Follow this simple tutorial on how to make raw milk yogurt in the Instant Pot. Thick, creamy, and delicious, this raw milk yogurt recipe comes out perfect every time.

raw milk yogurt in a bowl sprinkled with blueberries and granola

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We’ve been talking a lot about raw milk lately, and are continuing the series with how to make raw milk yogurt in the Instant Pot. This is – hands down – the best way to make it.

It is a really quick and no-fuss recipe. It is even faster than making yogurt with pasteurized milk since you do not have to heat up all of the milk.

The usual problem with raw milk yogurt is that it can be on the runny side, but ever since making it with this method and adding gelatin, it has been a game changer. I was inspired for this recipe by my friend Wardee at GNOWFIGLINS.

Thick and creamy yogurt every single time. The best part is the cream that floats to the top, which I sometimes like to scrape off and hide from the kids.

Honestly, I wish I could just make it with straight cream and not add the rest of the milk, but since that’s not how God intended it, that’s not the way we do it.

Now if you wanted to do straight cream, you could and make it into homemade sour cream.

This recipe has become a staple in our family, and we use it a variety of ways. We make simple breakfast parfaits by topping this yogurt with homemade rustic granola and fruit. Add it to smoothies, make sauces, and even bake with it.

There really is nothing better than homemade raw milk yogurt… Well, maybe just the straight cream.

How to Make Yogurt in the Instant Pot homemade yogurt

Is homemade yogurt healthy?

Rich in probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, raw milk yogurt may be one of the earth’s most perfect foods. The probiotics in yogurt can benefit the gut microflora and help boost the immune system.

The live cultures may help those with digestive issues. Yogurt may also help reduce the risk of type two diabetes, certain types of cancer, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more (Source). Don’t you love when food not only tastes amazing, but also has great health benefits?

How long is raw milk yogurt good for?

Raw milk yogurt should stay good in the refrigerator for 10-14 days. If it lasts that long. Our kiddos gobble it up way sooner than 10-14 days.

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What temperature is the yogurt setting on the Instant Pot?

The yogurt setting on the Instant Pot keeps a constant temperature at 106 to 113 degrees perfect for culturing yogurt. This consistent temperature makes making yogurt super easy and consistent.

What type of yogurt starter should I use?

There are a few different methods to culture raw milk yogurt, which I have tried and have gotten inconsistent results. The best and most consistent way to culture raw milk yogurt I have found, is from this yogurt starter from Homesteader’s Supply.

How long should I let my yogurt culture for?

Yogurt can be cultured anywhere from 8-24 hours. Yogurt needs at least 8 hours for the good bacteria to culture and thicken up. When yogurt is allowed to ferment for 24 hours, good bacteria has more time to proliferate and helps consume the lactose, allowing it to be easier to digest.

Yogurt fermented for 24 hours is suitable for a gut healing protocol, like GAPS.

Tools and supplies you will need:

Live culture- I have the best results with this one from Homesteader’s Supply.

Gelatin

Instant Pot

Whisk

Glass lid (optional, but handy)

Measuring spoon

Glass storage container for yogurt – we usually store ours in a half-gallon mason jar.

Tips for making raw milk yogurt in the Instant Pot

  • Add gelatin to make it thicker as raw milk yogurt tends to run on the thin side.
  • Use a yogurt starter culture, rather than yogurt from another batch, to inoculate the next batch for better results.
  • You donโ€™t need to use the silicon seal on the lid. The silicon seal tends to harbor smells from any other meals youโ€™ve made in the IP before.
  • A second IP stainless steel insert and glass lid come in handy. That way you are only sacrificing your Instant Pot for the 24 hours during fermentation.

How To Make Raw Milk Yogurt In The Instant Pot

  1. Shake up the 1 gallon of raw milk to disperse cream.
  2. Add about 2 cups of milk to the Instant Pot. Click the sautรฉ function or double press the yogurt button.
  3. Once the milk heats up, sprinkle 2.5 tablespoons ofย gelatin over it and whisk until dissolved.
  4. Turn the sautรฉ function off.
  5. Add the remaining milk to the Instant Pot.
  6. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon yogurt starter over the milk and mix well. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and slide it to seal.
  7. Press the yogurt button and set for at least 8-24 hours. 8 hours if you are in a hurry, or up to 24 hours for the most beneficial culturing time.
  8. When the yogurt is done fermenting, stir the cream that has risen to the top (or skim it off).
  9. Place a lid over the insert and refrigerate for a full 24 hours before serving.

This post is part of a series on raw milk. We get so many questions from readers about our choice to drink raw milk. Check out our โ€œRaw Milk Q&Aโ€ video and blog post, where I discuss why we choose to drink raw milk, the health benefits and risks of drinking it, and much more.

Homemade Raw Milk Yogurt In The Instant Pot Recipe Card

Raw Milk Yogurt

4.43 from 104 votes
Thick, creamy, and delicious, this raw milk yogurt recipe comes out perfect every time.ย 
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 1 day
Total: 1 day 10 minutes
Servings: 8 cups
Raw milk yogurt topped with maple syrup and sliced strawberries in a bowl on a white and blue striped towel
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Ingredients 

  • 1 gallon raw milk
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons gelatin
  • 1/8 teaspoon yogurt starter culture

Instructions 

  • Shake up the raw milk to disperse the cream.
  • Add about 2 cups of raw milk to the Instant Pot. Click the sautรฉ function or double press the yogurt button.
  • Once the milk heats up, sprinkle 2.5 Tbs gelatin over it and whisk until dissolved.
  • When the gelatin has dissolved, turn the sautรฉ function off and press the yogurt button.
  • Add the rest of the milk.
  • Sprinkle yogurt starter over and mix well. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and switch it to seal. Set yogurt function for at least 8-24 hours.
  • When the yogurt is done fermenting, stir the cream that has risen to the top (or skim it off). Refrigerate for a full 24 hours before enjoying.

Notes

  • Raw milk yogurt should stay good in the refrigerator for 10-14 days. If it lasts that long.ย 
  • I strongly recommend using a starter culture for more consistent results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 177mg | Potassium: 681mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 735IU | Calcium: 559mg | Iron: 0.02mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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raw milk yogurt made in the instant pot topped with granola and bueberries

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164 Comments

  1. Allison Cook says:

    What type of yogurt starter do you recommend? The link you have says the product is no longer available. Thanks!

  2. Mackenzie says:

    I attempted this recipe (with plain yogurt in lieu of the starter), and my yogurt turned out clumpy, as if the gelatin wasnโ€™t properly dispersed. Could this be because of using plain yogurt? Or is it the result more clumpy and jello-like?

    1. Lisa says:

      It very well could be. I find that using yogurt as a starter doesn’t give as consistent results as compared to a starter. You could use an immersion blender to get it smooth and creamy again.

    2. Lisa says:

      Mine turned out clumpy using yogurt starter so my guess is itโ€™s the gelatin.

  3. Ashley says:

    Hi! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us! I made the yogurt Saturday, followed every instruction. Cooked on yogurt setting for 23 hours and then cooled. The consistency was perfect – taste not so much. It tasted like sour – sour cream. Very tart and tangy. Any suggestions on what I did wrong or what I could do differently next time? Thank you so much!!

    1. Lisa says:

      My kids think any longer than about 8-12 hours is too sour as well. We like to use the really sour yogurt in smoothies. I would suggest not letting it cook so long. That should help.

  4. Rebecca says:

    Can you use a yogurt strainer instead of adding gelatin to get the thickness desired?

    1. Lisa says:

      That should also work.

  5. Shannon says:

    If I wanted to adjust this recipe to use only a half gallon of milk, would the cook times and other ingredients be the same or halved?

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes it would be the same amount of time and the other ingredients could be halved as well.

  6. Katelin says:

    Could you just strain it in a cheese cloth instead of adding the gelatin?

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes that should work.

  7. Cortney Fowles says:

    Hi there. I finished but it’s still a bit watery. It’s that how it should be?? And I didn’t notice if high or low heat read on there?? I just pressed the button and let it run for 24 hours. Thanks for your help!

    1. Lisa says:

      Is the liquid on top or it is just not very thick? Every once in a while you can get a batch that didn’t work well. If it is just not to your desired thickness, you could strain it through cheese cloth to make it more like Greek yogurt.

  8. Sarah Davis says:

    The link for thr yogurt starter is no longer working. Do you have another source, or a name of the product you like?

  9. Morgan says:

    So excited to try! The link for the yogurt starter leads to a page that is no longer there; what is the name of the kind you use?

  10. Erin says:

    Can you add vanilla to it at the end or the same times as the culture?

    1. Lisa says:

      I usually wait until after it has cultured.