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Yogurt Makers Buying Guide

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yogurtmakerwithjarsBuying a yogurt maker is going to depend greatly on your own indivudual needs and preferences as to what brand and type you decide to get.  There are many kinds to choose from and it can be confusing or overwhelming at first to decide what kind is going to be the best one for you.

There is no “best yogurt maker” because what one person likes does not mean that everyone else will like it too. Instead, review our checklist below and then select a model that has everything you need that meets both your budget and your favorite options and features.

Here’s Some Tips To Help You Choose The Right Kind:

1. Get the Right Size: Size matters when it comes to making yogurt. Why? Because you can make yogurt and it will typically store for about 2 weeks. But if you can’t make a sufficient batch size every week or so then you’ll end up having to make it more often than you really have to. I mean, sure, it’s FUN to make your own yogurt – but you really don’t need to do it everyday – and if you did do it every day you’d probably likely get a little bored by it. So, make sure the one you get can hold an ample amount that will last you 1-2 weeks, so you never get sick of your new yogurt making hobby :)

2. Do You Need Single Servings? It’s a pretty neat idea, though not absolutely necessary – several models provide indivudual serving sized jars instead of one large tub as many popular models do. Examples include the Yogurt Maker with Glass Jars we have pictured above.

3. What is Your Budget? You can get a basic yogurt maker for $20 – or you can get one for $200. It all depends on your budget as to what features you can get. Low budget ones might not come with automatic shut off buttons or individual servings jars or be able to transport from maker to fridge or freezer. BUT – most of them do all achieve the same result – which is yogurt that was consistently incubated at a constant temperature.

4. Optional Features: There’s a lot of nice features you may want to look for if you are going to purchase a yogurt maker and have a little flexibility with budget. One of the features we like is having the ability to transport a container right from the machine into the fridge or freezer. You may also want to look for a machine that offers an automatic shut off feature so you don’t worry about forgetting it and leaving it on. You’ll also want to consider if it comes with any additional pieces and accessories such as a spatula or digital timer or a recipe book.

5. Research the Manufacturer: There are many different brands and manufacturers available. If things like a warranty or where it is made are important to you, it is best to check into each individual company and their history.

Below are a few examples of Yogurt Makers:

Yogurt Maker with Glass Jars

By doing a little research and following our guidelines above, you’ll be sure to find the yogurt maker that meets all of your needs and requirements!

Probiotic Yogurt

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yogurt Probiotic yogurt is something you’ve probably been hearing more and more about through the news and health channels. You may ever have heard about it from your doctor or your pharmacist.

Yogurt is made by combining live active bacteria cultures with milk. It is these live bacteria cultures that make yogurt have so many of it’s health benefits. Not all yogurt has these live cultures in them, but the ones who do are the type that will give you benefit from eating it.

What Are Probiotics?

When we think of bacteria, we often think of it being bad, such as in the case of most bacterial infections. “Yuck! Germs!” You might think. But there are actually very good bacteria that can help us resist infections from these bad bacteria as well as yeast. They can work to breakdown other foods in our stomach better which can help with aiding in digestion.

Our bodies naturally contain good bacteria. The good bacteria helps ward off the bad bacteria and it also helps predominately with digestion, as it helps break down food so it can be processed and eliminated.

Probiotics are these good bacteria that are often found in dietary supplements and foods such as yogurt. You can get them often in capsule form or you can also get them in other methods such as eating probiotic foods.

Because yogurt is a cultured, or fermented, milk product, it is made by adding live bacteria to the milk. Common ones you will see include Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These are the “good guys” and when you buy yogurt or yogurt starters in the store you’ll want to make sure that it contains live and active cultures of these. Not all yogurts have live cultures, as some of them are heated to the point where the bacteria cannot withstand the heat.

It is not a new process to add microorganisms to a food and have a result from it. For example, most beers are made by the fermentation of yeast, another live substance.

Why Do You Need Probiotics?

There are many different people who in different circumstances can benefit from eating probiotics. For example, someone who has had a bacterial infection that required antibiotics would benefit from eating pro-biotic foods. Antibacterial ointments and antibiotic medicines work in killing not only the bad type that cause infection, but also the good ones. If you are taking antibiotic medication for any extended period of time, your pharmacist or doctor may advise you to eat yogurt in order to help restore the natural balance in your body.

Others may benefit from taking it if they have common digestive problems, as an imbalance of good bacteria can cause quite a lot of problems. There are many products in the stores marketed specifically for this.

What Kind of Yogurt Should I Eat?
There are a lot of yogurt companies that market themselves specifically as being “ProBiotic”. These types of yogurt claim to have specially researched and trademarked bacteria strains. However, it is unknown if these actually do have more health benefits than the other types or not, since no conclusive studies have been performed that I am aware of to date.

If you are planning on buying yogurt from the store, you’re going to want to read the labels carefully. Most companies and manufacturers now put exactly what types of cultures they use to make their product, though some might still not put it on the label as to the exact strains. If you do not see the words “contains live and active cultures” on the container or label, it’s a good chance that it doesn’t have any benefits to eating it at all. This is because certain manufacturers will heat the product up to extreme temperatures in order to pasteurize it – unfortunately this also kills the cultures found in the food.

This is one more great reason why you should make your own yogurt. When you are making it you have complete control of the ingredients you use, as well as what strains you choose to make it with. You can start with some commercially available prepared yogurt to start off as a base, or you can use a starter kit instead. Making it yourself can help you get the exact type you want to use.

It is truly fascinating to learn about how probiotics may have substantial medical impact as they continue to develop and research its uses and effects. Knowing that you can have these benefits from a naturally occurring food you eat is promising for those who continue to seek more natural remedies and alternative medical treatments.