Customer Reviews

EuroCuisine Automatic Yogurt Maker With 7 6OZ. Jars - EuroCuisine YM100

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read a lot of reviews for the YM80 before buying and people complained about the lack of an automatic shut off. For an extra $10 this machine provides the shut off. My first batch of organic yogurt came out great. I think it is better for our health and environment to be eating yogurt out of glass jars and not adding a plastic container to the dump every time we eat yogurt. I made plain yogurt and added 2 tablespoons of dried organic milk. The yogurt was firm and nicely presented. It was somewhat tart so I added a tablespoon of honey just before eating, this added a little sweetness without taking away the yogurt flavor. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to have some control over what they are putting in their system. You can make this yogurt with skim, 1%, 2% or whole milk, organic milk or local milk, or even goat's milk. The shut off valve is convenient for people who don't want to keep track of when to unplug the yogurt machine. Although turning it on right before going to bed seems like about the right amount of time for a batch of yogurt.

This is just a great machine so far, but look, if you want to, you can obsess with complex formulas and temperatures and sterilization and what not, but you don't have to to make great yogurt. I have been experimenting for a while and I'm still working on it, but so far, this is what I've come up with...use the cups as a measuring device...I made one batch using a commercial, freeze dried yogurt starter...when I had eaten six of those, I used the seventh as a starter. This has just become part of my routine. I eat six and use the seventh for the next batch. So, in a big bowl I put one jar of yogurt, one jar heavy cream, five jars of milk and about two tablespoons of powdered milk. I stir it with a whisk until it's all incorporated well and then I pour it in the jars in the machine and set the timer. Now, this is where you need to experiment. I have done it without the powdered milk, it's still wonderful, just thinner and I like thick yogurt, so I'm trying it with the powdered milk and a little longer time. The first batch I did like this I cooked for about seven hours. I am trying ten right now. I want to see if I can get it the thickness of Greek yogurt. I have boiled the milk and it makes a little difference but not much. It's not worth it. Really, it can become such an easy part of your week and the yogurt is so much better and cheaper than what you buy in a store.

We purchased this item because my husband is diabetic and shouldn't eat things with sugar in them, and he is also allergic to dairy products. We used the yogurt maker to make homemade soy yogurt (which it even says in the instructions that you can do). We used the boiling method for preperation and let it incubate for 10 hours (amount of time suggested in the instruction manual for fat free/skim milk). Also, we used the Yogourmet brand yogurt starter because it is the only one available in the local marget. The yogurt is excellent, it has a wonderful flavor! My husband who has travelled througout Europe and tried the yogurts avaiable there (before his allergy) says that this yogurt tastes like the real thing, like some of the excellent yogurt you can get in Europe. In fact, he dislikes the characteristic soy taste in the soy milk but he said that if he was handed the yogurt we made from soy in a blind taste test he probably wouldn't be able to tell that it was made with soy at all. We used WestSoy brand unsweetened soy milk (the best tasting to us that is on the market). I highly recommend this product!!!

I purchased this yogurt maker about two weeks ago. I have made several batches of yogurt using 2% milk with 1/2 cup of powdered milk added for the total 7 cup volume. I have used a nine hour incubation each time and have ended up with flavorful firm yogurt. Because I like the idea of making a single batch in a large container as opposed to always individual cup containers I went on a hunt for a single container that would fit in the yogurt maker. At a major superstore I discovered a 7 cup (1.6 L) microwavable glass bowl with a plastic snap lid that fit perfectly. The bowl is made by Anchor Hocking Company PN Z85908.

Like reviewer Gypsy, I also read all the reviews bemoaning a lack of timer on the YM80. So I went for the YM100. I made the yogurt as per the instructions, set the timer for 10 hours, and came back 12 hours later only to find the yogurt was still quite warm, even though the timer was off. It came out too tangy for my tastes, because it had been incubating for 12+ hours. Since you must refrigerate the yogurt in order to stop the incubation, I feel as if the timer is unnecessary. Your yogurt will continue to cook no matter if the timer is off or on--the cover traps heat and moisture inside.
Since I like my yogurt european style, i.e. flavorful but not overly sour, I found that incubating for about 8 hours, using the euro-cuisine starter, made the best yogurt. This, from a yogurt snob who lived in Paris for a year and has just come back to the U.S. only to find that even the most expensive, most lauded 'boutique' yogurts are just not up to par.
WEll, I managed to make the best yogurt I have ever tasted--semi-firm, creamy, complex flavors, even a hint of vanilla comes out in the plain yogurt. It's seriously perfect and I feel as if I am in heaven every morning.

One note, and one question:
Although some users have claimed that it is best to allow the yogurt to incubate while sleeping, if you do not have a second set of jars, this is impractical. I make the yogurt first thing in the morning and then take it out of the maker at night, refrigerating it overnight. Remember that you MUST refrigerate the yogurt for at least several hours before consuming it, so if you incubate your yogurt overnight, you will NOT have fresh yogurt in the morning!

Now, a question: does anyone know how many times you can use the 'old' yogurt as a starter to make 'new' yogurt? The freeze-dried starter packets recommend only one time, but I thought you could use yogurt from your homemade batch indefinitely. Any one know? Thanks!

After researching and reading various reviews I selected the YM100 because it has glass jars and an automatic shut-off. While I am happy that one reviewer had a wonderful experience, I cannot say the same. The yogurt maker works, the timer is intermittent. I called the company that distributes Euro Cuisine and was told that the timer is "very sensitive" and that "variations in electricity could affect how well it works", and the problems are "usually" resolved. Knowing what I now know, I would not pay $10.00 extra for a undependable timer.

I received this as a christmas gift and had finally gotten the hang of producing the right yogurt for me when it almost started a fire. I set it, plugged it in, went to bed, woke up and smelled something funny, did not turn any lights on but unplugged the yogurt maker. The next morning I went out to find that the base (where the jars sit) had two holes in it where the plastic had melted inwards. I, for some reason, thought to turn it over, and the heating element had started melting out the bottom of the yogurt maker! YIKES! I'm scared to know what would have happened if I hadn't woken up to use the bathroom. Also, like other reviews say, the timer never really worked for me either.
I have contacted the company, they asked me to send them the base in exchange for a new one. However it was such a mess I didn't keep it around - I've told them I have pictures and not the physical base and have received no response.
Pros: Did make good yogurt once you get the hang of it
Cons: Potential fire hazard, poor customer service for a product that is supposed to have a warrenty.

I purchased this yogurt maker after first reading all the user reviews that I could find on the various units available. The reviews sounded like this was the best maker for the home user at a price that was reasonable. The unit arrived quickly, I washed everything well, and made a batch that night. It came out smooth,thick, and with a nice tart taste - just like the yogurt that I found overseas in my travels. I have since made several batches as my wife and I enjoy yogurt as part of our daily diet. I am very satisfied with the ease of use of this unit and the constantly smooth and creamy texture of the yogurt it produces. The jars are glass and easy to clean - which is much nicer than the other units that I have seen on the market. I am completely satisfied wiht this purchase and would highly recommend this unit to anyone wishing to start making their our natural yogurt.

This yogurt maker is great! The quality (so far) is good and making yogurt is easy and carefree. I have made yogurt without a machine by placing milk in pan in a low temp. oven for 8 hours. It turned out fine but having the oven on for so long bothered me and I made a mess transfering it to smaller containers for refrigeration. I know it's not necessary to use an oven -
room temp. is supposedly fine but my health trained brain says NO!

Using the automatic yogurt maker is so nice - pouring the milk into 7 different jars, placing the jars in the unit, covering unit with clear lid,
turning unit on, setting desired time, and walking away confident temp. is constant is the best way for me.

Oh, and the 6 oz. jars (with lids) are the perfect serving. You can make each jar a different flavor too...

I really like this item, a lot! I tried two batches, one with plain yogurt as a starter and one with the freeze-dried bacteria. The plain yogurt starter was grainy and runny, but the freeze-dried bacteria batch turned out exactly like store bought yogurt, and is delicious! My husband and I can't keep out hands off of it. I flavored the yogurt with some frozen fruit that I mashed up in the blender with a banana to keep it thick, and then I just add some honey to the jar right before eating it. Mine cooked for 9 hours, with 2% milk, and it was delicious. I have definitely noticed that you really must cool the yogurt to the appropriate temperature before using it. Anyway, hope that helps! This product is great, and I agree that the auto shut off is really a must.

PS - the freeze dried bacteria is a little hard to hunt down. I found mine at My Organic Market in Alexandria, VA. For those farther away, I'd check organic markets and specialty shops. It's also available online.