Instant Pot Yogurt could not be easier using the Cold Start Method! Ultra-Pasteurized milk, a starter and your Instant Pot is all you need to make delicious, creamy homemade yogurt.
What is Cold Start Yogurt?
There are two methods that one can use when making yogurt. The boil method and the Cold Start Method. We will be talking all things Cold Start today.
The Cold Start method was given it’s name by Freida over at Freida Loves Bread. It is called the Cold Start method because it uses ultra-pasteurized milk so you don’t have to boil the milk like you would a regular gallon of milk.
How to Make Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt
First you will need ultra-pasteurized mil. The most common brand of ultra-pasteurized milk is Fairlife. Whenever I make yogurt, I use Fairlife Whole milk. Skim, 1% or 2% would work well too.
Next, you’ll need a yogurt ‘starter’. When I was new to the Instant Pot, this really confused me. ‘I need yogurt, to make yogurt?’, I thought. Yes, you do.
The yogurt needs to be NEW, unopened yogurt that has ‘live’ or ‘active’ cultures in it. It will be written on the back label. Two tablespoons will be whisked into the milk, those active cultures are what will change your milk into yogurt.
The milk and yogurt starter are incubated in the Instant Pot on the Yogurt NORMAL setting for 8 hours. The yogurt will be thick by the time the 8 hours are up.
Put the Yogurt directly into the fridge without stirring for 3-4 hours. I have this nifty silicone lid that fits onto the inner pot that I always put on and then stick the entire inner pot into my refrigerator.
Once the yogurt has been refrigerated, it is ready to flavor and eat!
If you’d like the yogurt thicker, you can strain the whey out of the yogurt. You know the liquid that is sitting on top of store bought yogurt? That is whey. You can take the liquid out by straining it.
A lot of people like to use coffee filters inside of a mesh strainer. Strain as long as you need to get your desired thickness. You can always mix back in some whey if it ends up too thick.
Sweetening and Flavoring the Plain Yogurt
When the yogurt is plain, it will taste tangy and like sour cream almost. It will not be sweet at all. In fact, you can substitute this plain yogurt for sour cream in recipes!
There are many ways to sweeten and flavor the yogurt. Honey, jam and adding a touch of vanilla are very popular options. My Instant Pot Strawberry Jam is delicious with yogurt!
My personal favorite way to sweeten and add a vanilla flavor to my yogurt is by adding a splash of Torani’s Vanilla Syrup. I personally think that it tastes just like Yoplait Vanilla Yogurt. They have all different flavors and even have a Sugar Free Syrup!
My kid’s favorite way of flavoring the yogurt is by adding some Jello powder or drink mix powder. This really flavors the yogurt and is very comparable to the kid’s flavored yogurts that can be bought at the store. I even make my own Go-Gurts now! I wrote all about it in this post.
Get creative with flavoring your yogurt! I have even made frozen yogurt with mine!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use Chocolate Fairlife Milk?
- You can certainly try, but chances are you will end up with warm chocolate milk in the morning instead of yogurt. There is just too much sugar in chocolate milk. All the sugar kills the active cultures, which are required to make yogurt.
- Why do you use the Whole Milk instead of Skim, 1% or 2%?
- My kids are mainly the ones that eat the yogurt and they could use a little meat on their bones. 🙂
- What is the difference between Fairlife milk and a regular ‘ol gallon of milk?
- Fair life has be ultra-pasutrized, which basically means it has been boiled already which is why the cold start method works. Fairlife milk also has 50% more protein, 50% less sugar, 30% more calcium than regular milk. Fair life milk also has added the Lactase enzyme which makes this milk LACTOSE FREE!
- What is Whey?
- The liquid that strains off of yogurt.
- Can I use some of my homemade unsweetened, unflavored yogurt as a starter for my next batch?
- You bet!! Freeze 1 tbsp globs on parchment paper. Once frozen, gather the frozen yogurt and place them in a freezer safe container or bag. When you want to make yogurt next, pull two tbsp portions out and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.
Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt
Instant Pot Yogurt could not be easier using the Cold Start Method! Ultra-Pasteurized milk, a starter and your Instant Pot is all you need to make delicious, creamy homemade yogurt.
Ingredients
- 1/2 gal ultra-pasteurized milk like Fairlife
- 2 tbsp new, unopened yogurt with active cultures
- 16 oz Vanilla Natural Bliss Coffee Creamer, optional
Instructions
1. Pour 1 cup of the milk into a small bowl. Pour remaining milk into the Instant Pot Liner.
2. Whisk 2 tbsp of yogurt into the 1 cup of milk thoroughly.
3. Pour the milk and yogurt mixture into the Instant Pot.
4. Add in the coffee creamer if desired, stir well.
5. Cover the Instant Pot with a glass lid (or take the seal out of your regular lid!).
6. Press the Yogurt button and hit adjust until the ‘NORMAL’ light is on. The display should read 8:00 hours. Incubate for 8 hours.
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Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1/2 gal ultra-pasteurized milk like Fairlife
- 2 tbsp new, unopened yogurt with active cultures
- 16 oz Vanilla Natural Bliss Coffee Creamer optional
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of the milk into a small bowl. Pour remaining milk into the Instant Pot Liner.
- Whisk 2 tbsp of yogurt into the 1 cup of milk thoroughly.
- Pour the milk and yogurt mixture into the Instant Pot.
- Add in the coffee creamer if desired, stir well.
- Cover the Instant Pot with a glass lid (or take the seal out of your regular lid!).
- Press the Yogurt button and hit adjust until the 'NORMAL' light is on. The display should read 8:00 hours. Incubate for 8 hours.
- After the yogurt has incubated for the full 8 hours, transfer the yogurt and the inner liner to the fridge. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
- If you'd like to strain your yogurt, now is the time to do so. You can strain by placing the yogurt in a coffee filter that is inside of a mesh strainer. Set over a bowl in the fridge for as long as it takes to get to the consistency you are looking for
Karli Bitner
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Tricia Todd says
This turns out so amazing! I made one batch to start with because I wasn’t sure how we’d like it, I put it on before bed Tuesday night so that could go in the fridge when I was finishing up getting ready for work and about to leave the house at 5 am. I was thrilled to see it looked and smelled like yogurt so I covered it and put it in the fridge. Got home at 4 stirred it up and put some in a bowl put a little Torrani sugar free vanilla and salted caramel coffee syrup on in it, then some honey to sweeten it and delicious.
My husband got home I made him some like mine he loved it, but then tried your suggestion in the Gogurts about the water flavor packets, they turned out awesome. The first batch didn’t hardly last a day, I took 2 small containers to work 1 for breakfast and 1 to go with lunch and had ate the same the day before all the rest he ate. LOL
I just made my 2nd batch a double batch which just went in the fridge and we’ve decided 2 things 1 no more store bought yogurt and 2 because of this we need a 2nd Instant Pot. I made your Alfredo before starting the yogurt last night and it was delicious and the 5 Cheese Ziti last week which is so much better than OGs!
Love your recipes!
karlibitner says
Tricia! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! Waking up to this comment has completely made my day!! I’m so glad you’ve loved everything so far. Keep on coming back- new recipes go up daily! ? hope you have an awesome day!
Mary Jo Grube says
Question: Do you sanitize your liner before making the yogurt? My recipe is identical to yours except for that step:1 cup water on the steam setting for 5 minutes with QR. I also add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 tsp vanilla with the starter. But then I’m limited to just sweetened yogurt. Can’t use if I need place of sour cream, etc.
karlibitner says
I never have and haven’t ever had an issue. ?
Meredith Keener says
Would I be able to double the recipe?
Karli Bitner says
Yes, you’d be able to double the recipe if you’d like to!
L Jensen says
I am new to the Instant Pot adventure. I don’t have a glass cover. As I read this recipe, I see you take the seal out of the Instant Pot cover and then place the cover on the Instant Pot and lock in place. Is that correct?
karlibitner says
Yes, that is one way to do it! Make sure that it is set to ‘venting’. I usually just use a glass lid, as the pot doesn’t need to come to pressure at all to make the yogurt. Either way will work. ?
sugarmags says
Can I leave the pot in the fridge an extra hour over four since I am making it overnight?
Wish me luck…
karlibitner says
Hope it turned out well!!
Albus says
My mom just gave me an instapot (unused) today and I LOVE strawberry yogurt. The thought of being able to make my own big batch with fresh strawberry chunks in it has me drooling right now but I can’t find a recipe for it. Anybody got one for strawberry or any other fruit flavors I can try?
karlibitner says
Hi Albus- there isn’t a recipe that will give you strawberry yogurt right out of the pot. You’ll just flavor the plain yogurt, does that make sense? So make the yogurt as stated here and then to flavor it strawberry I would suggest stirring in some strawberry jam. ?
Susan says
Milk to yogurt requires lactose to ferment and survive. the bacteria consume the lactose, so how can lactose free milk get fermented and feed the bacteria? Also, the recipe calls for lactose free ultra filtered Fairlife
milk in the write up, but the printable recipe doesnt say lactose free. Im a little nervous about trying this cold start. Thanks Susan
karlibitner says
Hi Susan- all fairlife milks are ‘lactose free’ actually. When a person is lactose intolerant their body doesn’t create enough lactase to fully digest dairy. In the fairlife ‘lactose free’ milks, they have actually added lactase to counter balance the lactose. Does that make sense? You’ll see that on the label of the milk it will say ‘lactose free’ and then in the ingredient list it will have lactase. Hope this helps clear things up!
Tammy Loftin says
I just attended your instapot class tonight. I would love to make this can you email me the vanilla flavor additive name. Thanks Tammy
karlibitner says
Yes, I’ll send that over! I’ll include it here for others reading comments, too. I like to add in 1 bottle of Natural Bliss Vanilla creamer before incubating to sweeten and flavor the yogurt. ?
Tammy says
Thanks so much. I looked on my instapot and it does not have the yogurt button can I do it without? Or will I need to try to trade it for a different model? Thanks
karlibitner says
For this cold start method, you will need the Instant Pot with the yogurt button! You can still make yogurt in your Instant Pot, but you will need to do the boil method. You can find good tips here: https://www.copymethat.com/r/3nkQVaG/yogurt-in-a-lux-instant-pot/
Trudy says
Is this the liquid kind of creamer or the powdered?
Karli Bitner says
Liquid Creamer! 🙂
Carol Yemen says
Hi there,
I have tried twice to make this yogurt and both times it has failed to set. It’s just like milk. I followed your instructions to the letter and used the same ingredients. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Carol
karlibitner says
Hi Carol, are you using ultra-pasteurized milk? A fresh starter? Have you double checked to make sure your Instant Pot is on ‘normal’ not ‘low’?
Sally says
I suggest to make sure the yogurt says “Live Fresh Cultures” (or something like that) in the ingredients. I was at Whole Foods and only found 2 that stayed that.
Sally says
Stated.
Erin says
How do I know if any other milk is pasteurized or ultra pasteurized? I’m in Canada and all milk is required to be pasteurized to sell. Does that mean I could use any milk with the cold start method?
karlibitner says
Hi Erin- Ultra-Pasteurized is a little different than just pasteurized. All of our milk here in the US is pasteurized also. Another reader from Canada says she uses Joyya brand milk.
Staci says
I live in Canada and we can also use Natrel which can be found in the grocery stores. Regular milk can be used but you must also use the boil methods or you will get very sick.
Susan says
Question: I haven’t made this yet but I looked at my IP DUEL 60 pot, when I tried to press the yogurt button it would not go to the normal setting it only stayed on less. Is this going to be a problem for me if I try to make the cold start yogurt?
Thank you for your time.
karlibitner says
Hi Susan- Sorry it has taken me a while, I’ve been on vacation! Does your Instant Pot have an adjust button? Press the yogurt button and then press adjust? If that doesn’t work, on some models pushing the yogurt button again will toggle to the other settings. Hope this helps!
Lindsay says
I know your recipe calls for the Fairlife milk, but I was just curious if you or anyone has tried any other brand of ultra pasteurized milk to make this yogurt? I see other brands and they all vary in price and was curious if we only have to use the fairlife brand or another one? Also I have used the coffee mate natural vanilla creamer every time I have made my batches. Is there another brand, flavor, or other flavoring options too? I have heard you can use sweet condensed milk but I haven’t used it and not sure if I would like the taste
Of it. Just looking for other options to change it up a bit for my next batch and that may be lower in price as well for the ingredients. Thank you.
karlibitner says
I haven’t used an off brand of the milk before, but I know people who use Costco’s ultra-pasteurized milk with success!! I have made the yogurt with SCM, but I didn’t like it near as much as the coffee creamer. It doesn’t sweeten it much at all, not near as much as the coffee creamer! You can use a different flavor of coffee creamer if you’d like! Or you can flavor afterwards with jam, honey, or a little bit of jello powder if that is something you are interested in!
Ann says
Just wondering if you can use pudding mix to favor the
Yogurt?
Karli Bitner says
Yes, you certainly can! I like chocolate the best!
Lori says
Are coffee creamers ultra pasteurized? If not, wouldn’t that make them unsafe to use using the cold start method?
karlibitner says
Hi Lori- The coffee creamer is in fact ultra pasteurized so it is completely safe to use. Hope you enjoy your yogurt!
Lomy says
Is coffee creamer ultra pasteurized? If not, then wouldn’t it be unsafe to use it for the cold start method?
karlibitner says
Hi Lomy- the coffee creamer is ultra pasteurized. 🙂
Holly says
Besides strawberry jam what is the brown sugar looking goodness on top of your yogurt? Is there a recipe for that too?
karlibitner says
Hi Holly- That is just granola that I bought from the grocery store! A homemade granola has been on my list of recipes to develop, maybe I’ll get to it soon!! Hope you enjoy your yogurt!
Eloise says
Question: Can I use yogurt from a previous batch as my starter for the next? How long does the yogurt stay active probiotics ?
karlibitner says
Yes you can!! I always freeze my portion I want to use as next time’s starter immediately after it has finish incubating to make sure the active cultures are fresh.
Sandy Slayter says
I have an insta pot ultra and some how it doesn’t say normal any more ? Says low med high
Custom
Need help how to get it to normal again?
karlibitner says
Hi Sandy- have you tried pushing the yogurt button multiple times to toggle between the different settings?
Pam says
Wondering if using the Torani syrup is that added before cooking or after the yogurt is done and stirred in? Also if before, how much would you add to the batch? Thank you 🙂
Karli Bitner says
Hi Pam, I add the syrup after the yogurt has incubated and has cooled in the fridge. I add it right before eating usually. 🙂
Dana says
This was such a simple recipe and made the best yogurt ever!! Everyone loved it and it was way cheaper than store bought. I’m going to keep making it and experiment with flavors.
Karli Bitner says
I am so glad you loved it, Dana!!
Devony says
You said you can freeze some of the yogurt for future starters, and I was wondering if you could freeze some of the yogurt to thaw and eat later to make a batch last longer? Just in case I need it to!
Karli Bitner says
Hey Devony!! Yes, you can definitely do that if needed. 🙂 Hope all is well for you and your family!