Learn how to make Greek yogurt from regular yogurt with this simple tutorial. Enjoy a bowl of thick and creamy yogurt with fruit and granola or use it in your favorite Greek yogurt recipes!
When Greek yogurt first hit American grocery store shelves back in 1998, it flew under the radar of most consumers for seven years. When Chobani arrived, it took the supermarket by storm! Ever since, yogurt making companies have been striving to keep up, or at a minimum, stake their claim in the Greek yogurt fad.
Except that it’s not a fad. Greek yogurt is here to stay! It’s thick, creamy, smooth, and has up to three times as much protein as regular yogurt.
The only downside? It can be expensive.
The good news? You can learn how to make Greek yogurt at home!
WHY LEARN HOW TO MAKE GREEK YOGURT
I like to make Greek yogurt because:
- It’s easy and simple.
- You only need one ingredient!
- Making it at home can be healthier than store-bought yogurt.
- It saves money, especially if you eat a lot of yogurt.
- Just like regular yogurt, Greek yogurt gives you good bacteria.
- Turns out deliciously tangy, with a thick, creamy texture.
GREEK YOGURT VS. GREEK-STYLE YOGURT
100% authentic Greek yogurt takes more time and resources to make than regular yogurt (that is, if it’s going to be made properly).
Real Greek yogurt contains more protein than regular yogurt. The high amount of protein comes from triple the amount of milk used to make the same quantity of yogurt. Real Greek yogurt doesn’t use any fillers or thickeners – most labels include just milk and live active cultures.
How is Greek yogurt made? By straining out the excess liquid so that you’re left with a thicker, more concentrated yogurt. That liquid is called whey.
Greek-style (or Greek-strained) yogurt is made with whole milk, live active cultures, and “other stuff” to make it thicker. As a general rule of thumb, “other stuff” is bad. Avoid stuff. Keep it real.
And keep it frugal by learning how to make Greek yogurt yourself!
HOMEMADE GREEK YOGURT RECIPES INGREDIENTS
To make Greek yoghurt at home, you need one ingredient:
- Yogurt. It can be plain yogurt, store-bought, conventional, organic, or homemade – it doesn’t matter.
Starting with one cup of yogurt will yield approximately ¼ cup of whey and ¾ cup of Greek yogurt. This means that when you’re making 2 quarts of regular yogurt, you’ll end up with 6 cups of Greek yogurt and 2 cups of whey. Take this into consideration for recipes and your grocery budget!
Want to try making homemade yogurt? Use this super easy tutorial that calls for a gallon of milk, cultures or a small portion of yogurt, and a heating pad. It’s my preferred method and hasn’t failed me yet!
If you’re not quite that ready for homemade, try a yogurt starter kit from Cultures from Health instead. This comes with instructions and ingredients to ferment your own yogurt.
HOMEMADE GREEK YOGHURT EQUIPMENT
To make homemade Greek yogurtt, you’ll need a few simple supplies:
If you don’t have cheesecloth, others have reported success using paper towels, coffee filters, flour sack towels, or even old thin t-shirts! You want something that the liquid whey can strain through while still providing enough support to hold the yogurt.
HOW TO MAKE YOGURT FROM YOGURT
Follow these simple instructions to learn how to make yogurt from yogurt!
Step 1. Hang your strainer over a bowl and line the strainer with the cheesecloth (if using). Scoop as much yogurt into the strainer as the strainer will hold. Unless your strainer is miniature-sized, you’ll end up scooping 1-2 cups. You may have to work in batches.
Step 2. Allow the whey to strain – undisturbed – for at least two hours until desired consistency. This can be done at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Step 3. For extremely thick yogurt, allow straining in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. (You may want to cover the yogurt with a small cloth napkin, towel, or lid if you’re going for longer than a few hours.)
The resulting yogurt will be thick like Greek yogurt, and the longer you strain it, the thicker it will be.
Once your Greek yogurt is done straining, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (Don’t forget to keep the whey! Use it in all sorts of ways.) We’ve kept our homemade Greek yogurt in the fridge for up to a month. It should be good at least up to the expiration date on the yogurt you started with.
You can also freeze yogurt if you find you’ve made too much.
RECIPES USING GREEK YOGURT
Scoop up a small bowl of yogurt with berries or other fresh fruit. And then it’s time to try these recipes using Greek yogurt!
PROTEIN IN GREEK YOGURT
If you’re trying to add more protein to your daily meals, Greek yogurt is a great way to get a protein boost!
A 6-oz cup of regular yogurt contains 7.5g protein, and Greek yogurt contains 9.5g protein — this after only 2 hours. Large manufacturers often strain for a full day or two, removing even more whey and thereby increasing the protein concentration in the yogurt that much more.
Let’s break it down:
- 1 cup of milk = 10g protein
- 1 cup of regular yogurt = 10g protein (assuming the cultures don’t add any protein)
- 1 cup of regular yogurt –> ¾ cup Greek yogurt (9.5g protein) and ¼ cup whey (.5g protein) after only 2 hours of straining
Whey is rich in protein when you compare it to plain water or even nut milks (i.e., almond milk, cashew milk, or rice milk), but it’s low in protein when you compare it to other dairy products. It’s still worth using in smoothies or baked goods, but most of your protein will come from the Greek yogurt itself.
HOW TO MAKE GREEK YOGURT HOMEMADE FAQS
What’s that liquid stuff that comes from making Greek yoghurt?
That clear-yellowish liquid is called whey, and it’s packed with minerals and some protein. Just one cup contains nearly 2g! This may not sound like much, but it’s more than most non-dairy milk. Use whey to boost the protein in smoothies and in recipes calling for water (rice, soups, beans, etc.).
Is it worth it to make your own Greek yogurt?
I think so! Not only are you keeping your ingredients list super simple, but you can also make this homemade Greek yogurt recipe for a cheaper cost per ounce than buying it at the store.
What about fat-free Greek yogurt? Can I make that?
Sure. Start with fat-free yogurt from the store or make homemade yogurt using fat-free milk. Then strain it to make Greek yogurt.
Can you make flavored Greek yogurt recipes?
Sure! To make vanilla Greek yogurt, add either vanilla extract or a bit of vanilla bean scraped into the yogurt. You might have to add a drop or two of stevia to sweeten, and perhaps a pinch of salt. For fruit-flavored yogurt, I would simply stir in a bit of finely chopped fresh fruit. Honey is a great flavor for yogurt as well.
MORE RECIPES TO MAKE FROM SCRATCH
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