A popular snack and ingredient, yoghurt is fairly simple to make at home, especially with a dedicated yoghurt maker.
Why should I buy a yoghurt maker?
While yoghurt makers aren’t completely necessary to make yoghurt, they do make the process significantly easier, heating milk to the correct temperature for inoculation and holding it steady. By using a decent yoghurt maker, you’ll also be able to make various different styles of yoghurt such as plain yoghurt, Greek yoghurt or Vietnamese yoghurt sweetened with condensed milk.
Making yoghurt at home also gives full control over ingredients and flavours, which can be stirred in after the fermentation process is complete. Homemade yoghurt is also cheaper and healthier than shop-bought options, which are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, colours and flavourings. Moreover, homemade yoghurt is high in protein, calcium, vitamins and live culture, which helps promote good gut health.
Using a yoghurt maker, you can make yoghurt at home in as little as eight hours, without having to pay too much attention to the yoghurt while it’s fermenting.
It’s also worth noting that yoghurt makers are generally affordable appliances, rarely costing more than £50.
What to look for when buying a yoghurt maker
Manual vs electric
When buying a yoghurt maker, the first key choice is between manual and electric yoghurt makers. Manual yoghurt makers are typically cheaper, but will require a little more prep work. Electric yoghurt makers will often cost slightly more, but will do all of the work for you. Some appliances also have a built-in yoghurt maker function, meaning you’ll be able to cut down on other appliances.
Yoghurt type
Another thing to consider is which type of yoghurt you want to make. The yoghurt maker you decide on should be capable of producing that type of yoghurt, as well as ideally being suitable for various yoghurt types. For making different yoghurt styles, you’ll also need different temperature levels, so it’s worth investing in an electric yoghurt maker with multiple temperature settings if you’re looking to do so. For plain yoghurt, however, a manual yoghurt maker may be fine to suit your needs.
Temperature settings
In addition to temperature settings, it’s worth considering machines with customisable timer settings, allowing for at least 12 hour preparation times. Automatic pre-sets can also be helpful, as well as an automatic shutdown function.
Capacity
Capacity is another key consideration when buying a yoghurt maker. If you only plan on making small amounts of yoghurt, a model with smaller capacity should be sufficient, but if you’re looking to make large batches, it’s worth investing in a larger yoghurt maker – either a large single container machine or one with more jars.
How we tested the best yoghurt makers
All of the featured yoghurt makers were tested in a home kitchen, with various criteria taken into consideration. The key focuses were quality of the yoghurt produced, temperature control and consistency, ease of use and cleaning, functionality and value for money.
Best yoghurt makers at a glance
- Best for overall: VonShef Digital Yoghurt Maker & 7 Jars - £39.99, Vonhaus
- Best for multi-functional yoghurt maker: Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Electric Multi Functional Cooker - £169.99, Amazon
- Best for simplicity: Lakeland 7-Cup Electric Yoghurt Maker - £14.99, Lakeland
- Best for manual yoghurt making: EasiYo Black Yogurt Maker 1KG with Jar & Instructions - £18.99, Amazon
- Best for frozen yoghurt: Sage Appliances The Smart Scoop - £389.99, Amazon
Find out more about the best yoghurt makers below
Best soup makers in the UK: How to use a soup maker to create quick and easy meals at home
Best ice cream makers for home: Make fresh scoops, gelato, frozen yogurt and more
Best toasters: Top four slice and two slice toasters for perfect breakfast every time
Best multi cookers that can do it all from Ninja, Crockpot and more
Best Ninja air fryers tried and tested: Which should you buy in 2023?
Best sous vide machines for precise immersion cooking
Best air fryer deals: healthier, low-cost meals for the whole family
Best gadgets for university: Laptops, tablets, air fryers and smoothie makers for halls
VonShef Digital Yoghurt Maker & 7 Jars
Best for: overall
Like all of VonShef’s products, this Digital Yoghurt Maker is far better than its cost suggests. Reasonably priced and incredibly easy to use, the yoghurt maker comes with seven 180ml jars, allowing you to make different yoghurts at the same time if desired.
Suitable for natural, Greek and flavoured yoghurt, the yoghurt maker has clear instructions and a stylish and stainless steel construction. The yoghurt maker doesn’t have an automatic timer, though that’s not a major issue. Simply add your yoghurt mixture to the pots and place in the machine before setting a required preparation time, up to 14 hours (although most yoghurts will only take 8-12 hours to prepare).
Buy now £39.99, Vonhaus
Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Electric Multi Functional Cooker
Best for: multi-functional yoghurt maker
Over the past 12 years, Instant Pot has garnered a cult following, becoming one of the biggest names in the constantly expanding multicooker market – and for good reason. The Instant Pot Pro has a sleek design and 10 cooking functions, including a yoghurt maker setting that is ideal for making large batches of yoghurt, with two sizes available (5.7 litre capacity and 7.6 litres).
While the Instant Pot Pro is at the more expensive end of the scale, it’s an absolute game-changer and will replace a number of (most likely inferior) kitchen gadgets as well as working as a decent yoghurt maker.
As well as having an easy-to-use control panel, the Instant Pot Pro’s yoghurt making function has various temperatures and a long timer setting, making it suitable for making various types of yoghurt. The inner pot’s stainless steel handles also make it easy to decant the large batch of yoghurt into individual pots.
Buy now £169.99, Amazon
Lakeland 7-Cup Electric Yoghurt Maker
Best for: simplicity
Lakeland’s seven-cup yoghurt maker is an affordable option that’s simple to use. Taking between 8-12 hours to make, depending on which milk is used, the yoghurt maker has a temperature control of between 39ËC to 45ËC and a time setting of 8 – 48 hours.
While the temperature setting isn’t the most versatile, the machine is ideal for making natural or plain yoghurt, with the option to add flavourings once set. The yoghurt maker also comes with seven high quality 180ml jars with lids, is easy to use and also features helpful hints, tips and serving suggestions in the instructions manual provided.
Buy now £14.99, Lakeland
EasiYo Black Yogurt Maker 1KG with Jar & Instructions
Best For: manual yoghurt making
Launched in New Zealand over 25 years ago, EasiYo produces yoghurt mixes packed with live cultures of friendly bacteria, easy to make at home using just EasiYo sachets and water. This manual yoghurt maker doesn’t require any electrical power to work and is compact enough to be stored in kitchen cupboards, with capacity for one litre of yoghurt.
With an easy-grip recessed handle, non-slip feet and an insulation layer within the double-walled canister, this yoghurt maker is one of the easiest to use, though it does require specific sachets from EasiYo, which need to be mixed well with water before fermenting for 8-12 hours.
Buy now £18.99, Amazon
Sage Appliances The Smart Scoop
Best for: frozen yoghurt
Although not technically a yoghurt maker, per se, the Sage Smart Scoop is perfect for making frozen yoghurt. With the option to use one of four pre-programmed settings or to take total control of the process, The Smart Scoop is the first ice cream maker to automatically sense the hardness of the mixture, keeping frozen flavours at the perfect temperature for up to three hours. As well as being particularly durable, the Sage Smart Scoop is also easy to clean and comes with a removable bowl, removable paddle and a specific cleaning brush.
Buy now £348.95, Sage
HOMCOM 800-090 3-in-1 Yoghurt Maker With Strainer And Timer
Best For: Greek/strained Yoghurt
This three-in-one yoghurt maker has a two litre capacity and is suitable for making regular yoghurt, rice wine and Greek yoghurt – also featuring a strainer and two different sized containers.
Thanks to microcomputer control technology, the yoghurt maker also has accurate temperature control and ensures equal heat transmission and the maintenance of the Lactobacillus activation. Moreover, the container design prevents the yoghurt from pollution and the low 20-watt power cuts costs in the kitchen.
Buy now £21.99, Amazon
Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker with Smart Cook System 7.5L OL750UK
Best for: never using any of your other kitchen appliances again
Cooking functions: 15; Pressure-cook, Steam Meals, Steam Air Fry, Steam Roast, Steam Bake, Steam Bread, Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate, Prove, Sear/Saute, Slow Cook, Yogurt/ Keep Warm.
Weight: 11.7kg
Dimensions: 36 x 35 x 36cm
Welcome to the Starship Enterprise. Well, not quite, but in kitchen gadet terms - almost. This beast of a machine will leave your other kitchen appliances weeping in the dust because it does everything. From a range of steam cooking methods (including steam roast!) to specialist baking settings and even making yogurt, the Foodi MAX makes masterchefs out of the most rudimentary home cook.
The 7.5L pot, coated with nano ceramic for easier cleaning, is big enough to hold a 3kg chicken, which means you can keep your oven free for the trimmings. Activate steam roast, and the bird will be ready in around half an hour. Compare that to standard cooking times, and you’ll soon see how investing in this multicooker can save you a wedge of cash in the long run.
It can grill burgers and whip up the bread buns to encase them in too. Fancy coming home to a ready cooked dinner? Turn on the slow cook mode before you leave the house or get hearty meals on the table quicker by getting familiar with the pressure cooking feature.
Granted, this machine looks a little daunting on your countertops, but once you learn how to use it, you’ll never want to be without it. Just make sure you’ve plenty of space for it and its accessories before purchasing.
Buy now £250.00, Argos
Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 6L OL550UK
Best for: small kitchen wizard for big appetites
Cooking functions: 11; Pressure, Steam Air Fry, Steam Bake, Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate, Sear/Saute, Steam, Slow Cook, Yogurt and Plus Keep Warm function.
Weight: 10.9kg
Dimensions: 33 x 35 x 36cm
Just like its bigger sister, this Multi-Cooker offers an array of modes to help you get dinner on the table in double time. In fact, use the pressure cooking feature and it’ll cut the time by up to 70 per cent.
This is a good option for smaller households and can serve up to four portions, with a Combi-Steam mode that uses steam with convection cooking to make food deliciously crispy on the outside and succulent and juicy inside.
The dimensions are ever so slightly smaller here as is the weight, something to consider if space is tight and every centimetre counts.
Buy now £249.00, Amazon
Verdict
While many yoghurt makers exist, VonShef’s Digital Maker with seven jars leads the charge, ticking all of the boxes and going above and beyond when it comes to value for money, reliability, ease of use and versatility.
