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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163 Comments

  1. Natasha says:

    I’ve done this twice now, once for 24 hrs the second 12 hrs and it’s not turning out right. I followed the exact directions and it’s like chunky and watery. When I mix initially after its done it will mix and look like normal yogurt but then after it sits in fridge it separates almost like curds and whey and is really hard to mix back together and get the “normal” yogurt texture and consistency. I wanted my family to love this so bad cuz they like regular yogurt but I don’t know what to do. Bought the exact culture you recommend and using perfect supps Gelatin and local raw milk… any input appreciated

  2. Erica says:

    5 stars
    Hello, new yogurt maker here. My instapot yougart button goes to boil then yogurt – no option to press a second time. Is that ok?

    Second, do you always use new starter or can you use from the batch you make?

    Thanks!
    Erica

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      Yes, that’s fine! You can use a starter from the previous batch.

  3. Susan Jacques says:

    I have a regular size Instant Pot with a yogurt function. One gallon of milk would fill it close to the brim of the inner pot! Does that even “cook” the yogurt properly?

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      You wouldn’t want to go past the max line. You could also half this recipe if needed.

  4. Tiffany Cochran says:

    Hi! I have made this several times – often successfully but quite a few times now it has not come out smooth. The best I can describe is maybe curdled?
    Any ideas on why I get this result sometimes and not others and how I can avoid it?
    Thanks in advance

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      I’ve not had that issue, but to me it sounds like your temperature may have gotten too hot.

  5. Gezille says:

    Hi I was wondering if this was even a go bc I love raw milk but heating the raw milk loses it’s goodness after it’s been heated isn’t that right? Or is there some magic that mixing the yogurt cultures saves the enzymes and goodness raw milk has when heated for the yogurt recipe? Please clarify bc I definitely want to try this

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      Heating the milk does pasteurize it, so it loses some of the goodness; however, it is heated to a lower temperature so that helps to save some of the nutritional benefits. Also, I still find it much more nutritious for us than the store bought yogurt!

  6. Greg says:

    Hi – thanks for the great recipe. Yours calls for 1/8 tsp of starter culture, but the starter you link and your video for this recipe calls for 1/16 tsp. Which one should I do?

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      1/8!

  7. Brittany B says:

    Can this be made with raw skim milk?

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      Sure. The texture may be a little lacking without the fat.

      1. Patricia Dalin says:

        Can a lesser amount of yogurt be made using the InstantPot?

        1. Lisa Bass says:

          Yes! You could half the recipe.

  8. Kelsey says:

    Could you use other yogurt in place of the starter if thatโ€™s your only option at the moment?

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      You technically can, but I find the results inconsistent.

  9. Valerie Hollander says:

    Hi, Iโ€™ve made this yogurt twice now and each time it has been very runny. Iโ€™d like it to be thicker. Do I need to add more Gelatin or leave it in the insta pot longer? What makes it thicken? Thanks!

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      I would leave it a bit longer in the instant pot. That should help it thicken up more.

  10. Molly says:

    Hi, Lisa! Iโ€™ve got a question. When you set the insta pot with the yogurt setting, is it on the โ€œlessโ€ or โ€œnormalโ€ setting? We have really been enjoying having raw milk recently and excited to get to make our yogurt! Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

    1. Lisa Bass says:

      I set it at normal.

      1. Renee Lorson says:

        What if we have an older instapot without the yogurt setting?

        1. Lisa Bass says:

          Here’s a link to a recipe that will help you make it without the yogurt button!