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Instant Pot Cold Start Vanilla Yogurt

Name: Instant Pot Cold Start Vanilla Yogurt
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 12 h 5 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 52 oz Fairlife, whole ultra-filtered milk; 16 oz Coffee-Mate natural bliss vanilla creamer; 7 oz Fage 2% plain Greek yogurt

December 19, 2019 by simplylowcal 48 Comments

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Instant Pot cold start vanilla yogurt is creamy and delicious. Perfect for breakfast, smoothies, and more.

Yogurt is one the easiest thing I’ve made in my Instant Pot. This Instant Pot cold start vanilla yogurt takes only 3 ingredients to make, and it makes a lot. So, if you’re a yogurt lover, this is definitely a recipe you’ll want to make. I make my yogurt using the cold-start method and it is no-fuss.

What a different ways to enjoy homemade yogurt?

There are many great uses for yogurt. With your favorite toppings, like fruit and granola, or in smoothies. Also, as a substitution for mayonnaise and sour cream in many dishes, though you may want to use plain yogurt for this.

What are the benefits of yogurt?

Yogurt is also high in protein which keeps you feeling full longer. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Makes a large quantity for less money than store bought
You can flavor the yogurt how you would like
Lasts for a couple weeks in the refrigerator
Versatile and can be used in many ways

Ingredients

What you’ll need to make this recipe.

Ultra pasteurized milk, such as Fairlife ultra-filtered milk
Natural Bliss vanilla creamer
Fage 2% plain Greek yogurt

You need only 3 ingredients to make yogurt. First, milk that is ultra pasteurized, like Fairlife. It’s important to start with a milk that has already been boiled to kill any bacteria.

You can get away with not boiling Fairlife milk for this method because it’s already been boiled.

The ultra pasteurized milk goes through a heating process that kills all of that bacteria, so it’s ready to use without needing to be boiled first. The cold-start method will save time on your yogurt making process. If you are unable to find ultra-pasteurized milk locally, then the boil yogurt method works too.

This cold start or no boil method will not work with regular milk.

For boiling milk, any type of milk will work, including non-dairy milks. To do this, start by pouring the milk in a pot on the stove and bring it to 180 degrees. It doesn’t need to come to a full boil at 212 degrees.

Once the milk is at 180 degrees, hold it there for about 30 minutes. Then, cool the milk down to 115 degrees. Now it’s ready to add to the Instant Pot.

How to make this recipe

1 – Stir together the milk and the vanilla creamer in the Instant Pot. I use the Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss brand. You can skip this step if you prefer plain flavored yogurt. I add the vanilla creamer because I like my yogurt flavored a bit.

2 – Once the milk and creamer are stirred together, add in the plain Greek yogurt to the milk and creamer with a whisk, stirring until the yogurt is blended in.

The reason you need yogurt to make yogurt is because of the active cultures it contains. It acts as a starter for your new yogurt. When buying your yogurt, be sure that it has live active yogurt cultures. Not all yogurt works as yogurt starters.

3 – Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, leaving the valve open. Press the yogurt button and let the Instant Pot work its magic. It takes about 8 hours for the yogurt to finish.

4 – Once it’s done, remove the insert, lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled. At least for 4 hours, but overnight is better.

If you save several tablespoons of your yogurt you can use it to start your next batch of Instant Pot yogurt.

How do I store homemade yogurt?

Place yogurt in an airtight container. It will last for 10-14 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze homemade yogurt?

Yes. Place yogurt in a freezer safe container. It will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Please Note

The Instant Pot needs to come to pressure before the cooking time starts, similar to an oven that needs to preheat. The cooking time doesn’t actually start until pressure builds, which can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes, sometimes longer depending on how full the pot is and how much liquid there is inside. Once it reaches pressure the Instant Pot will beep, and the cook time will begin to count down. Please, make sure to consider that extra time when planning your meal.

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You can also find my FREE Instant Pot cheat sheets here.

Calories per serving (1/2 cup): 139

Yield: 16 Servings