Yogurt is an important ingredient in many Vita-Mix smoothie recipes.

Unfortunately, yogurt is becoming more expensive and the containers are shrinking in size. On average, an 6 oz. container of non-fat yogurt costs about 80 cents. That’s $17.40 per gallon! But, you can easily make your own supply of fresh, nutritious yogurt at home by following these simple steps: You will need to buy one container of non-fat yogurt. (This could be the last cup of yogurt you may need to buy!)

Ingredients

Scalding the milk

2 cups (480 mL) non-fat milk

Pour milk into a microwave-safe glass or ceramic container. (I use the glass jar that I will use to store the yogurt.) Heat the milk to 190 degrees. Then, let it cool to a range between 105 – 115 degrees. (If the temperature is outside of this range, the yogurt will fail. This is easy to accomplish with a candy thermometer or your microwave’s temperature probe.)

Mixing yogurt into the milk

1 tablespoon non-fat plain or vanilla yogurt

Wisk your tablespoon of yogurt to liquefy. Pour warm milk and liquefied yogurt in your Vita-Mix. Run your Vita-Mix on low speed to stir the mixture well and distribute the yogurt cultures throughout the milk. Pour mixture back into your storage container. Cover and wrap your container with a towel. Place in a warm place, free of drafts for 8 hours. Uncover and viola! You have fresh, fat-free yogurt for pennies a serving. If you buy your non-fat milk on sale, your yogurt will cost as low as 25 cents per 8 ounces! To keep the savings going, always retain one tablespoon for the next batch. Periodically, empty your yogurt into another container and thoroughly wash your primary yogurt jar in the dishwasher or by hand.

Did you know?

Eight ounces of non-fat yogurt provides you with 10 grams of valuable dietary protein. In addition, a recent study showed yogurt can increase the body’s production of gamma-interferon, a substance that may boost your immune system.

Health Classification: Low Fat, Low Cholesterol, Heart Healthy, Vegetarian

Meal Type: 5 Ingredients or less, Beverages, Sauces

Nutrition Facts Serving Size 1 cup (240 mL) Amount Per Serving Calories 105   % Daily Value* Total Fat 1g Saturated Fat 0g Cholesterol 5mg Sodium 151mg Total Carbohydrate 14g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugars 1g   Protein 10g   Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 3% Calcium 37% Iron 0% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on you calorie needs:   Calories: 2000 2500 Total Fat Less than 65g 80g Sat Fat Less than 20g 25g Cholesterol Less than 300mg 300mg Sodium Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg Total Carbohydrate   300g 375g Dietary Fiber   25g 30g Calories per gram: Fat 9 Carbohydrate 4 Protein 4

Nutrition Information provided for using non-fat plain yogurt.