Do you need more yogurt starter for more milk?
I bought some Yogourmet yogurt starter packages and it says to use 5g per 1L of milk. However, if I am making a gallon at a time - is more starter actually required than it would be for just 1L?
Best Answer
Recipes call for a certain amount of starter to maximize the chances that your starter bacteria will crowd out undesirable wild bacteria.
If you use too little starter you will increase the chances that some random bacteria will win the incubation war. Since you don't know what you will get this can be actually dangerous.
I would recommend making an initial batch with the ratio the starter recommends and then using that finished yogurt as a starter for a second, larger batch. Since you would then have the entire first batch to use as a starter you can scale up your recipe for larger batches.
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Can you use too much yogurt starter?
If too much starter culture is used, the bacteria will be crowded and run out of food (lactose) before the yogurt is set. Too much starter can produce a sour taste, rather than the desired tart taste.What happens if you use too little yogurt starter?
Too little starter makes runny yogurt, but too much (more than 2 Tbs./quart for pasteurized or 2 1/2-3 Tbs. for raw yogurt) makes things separate into whey and thick cheese.How much yogurt starter do I need for a gallon of milk?
You can make wonderful yogurt with only a couple of tablespoons of starter in a gallon of milk. \xbc cup of starter per gallon is maximum for best results.How many times can you reuse yogurt starter?
Usually, you can make 3-4 batches before you start over with store-bought yogurt. However, traditional yogurt starters for sale online are re-usable for a much longer time. Read more about yogurt starters for homemade yogurt here.Yogurt starter from scratch! #1
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Answer 2
Yes, it is required. You have to ensure that the microbes you want dominate those that are still present in the milk, even after pasteurization/heating. This is achieved by adding a sufficient starting number and maintaining the environment (e.g., warmth) for their optimal growth.
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