Easy INSTANT POT YOGURT

I remember watching Heidi with my grandmother when I was younger. There was a scene where she and her grandfather were eating what looked to be the most delectable and delicious fresh cream that they had gotten from the goats that day. I just knew that someday I wanted to experience that delicious cream for myself. While I now know that yogurt made from goats milk would not appeal to me, I do absolutely enjoy homemade fresh yogurt. Having spent years purchasing yogurt machines, trying homemade methods that involve overheated ovens and leaving cream in places it shouldn't be left. I had given up. I then discovered the easiest method that yields the most delicious, creamy, and fresh tasting yogurt imaginable. Heidi watch out THIS is the only yogurt recipe you'll ever need.

 
You will need an Instant Pot for this. I will admit that I have avoided getting one for a long time. I was curious about them, but wasn't sure how much I would use it and if I really wanted to add yet another piece of equipment to my already to small kitchen. I also am a huge slow cooker fan, so I wasn't sure I could achieve the same results in something so fast. Finally, everyone on every cooking show ever has trouble with the pressure cooker, what makes me think I'm any different?
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Well, I was wrong. This little machine is amazing and has so many uses. I could not be happier with it. After experimenting with some stews and pastas and rice, it was time to use it for its other famous function- yogurt!
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This honestly could not be easier. As far as ingredients it is very straight forward, you need milk and active cultures. ​
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Jeffrey at Pressure Luck cooking recommended using Fa!rlife milk so I heeded his advice. I'd never tried it before, but there's a few reasons you want to use it. First of all it's high in protein which takes your yogurt from a sweet treat to a filling snack. ​
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The second (and more important) reason is that True Life is ultrapasturized milk. This means that you don't have to heat the milk prior to making the yogurt. If you just used regular milk, you would want to heat it to 155 degrees before starting the yogurt making process. ​
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Finally, it's lactose free so it's a great option if lactose bothers you.
 
For "active cultures" you can just use two tablespoons of whatever yogurt you like, just check the label to see if it has milk and active cultures in it. I recommend using a yogurt that you like the flavor of, because that is what your yogurt will taste like. 
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You can flavor your yogurt however you like. Sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, fruit syrups and extracts, the sky is the limit. I do recommend if you're mixing in fruit to wait until after the yogurt is complete. I added coconut milk to mine for just a hint of flavor. I think next time I would use some pureed coconut for more flavor.
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To make the yogurt simply pour the milk into the Instant Pot. Next add in whatever flavoring you want. Finally, hit the "Yogurt" button and walk away for 8 hours. It's that easy!
 
After 8 hours the machine will beep and tell you that it's ready. Remove the inner pot (it won't be hot) and place in the refrigerator for an additional 8 hours. ​
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You may need to mix it up a bit to get it completely smooth, but seriously, you're done! That's it! 
 
I transferred the yogurt into small mason jars that I already had so that I could take the yogurt to work, I plan on upgrading to these jars from Amazon.  I put the rest into a large yogurt tub that I got with my old yogurt maker. You can also find containers like these that are really cute and great for storing both yogurt and homemade ice cream. As long as you keep it in a closed container it should stay fresh for 1.5 to 2 weeks! ​ 
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I think this will be my new Sunday night activity. Let me know if you try it, and what combinations you come up with! ​