the yogurt to settle for more than 12 hours increases acidity levels. This makes the yogurt have a tangy flavor.

Flavored And Sweetened Yogurt

Yogurt naturally has a tangy flavor. This is a sour flavor that many may not like. To make it appealing and tasty, yogurt is sweetened and flavored. The most common styles of sweetened yogurt found in stores include Swiss and set-style yogurt.

The process of sweetening yogurt includes the addition of sugar and sweeteners natural or plain yogurt. This is common in commercial yogurt making. Some manufacturers use modified starch to sweeten their yogurt.

The common yogurt flavors in the market include strawberry, mango, vanilla, peach, blueberry and cherry. Some unique flavors such as honey, toffee and raspberry may also be found. All these flavors will give a great blend when used as desserts.

Major Yogurt Benefits

Yogurt is whole food and comes with numerous health benefits. The intake of yogurt not only relieves irritable bowel syndrome but also protects against osteoporosis. These are just but a few of the many benefits which include;

Supply Of Probiotics

Yogurt naturally contains probiotics and a number of manufacturers have adopted recipes that include addition of probiotics after heating the milk. These probiotics are healthy bacteria that are very beneficial to the gut.

Probiotics not only help in the control of constipation, gas and diarrhea but also boost the overall immunity. Research has shown that probiotics also help in weight regulation and reduction of cancer risk.

Calcium Supply

Yogurt naturally contains calcium. The percentage of calcium content may vary from one brand to the other. The percentage will be determined by the processing. Case in point, plain yogurt may have higher calcium content than fruit yogurt. This is because the fruits and sugar make up a huge percentage of the yogurt.

When selecting your favorite yogurt, always check the label for ingredients percentage. You will realize that some yogurts have very high calcium percentage while others may have very low percentage.

Yogurt Contains Essential Proteins

Yogurt is no doubt an excellent source of proteins. Just like calcium, protein varies from one type of yogurt to the other and from one brand to the other.

Greek yogurt is known to have lots of proteins. Strained Greek yogurt may have up to 20 g of proteins in every 100 g container. Traditional yogurt may have lower protein content. If your target is the protein content, you ought to go for brands whose protein content is between 8 and 10 g per serving.

Yogurt Prevents And Controls High Blood Pressure

Our greatest enemy is the salt that we find so appealing. Research shows that we tend to take more than double of the daily recommended amounts of salt. This can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure.

Yogurt contains potassium that is essential in flushing the excess sodium. Greek yogurt is an excellent source of potassium. It contains 600 mg of potassium in every 8 ounces. Studies conducted by an American journal show that there’s a 54% lower risk of suffering from high blood pressure for individuals who take two or more servings of low fat yogurt compared to those who don’t.

Rich Supply Of Vitamins And Mineral Salts

Yogurt contains most of the essential vitamins and mineral salts needed in the body. These include phosphorus, iodine, zinc, riboflavin, potassium, vitamin B5 and vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is vital in repair and maintenance of blood cells. It also plays a vital role in the functioning of the nervous system.

 Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance can be a major hindrance to enjoying your favorite meals. Yogurt is one of the whole meals that will be favorable for individuals suffering from lactose intolerance.

Yogurt contains the calcium that those suffering from lactose intolerance lack. It is thus very essential that one takes yogurt frequently to supply the body with the much needed calcium.

Conclusion

Yogurt is a whole meal that has become a favorite for many across the globe. Yogurt types and varieties are quite many. The selection of the best option can be a little confusing.

Health specialists recommend going for brands with low sugar and additives but are high in probiotics and vitamins. These are the varieties that will have health benefits. You just need to check the list of ingredients to see what brand has most of the friendly ingredients.

If you aren’t comfortable with any of the brands in the market, you can make your yogurt at home. Yogurt making isn’t complicated. There are numerous recipes that you can follow. Having a yogurt maker at home will be an added advantage.

A yogurt maker will make it easy for you to make your yogurt and gives you the opportunity to try different recipes. A high quality yogurt maker doesn’t require manual operation. You just need to pre-set, toss in the ingredients and wait for your yogurt.

Homemade yogurt has loads of benefits. Try all the healthy yogurt options at home and stand to enjoy maximum benefits. You may check out some of the yogurt making recipes that are healthy and easy to make. Have fun making yogurt at home or try out other milk preservation techniques to maximize on your profits.

 

 

What Are Dairy Products And Their Benefits?

Milk in its natural form can last two hours without going bad. Unfortunately, contamination makes it difficult to store milk longer. The only sure bet is preserving it as dairy products. What are dairy products? Dairy products are products made from milk. This may include cow milk, goat milk, camel milk or even buffalo milk. Some of the popular dairy products include yogurt, cheese, milkshake, ice cream, butter and kefir among others.

Healthy milk secreted from a healthy udder is almost sterile. It contains natural inhibitors such as lactoperoxidase and lactoferrin. These inhibitors prevent the rise of bacteria for 3-4 hours after milking. Cooling the milk below 40C maintains the milk in its original form.

Milk refrigeration is not feasible in all parts of the country. Sometimes, milk production exceeds the farms’ refrigeration capacity. At such seasons, the best way to ensure effective milk preservation and dairy profitability would be value addition.

Milk in itself is good enough but what about making a few products out of it! This definitely sounds interesting and digging deeper into some of these Milk products such as cheese, Milkshakes, Yoghurt, and ice cream is all this post is about. Let’s take the scroll together.

1. Yoghurt

What Is Yoghurt?

The basic definition of yoghurt is a semi solid sourish milk product curdled by action of cultures. Yoghurt was accidentally invented decades ago and has recently gained great popularity across the globe.

What’s The Origin of Yoghurt?

There is the common believe that yoghurt has its origin in Mesopotamia where it was invented thousands of years ago. Around 500 B.C, residents of Mesopotamia had domesticated sheep and goats. These animals were kept for milk and meat and the milk collected was stored in gourds. The warm climatic conditions naturally turned the milk into curd and there you get it, the first form of yoghurt.

Yoghurt wasn’t so popular until 30-40 years ago when fruit flavoring of yoghurt came into play. This gave it various flavors and served to be ready made breakfast. This didn’t only warm people’s hearts but also fueled the commercial yoghurt production.

What Are The Benefits Of Yoghurt?

As you may have realized, yoghurt is now in almost every convenient store and comes in various flavors. It has gained popularity not only because of the amazing taste but also for the numerous benefits.

1. Rich supply of probiotics

Yogurt has its origin from milk. This gives it a dose of animal proteins, nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B 12, B 2, magnesium and potassium. This is a combination that is rare to find and that’s not all yoghurt boasts of containing the ‘hard to find’ probiotics.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics can simply be described as friendly bacteria commonly found in fermented foods and are similar to the bacteria found in the body. They are normally found in the lower section of the digestive tract and its estimated that the number of bacteria found in the intestines is higher than a combination of all the bacteria found in the rest of the body.

Probiotics health benefits
I) Balancing of friendly bacteria in the digestive system

The probiotics being ‘good’ bacteria have the ability to restore natural gut bacteria balance. The imbalance is a result of too many bad bacteria and may result from medication, illness or poor diet. In such situations, one tends to have digestive issues, obesity, mental problems and allergies. The probiotics found in yoghurt come in handy in resolving the problem and tends to be the safest way of restoring the balance.

II) Prevention and treatment of diarrhea

One of the side effects of an imbalance in the gut is diarrhea. This is a condition that not only drains the body fluids but also leaves one in severe pain. Studies have shown that 42% of diarrhea associated with antibiotics can be prevented or controlled by the use of probiotics. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus, yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus casei strains are known to significantly reduce the risk of diarrhea.

III) Improving heart health

Keeping your heart healthy is vital and probiotics make that a possibility. The natural probiotics such as those found in yoghurt play a major role in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. The bacteria produces lactic acid that breaks down the bile found in the gut thus lowering cholesterol levels.

2. Reduced Allergy and Eczema severity

Eczema is common in children and infants and studies have shown that children fed on yoghurt or probiotic supplemented milk had improved compared to children fed on milk without probiotics. The effect of probiotics is also seen in pregnant mothers who take probiotics as their children tend to have a lower risk (83%) of developing eczema. More research however needs to be done to establish a clear link between eczema and probiotics.

3. Enhancing complexion

Yoghurt has countless benefits on your skin. Whether you will be using it as a face mask on drinking it, you can be sure that the effects will be evident on your skin. It not only makes the skin supple but also radiant.

If you thought wrinkles only come with age, you will be surprised to learn the many reasons behind wrinkled skin. It however needs not bother you as there are numerous solutions and yoghurt may be the ultimate remedy for you. Yoghurt contains lactic acid that comes is handy in skin exfoliation thus making it easy to shed the topmost skin layer that contains unhealthy wrinkled cells. This leaves you with a smooth, elastic and brighter skin.

Well, yoghurt also has a solution to those battling with acne. In addition to the lactic acid, yoghurt also contains a significant amount of zinc. It is this zinc that works magic on acne and applying plain yoghurt daily ensures that the acne doesn’t reoccur. Some skin experts may advice the combination of lemon juice with plain yoghurt to erase acne pigmentation and blemish but you may need to seek advice on the same as we all have different skin and the products will react differently.

4. Prevention of hypertension

In addition to the probiotics, yoghurt contains a notable amount of potassium. Potassium is a potent mineral that has gained popularity among nutritionists and cardiologists for its ability to regulate blood pressure. Potassium helps in the elimination of excess sodium and decreases its re-absorption in the body. Sodium is linked with high blood pressure that results in kidney disorders and hypertension and yoghurt plays the vital role of keeping it in check.

5. Provision of omega-3

Yoghurt has so much to offer and vegetarians have one more reason to stock it, omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are very effective in blood sugar regulation, weight loss, cancer prevention, decreased inflammation but is mostly found in animals. This means that vegetarians have limited sources of these vital fatty acids. Lucky enough, yoghurt has enough amounts of these fatty acids. With daily yoghurt intake, one is assured of an adequate supply of omega 3 and the results will be evident.

6. Prevention of yeast infections

Yeast infections are not new especially among women. They are even more predominant in women suffering from diabetes with vaginal infections topping the list. Women suffering from diabetes have imbalanced pH levels and the combination with abundant glucose creates a breeding hub for Candida albicans which is the parasitic fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections.

The Lactobacillus acidophilus contained in yoghurt is a probiotic bacterium that produces hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide destroys yeast and hinders its reoccurrence. For the bacterium to be introduced, one needs to eat yoghurt on a daily basis and also apply it directly to the affected area.

Note: Only use plain yoghurt for yeast infection treatment

2. Cheese

Cheese is normally in its solid form and is produced from proteins and fats from milk. It is one of the milk products that are commonly used in homes and the fact that it can be used in multiple recipes makes it very popular. There has been concerns about the fat and sodium content in cheese making it necessary to have a deeper understanding of cheese.

Types Of Cheese

Cheese can either be used alone as a snack or appetizer or even as an accompaniment to foods such as pizza, burger, sandwich and salads. There are numerous varieties of cheese depending on the flavors, fat content and origin. Some of these varieties include:

1. Reduced fat cheese

This is the cheese that is popularly known as low fat cheese. It is made with 2% milk making it very healthy. Skim milk or 0% milk is used to make non-fat cheese.

2. Whole milk cheese

Just as the name suggests, this is the cheese that contains a considerably high amount of milk. One serving of whole milk cheese contains 6-10 grams of fat per 1 ounce.

3. Fresh cheese

These are the cheeses that are yet to be aged or matured. This is to mean that they have high moisture content, milder in taste and have a soft texture. Some of the cheese that fall in this category include cream cheese, ricotta, mascarpone and cottage cheese.

4. Mature/aged cheese

This definitely would be the opposite of fresh cheese and has a firmer texture, less moisture and sharp taste. The cheese that falls in this category tends to be aged for six months or longer. The cheese gains more flavor and concentration with age. Some of the cheese that will be referred to as aged cheese include Swiss, gruyere, cheddar and parmesan cheese.

5. Processed cheese

This is a category that may not necessarily contain cheese in its original form and the products in this category aren’t referred to as cheese. Such products include American cheese, cheese flavored and cheese food. These are not categorized as cheese as they are shelf stable products with ingredients such as emulsifiers and flavor enhancers.

6. Non-dairy cheese

Cheese is commonly made from dairy products but it’s not every type of cheese that will contain dairy products. Cheese such as daiya and soy cheese are non-dairy varieties. They are an excellent choice for individuals who wouldn’t prefer taking dairy products.

Cheese Benefits

Just like other dairy products, cheese has numerous health benefits most of which are inherited from milk. These benefits include;

I) Bone health

Cheese contains vitamins A, K and D, calcium, zinc, magnesium and proteins that play a major role in bone development. There is the fear that dairy products contain high acid levels which is a risk to bone health but there is no scientific evidence to justify that. Cheese thus remains to be a great option bone strengthening.

II) Dental Health

The calcium contained in cheese contributes to dental health by enhancing teeth and gum strength. Calcium is vital in teeth formation and also ensures that teeth remain healthy and strong. Studies have also shown that cheese can raise the dental plague pH which means that the teeth will be protected from dental cavities.

III) Omega 3 fatty acids

Some types of cheese, especially those from cows fed on alpine grass, have been known to contain a lot of omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are of great benefits to the body as they help fight cardiovascular related diseases.

IV) Regulating blood sugar

Despite cheese being rich in sodium and fats cheese lovers have been known to have low blood sugar. This is because cheese contains calcium that considerably lowers blood sugar. It is however advisable that one goes for the low-sodium, low-fat cheese such as Swiss cheese to be on the safe side.

3. Milkshake

A milkshake is served cold. It’s a sweet beverage made from ice milk, ice cream or milk. Milkshakes will add value to your milk and sweeten your dairy profits.

Milkshakes are common across the globe. The name used may vary from one region to the other. In the United States, a thick shake or thick milkshake refers to milkshake made from ice milk or ice cream. The same product is known as frappe in New England.

Types of milkshakes

Milkshakes can take different forms and shapes. Everyone wants to personalize their shake to suit their taste buds. Some of the common types of milkshakes that are popular across the globe include;

1. Pre-made milkshake

These types of milkshakes are available in stores. They are ready made and may come in different flavors. Most of the common shakes are made from a mix of milk, sweeteners, flavored concentrate and carrageenan thickener.

2. Hand blend or homemade milkshake

Traditionally, milkshakes were made from home. This was until retail shops introduced premade milkshakes. Well, homemade ice cream is still popular.

Homemade milkshake gives you the opportunity to tweak your ingredients. This is very important to individuals who want to watch their weight or those on a healthy diet. You have the freedom to add all that you want to make the milkshake healthy and tasty.

Milkshake health benefits

I) Calcium for strong and healthy bones and teeth

Milkshake, especially those made from milk products, a packed with calcium. A single cup of the milkshake may contain up to 300g of calcium. This is a generous supply of the precious mineral salt.

Calcium is very important in bone and teeth formation. With a constant supply of the calcium from milkshakes, you will be guaranteed of healthy and strong bones and teeth. You will not only have the coveted grin at old age but will also have the freedom to eat even the toughest foods at old age.

II) Appetite boost

Loss of appetite has been a bother for many people. Intake of drugs and medication tends to suppress one’s appetite and this may affect the overall health negatively. Milkshakes come in handy to boost appetite.

Traditional foods can be boring or hard to take in especially for individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancers. The inclusion of milkshakes in diets lets them enjoy a healthy yet tasty meal.

Milkshakes will supply the much needed calcium, protein, potassium, fat and iron among other vitamins and mineral salts. This is not to mention that the shakes are sweets and will be appealing to all.

4. Ice cream

It may not first strike you as a dairy product but ice cream is a dairy product. The soft frozen food is made from milk and cream and can be flavored with fruit or vanilla to give it that delicious taste. Ice cream traces its origin in Egypt and Mesopotamia where drinks with ice were serve to the rich and those in power.

Types of Ice Cream

1) Hard/Ordinary ice cream

The commonly known ice cream cross the globe is the hard ice cream. This is the ice cream made of 10% milk fat, 12 to16% sweeteners, sugar, eggs, cream and stabilizers. It can either be served plain or with toppings that have ensured that it remains relevant in the ever changing industry.

2) Reduced-fat ice cream

Many people keep off ice cream for the fear that they will add on weight. What they do not know is that it’s not every type of ice cream that is unhealthy. Reduced fat ice cream is one of the healthy ice cream options. This type of ice cream contains low-fat ingredients and low sugars making them a great option for those on a diet.

3) French ice cream

This ice cream coins its name not only from its popularity in France but also from its ingredients. It is a unique summertime treat as it includes whole eggs or egg York, milk, and cream.

4) Light ice cream

Just as the name suggests, this type is slightly different as its base contains 25% less milk fat. It would be a good option for those looking for considerably lean options.

Ice Cream Benefits

Ice creams make our summers bearable and memorable. On top of that, they bring along so many benefits that you can’t resist to have a bite. These benefits include;

I) Provision of energy

Ice cream has nutritional value and also serves as a great source of energy. It is rich in fats, carbohydrates and proteins which are essential in provision of energy in the body. It is a great option for those who need instant energy boost especially for those with diabetic conditions. You only need to be careful on the amount of ice cream you are taking as too much of it can see you gain unwanted weight.

II) Source of vitamins

Ice creams are packed with a number of essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B-12, B-6, D, C and E. On top of that, it also contains vitamin K that aids in blood clotting. Studies have also shown that it also contains thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.

III) Source of minerals

Milk products are known to be rich in minerals and ice cream is no exceptional as it contains phosphorous and calcium. Calcium plays a major role in bone development and also reduces chances of kidney stones development.

IV) Brain stimulation

The ultimate goal of every human being is to be happy and ice cream has the secret behind happiness. Ice cream is known to stimulate the hormone thrombotonin, hormone of happiness, which keeps one’s moods on a high note. A constant intake of ice cream will guarantee you stress free days and a desirable social life.

How To Make Ice Cream

Ice cream making is not as complicated as some people tend to think. It is particularly very simple if you have an ice cream maker. You however need not worry if you do not have an ice cream maker. There are dozens of recipes that do not require an ice-cream maker.

There are several options that will serve as yogurt maker alternatives. These include;

Home-Made Ice Cream Made In Bags

Freezer bags will go a long way in aiding you make ice cream with ease. Simply pour the ice cream base in the bag. Mix with sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Pour in rock salt and ice into the bag and seal it. Shake for 10-15 minutes. Your ice cream making process will be over.

Hand Blended Ice Cream

If you have a hand-held whisk, food processor or a high-powered blender you are on your way to making creamy ice cream treats. Mix the ice cream base and pour into a freezer bag.

Break your frozen cream base into large pieces and place them in the blender. If using a whisk, place in a bowl. Blend the mixture to achieve a smooth tasty treat.

The above methods should help you make delicious home-made ice cream with ease. You can also check out of publication on how to make ice cream for more insight.

Conclusion

Milk is naturally rich in nutrients and can significantly contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Whether served as milk or as one of the milk or dairy products it still remains to be a very rich diet and diet supplement. With the many forms of milk preservation now available to you, you can now preserve milk in its natural milk form or as cheese, ice cream or yoghurt which are very healthy options too. You just have so much to experiment with milk and its products.