Worked OK, but that's an extra expense
A single quart is a good size IMHO, better than the more expensive multi-jar competition. However ... this thing gets way too hot. I ran a number of tests and found the temperatures rose to well over 130F after several hours. It made reasonable yogurt, but not great yogurt, because it got too hot too fast. Worse, for me anyhow, was that the excessive temperature killed the culture making it impossible to use one batch to seed the next. Starting with a fresh culture
worked OK, but that's an extra expense. I've quit using it and bought a different though pricier unit with better temperature control.
This is the second Salton YM9 Yogurt Maker I've purchased
This is the second Salton YM9 Yogurt Maker I've purchased. I bought my first one nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, the heating element is failing, so I purchased a new one via Amazon.com. The new one doesn't function any better than the old one did, and takes from 10 - 12 hours to cook a batch of yogurt (compared to the 6 hours it should take). I suspect that the one I just bought is defective, but the shipping cost to return it will negate any credit I would receive. I'll be thinking twice before I buy another item through Amazon.
1. Operates by plugging in (no switch available).
2. No time setting adjustments. I wish i could set the number of hours i would like the thing to be on. This has been my biggest problem because if i leave this on longer than needed the yogurt easily becomes tart.
3. the milk needs to be boiled, cooled and then put into the yogurt maker. I guess that is how most of them are.
The milk never became yogurt
I purchased this product with the idea that I could insert a quart of luke warm milk in its cardboard container straight into the unit along with starter of course. Since I eat a lot of yogurt and prefer organic yogurt, this seemed like a wonderful idea. However, the milk never became yogurt. The bottom curdled some, while the top retained a consistency of thick buttermilk. This was after 48 hours. Thinking it was something wrong with the milk, I tried a different brand. I also tried a different brand of starter. No luck. Frustrated because I could never get the top of the milk to set, I tried milk in small plastic containers which I stacked inside the unit. Again, the bottom container became yogurt - sort of.
The top container remained buttermilk. The real issue with this product is that the heat seems to come mainly from the bottom.
I bought it thinking I'd save money
To be fair, I haven't used this product since I purchased it a month ago. I bought it thinking I'd save money. I can't find a box of dry milk under $12, which you need in order to make yogurt. A large container of yogurt is $3.99, sometimes less with coupons. To bad I threw out the box, maybe could have returned it. Instead of saving money, I've lost shelf space.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Why People Kind-Of-Like The Salton YM9 Yogurt Maker
My oven has better temperature control
I was going to buy this yogurt maker, but after I read a review that said there was no thermostat in this machine, despite what the manufacturer claims (someone actually took it apart and looked!) - I decided to do further research. What I found was that I already had everything I needed to make my own yogurt - my oven. My oven has better temperature control and it doesn't take up counter space.
I found a method that works really well for lazy people like me
Making yogurt basically involves mixing milk with a "starter" (usually plain, unpasteurized yogurt) and keeping it at a temperature where the "good" bacteria will multiply and turn the rest of the milk into yogurt. Everything needs to be really clean so you don't introduce "bad" bacteria into the mix. Other methods I had heard about involved scalding the milk and sterilizing the containers and everything else -- sounded like a pain. But I found a method that works really well for lazy people like me, with no scalding and no sterilization, and no special equipment:
For the thicker American style
Get a quart-size carton of milk and some yogurt, both at room temperature. Open the milk carton, pour some out to make room in the carton, and add 1/2 c. of plain yogurt with live cultures (like Straus Creamery or Dannon plain yogurt). Close up the carton again, clip shut, and shake it gently to mix up the milk and yogurt. As for the milk you poured out (you saved it right?), that's going to be your starter for the next batch, so add a couple teaspoons of yogurt to that, give it a good stir, and cover tightly. Get an old (but clean!) bath towel and wrap both in it. Place on a cookie sheet and place in 110 degree F oven. "Bake" at 110 degrees overnight - around 12 hours - remove from oven and refrigerate. Perfect European-style yogurt! (For the thicker American style, add powdered milk along with your yogurt "starter.") Best of all, there's no need to pre-heat/scald the milk (not necessary if you use pasteurized milk) and no cleaning (since you make the yogurt right in the paper milk carton straight from the store). Any size milk carton will work -- just adjust the amount of starter accordingly.
We go through 4 quarts of yogurt a week, so I make 2 big milk cartons' worth each time. If I used the Salton, I would have to run it four times to get the same amount of yogurt.
I had to buy tools to make it work
Okay, I like my yogurt plain and I love to snack my raw carrots with the yogurt cheese I make out of my self made yogurt and a gold (coffee) filter. This unit does the job, is easy to clean and it is priced for the price conscious.
My only problem is that the Salton Company lies when they say that this thing has a thermostat. It doesn't. I am german (born and raised in Heidelberg) and that makes me kind of pedantic. So I measure the temperature of my yogurt during processing... and this yogurt maker, lacking a thermostate and just heating up to what the people at Salton thought would result in the correct temperature, overheats the yogurt by quite a few degrees in a warm environment.
That might not constitue a problem for you if you live constantly in winter up north in Vermont, but for me down here in Florida it means that I have to regulate the amperage (strength of the electrical current) down under the use of a six bucks HomeDepot tool. So I am able to make yogurt, but I had to buy tools to make it work.
The Machine is easy to clean and the container (I don't know why nobody seems to like it) inside is very useful and survives the top rack of my dishwasher.
The details are a little lacking
I have successfully made numerous pots of yogurt with this yogurt maker. The basic machine works well and reliably, however the details are a little lacking. The lid to the pot doesn't fit well, which can be a nuisance if you intend to use the yogurt straight out of the pot. The spoon is entirely irrelevant. The cable does not clip into the underside of the machine. And I was disappointed to find that the timer does not turn the machine off, it simply reminds you what time you started / intend to finish the yogurt. Having said all that, it does do the job.
I solved the problem by plugging the yogurt maker into an external dimmer switch
I bought this yogurt maker with the expectation that it would maintain the correct temperature for making yogurt. It seems to me that I read that the optimum temperature for making yogurt is between 100F and 110F. Unfortunately, my digital cooking thermometer was registering 128F after a few hours. The outside of the box for this product states that it is thermostatically controlled. I opened the yogurt maker with screwdriver and it does not contain a thermostat, just a couple of heating wires. I solved the problem by plugging the yogurt maker into an external dimmer switch that I bought from a home improvement store and reducing the power to about 75%. This method works, however, I'm disappointed that I had to go to this measure to correct the temperature.
I was going to buy this yogurt maker, but after I read a review that said there was no thermostat in this machine, despite what the manufacturer claims (someone actually took it apart and looked!) - I decided to do further research. What I found was that I already had everything I needed to make my own yogurt - my oven. My oven has better temperature control and it doesn't take up counter space.
I found a method that works really well for lazy people like me
Making yogurt basically involves mixing milk with a "starter" (usually plain, unpasteurized yogurt) and keeping it at a temperature where the "good" bacteria will multiply and turn the rest of the milk into yogurt. Everything needs to be really clean so you don't introduce "bad" bacteria into the mix. Other methods I had heard about involved scalding the milk and sterilizing the containers and everything else -- sounded like a pain. But I found a method that works really well for lazy people like me, with no scalding and no sterilization, and no special equipment:
For the thicker American style
Get a quart-size carton of milk and some yogurt, both at room temperature. Open the milk carton, pour some out to make room in the carton, and add 1/2 c. of plain yogurt with live cultures (like Straus Creamery or Dannon plain yogurt). Close up the carton again, clip shut, and shake it gently to mix up the milk and yogurt. As for the milk you poured out (you saved it right?), that's going to be your starter for the next batch, so add a couple teaspoons of yogurt to that, give it a good stir, and cover tightly. Get an old (but clean!) bath towel and wrap both in it. Place on a cookie sheet and place in 110 degree F oven. "Bake" at 110 degrees overnight - around 12 hours - remove from oven and refrigerate. Perfect European-style yogurt! (For the thicker American style, add powdered milk along with your yogurt "starter.") Best of all, there's no need to pre-heat/scald the milk (not necessary if you use pasteurized milk) and no cleaning (since you make the yogurt right in the paper milk carton straight from the store). Any size milk carton will work -- just adjust the amount of starter accordingly.
We go through 4 quarts of yogurt a week, so I make 2 big milk cartons' worth each time. If I used the Salton, I would have to run it four times to get the same amount of yogurt.
I had to buy tools to make it work
Okay, I like my yogurt plain and I love to snack my raw carrots with the yogurt cheese I make out of my self made yogurt and a gold (coffee) filter. This unit does the job, is easy to clean and it is priced for the price conscious.
My only problem is that the Salton Company lies when they say that this thing has a thermostat. It doesn't. I am german (born and raised in Heidelberg) and that makes me kind of pedantic. So I measure the temperature of my yogurt during processing... and this yogurt maker, lacking a thermostate and just heating up to what the people at Salton thought would result in the correct temperature, overheats the yogurt by quite a few degrees in a warm environment.
That might not constitue a problem for you if you live constantly in winter up north in Vermont, but for me down here in Florida it means that I have to regulate the amperage (strength of the electrical current) down under the use of a six bucks HomeDepot tool. So I am able to make yogurt, but I had to buy tools to make it work.
The Machine is easy to clean and the container (I don't know why nobody seems to like it) inside is very useful and survives the top rack of my dishwasher.
The details are a little lacking
I have successfully made numerous pots of yogurt with this yogurt maker. The basic machine works well and reliably, however the details are a little lacking. The lid to the pot doesn't fit well, which can be a nuisance if you intend to use the yogurt straight out of the pot. The spoon is entirely irrelevant. The cable does not clip into the underside of the machine. And I was disappointed to find that the timer does not turn the machine off, it simply reminds you what time you started / intend to finish the yogurt. Having said all that, it does do the job.
I solved the problem by plugging the yogurt maker into an external dimmer switch
I bought this yogurt maker with the expectation that it would maintain the correct temperature for making yogurt. It seems to me that I read that the optimum temperature for making yogurt is between 100F and 110F. Unfortunately, my digital cooking thermometer was registering 128F after a few hours. The outside of the box for this product states that it is thermostatically controlled. I opened the yogurt maker with screwdriver and it does not contain a thermostat, just a couple of heating wires. I solved the problem by plugging the yogurt maker into an external dimmer switch that I bought from a home improvement store and reducing the power to about 75%. This method works, however, I'm disappointed that I had to go to this measure to correct the temperature.
Why People like the Salton Yogurt Maker YM9
This product is well worth the price
Bought this yogurt maker based on price and reviews and I was not disappointed. Our family eats a lot of yogurt and between the increasing cost and decreasing cup size, a friend's encouragement at how easy it is(makes her own homemade yogurt without a machine) and us trying to be 'green' and stop throwing away all those little plastic yogurt cups - I decided to give it a try. Wow! All I can say is that it is so easy. Also, took a reviewer's advice and bought some glass canning jars so that I can have another batch ready before current batch runs out. The plastic container included with this machine is nice, especially with the included spoon. All in all, this product is well worth the price and works exactly as stated. Would highly recommend.
I love this yogurt maker!
I never cared much for store-bought yogurt because I didn't want all the sugar in it in my diet, and also because the milk used to make it has anti-biotics and hormones in it. I decided to give this yogurt maker a whirl because I could use organic milk to make it, and Polander all-fruit-sweetened spread to flavor it. Both my daughter and I love the results! It tastes so much better than store-bought and is so much healthier. It was not hard to make, either. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is, it has a plastic inner liner rather than glass. I called the company to ask if it was a safe plastic to heat food in (after hearing it's not safe to microwave food in certain plastics as chemicals can leach out). The lady I spoke with assured me the plastic was safe, but could not tell me how she knew that to be true (such as tests were performed and it was safe?). How did I know I could believe her? That is the only drawback, otherwise; I love this yogurt maker!
Makes perfect yogurt everytime
Makes perfect yogurt everytime. I use my own glass jar instead of the plastic one that came with it.The yogurt is perfect consistency , I use boiled raw skimmed milk and the results are much better as compared to pastuerised milk. Before using this yougurt maker I had tried everything, a sweater , a jacket around the milk in a jar , in the oven and slow cooker to create the right temprature, but nothing worked . This is a perfect simple little device.Once you know your timings,you will find it very easy to use.I will never go back to commercial yougurts sitting in plastic containers,God knows for how long!
Before buying a yogurt maker, try this
Before buying a yogurt maker, try this: Fill a 1 or 2 quart mason jar with water. Put it in your oven with the door closed and the light on overnight. Come back in the morning and take the temperature of the water. If the temperature is between 115 and 120 (mine is actually 122), you don't need to buy a yogurt maker. If your oven won't accommodate you, the Salton YM9 is a great product to buy.
Family customs are restored
I have been very pleased with this yogurt maker. I have been making my own yogurt since I was a girl. Recently I replaced my gas oven with a new one that doesn't have a pilot light. Before I did the following: heated 4 cups of milk to 200 degrees, cooled the milk to 115 degrees, mixed in 1/2 cup of a previous yogurt batch, poured it in a quart canning jar, put on the lid, wrapped in a towel, put it in the oven (pilot light kept the warmth), took it out of the oven in the morning, chilled. This yogurt maker replaces the warmth of my pilot light and family customs are restored.
A definite buy
Same procedure, and I live in a very old home so I do put a towel over the Salton to prevent any drafts from affecting the product. (I do this each night as I am cleaning my kitchen before bed.) All the other yogurt makers used those little cups and they are messy and often make inconsistent yogurt cup to cup. A definite buy if you want the old world simplicity of yogurt making. (BTW - I heat the milk in the microwave to prevent the sticking to the bottom of the pan. - 8 minutes is the correct time in my microwave.)
Bought my first one nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it
This is the second Salton YM9 Yogurt Maker I've purchased. I bought my first one nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, the heating element is failing, so I purchased a new one via Amazon.com. The new one doesn't function any better than the old one did, and takes from 10 - 12 hours to cook a batch of yogurt (compared to the 6 hours it should take). I suspect that the one I just bought is defective, but the shipping cost to return it will negate
any credit I would receive. I'll be thinking twice before I buy another item through Amazon.
Bought this yogurt maker based on price and reviews and I was not disappointed. Our family eats a lot of yogurt and between the increasing cost and decreasing cup size, a friend's encouragement at how easy it is(makes her own homemade yogurt without a machine) and us trying to be 'green' and stop throwing away all those little plastic yogurt cups - I decided to give it a try. Wow! All I can say is that it is so easy. Also, took a reviewer's advice and bought some glass canning jars so that I can have another batch ready before current batch runs out. The plastic container included with this machine is nice, especially with the included spoon. All in all, this product is well worth the price and works exactly as stated. Would highly recommend.
I love this yogurt maker!
I never cared much for store-bought yogurt because I didn't want all the sugar in it in my diet, and also because the milk used to make it has anti-biotics and hormones in it. I decided to give this yogurt maker a whirl because I could use organic milk to make it, and Polander all-fruit-sweetened spread to flavor it. Both my daughter and I love the results! It tastes so much better than store-bought and is so much healthier. It was not hard to make, either. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is, it has a plastic inner liner rather than glass. I called the company to ask if it was a safe plastic to heat food in (after hearing it's not safe to microwave food in certain plastics as chemicals can leach out). The lady I spoke with assured me the plastic was safe, but could not tell me how she knew that to be true (such as tests were performed and it was safe?). How did I know I could believe her? That is the only drawback, otherwise; I love this yogurt maker!
Makes perfect yogurt everytime
Makes perfect yogurt everytime. I use my own glass jar instead of the plastic one that came with it.The yogurt is perfect consistency , I use boiled raw skimmed milk and the results are much better as compared to pastuerised milk. Before using this yougurt maker I had tried everything, a sweater , a jacket around the milk in a jar , in the oven and slow cooker to create the right temprature, but nothing worked . This is a perfect simple little device.Once you know your timings,you will find it very easy to use.I will never go back to commercial yougurts sitting in plastic containers,God knows for how long!
Before buying a yogurt maker, try this
Before buying a yogurt maker, try this: Fill a 1 or 2 quart mason jar with water. Put it in your oven with the door closed and the light on overnight. Come back in the morning and take the temperature of the water. If the temperature is between 115 and 120 (mine is actually 122), you don't need to buy a yogurt maker. If your oven won't accommodate you, the Salton YM9 is a great product to buy.
Family customs are restored
I have been very pleased with this yogurt maker. I have been making my own yogurt since I was a girl. Recently I replaced my gas oven with a new one that doesn't have a pilot light. Before I did the following: heated 4 cups of milk to 200 degrees, cooled the milk to 115 degrees, mixed in 1/2 cup of a previous yogurt batch, poured it in a quart canning jar, put on the lid, wrapped in a towel, put it in the oven (pilot light kept the warmth), took it out of the oven in the morning, chilled. This yogurt maker replaces the warmth of my pilot light and family customs are restored.
A definite buy
Same procedure, and I live in a very old home so I do put a towel over the Salton to prevent any drafts from affecting the product. (I do this each night as I am cleaning my kitchen before bed.) All the other yogurt makers used those little cups and they are messy and often make inconsistent yogurt cup to cup. A definite buy if you want the old world simplicity of yogurt making. (BTW - I heat the milk in the microwave to prevent the sticking to the bottom of the pan. - 8 minutes is the correct time in my microwave.)
Bought my first one nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it
This is the second Salton YM9 Yogurt Maker I've purchased. I bought my first one nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, the heating element is failing, so I purchased a new one via Amazon.com. The new one doesn't function any better than the old one did, and takes from 10 - 12 hours to cook a batch of yogurt (compared to the 6 hours it should take). I suspect that the one I just bought is defective, but the shipping cost to return it will negate
any credit I would receive. I'll be thinking twice before I buy another item through Amazon.
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