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In my apartment, Greek yogurt is a staple.
Without fail, I have it at least once (if not twice) every day. It’s tasty, high in protein, and very versatile. It’s great on its own, but I also like to use it as a topping for oatmeal, sweet potatoes, pancakes, as well as many other uses.
Don’t even get me started on Greek yogurt and granola…
It makes me weak in the knees!
Unfortunately, Greek yogurt comes with a hefty price tag. I have too many expensive habits as it is (Kombucha, nut butter, and gourmet cheese), so adding another isn’t beneficial to my wallet.
Did you know that you can actually make your own Greek yogurt?
You just need a few simple things!
- Bowl
- Fine mesh strainer
- Coffee filter (or a cheese cloth)
- Spoon (totally optional)
- Cling wrap
- Tub of yogurt, preferably organic
I’m using Whole Foods plain, organic low fat yogurt.
I’ve done this with fat free yogurt and it works perfectly fine. I prefer the taste and creaminess of 2% Greek yogurt, so I chose this option.
DIY: Greek Yogurt
Step 1: Line a strainer with a paper coffee filter and place the strainer over a bowl to collect the whey.
Step 2: Add the tub of yogurt.
Step 3: Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight (about 10-12 hours).
Step 4: In the morning you will have thick, creamy, delicious Greek yogurt.
I like to put it back in the original container.
There will be a lot less yogurt than what you started with (about half), but it will be a lot thicker and higher in protein.
This is the extra whey that dripped off. You can either save it for another use or trash it (I trash it).
Isn’t that easy?
By straining regular yogurt overnight, you can make a homemade, cheaper version of Greek yogurt.
I really like to do this because I prefer 2% Greek yogurt, but it’s really hard to find an organic version. Buy purchasing organic, low fat yogurt (which is really easy to find), I can do it myself (no jokes please).
I also love the tang of this yogurt. It’s oddly addicting!
As always, let me know if you have questions!
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{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
Matt. This is the single greatest post you have ever posted and I will be making this very soon. I will save myself 10000s of dollars for real.
Hollie @lolzthatswim(andrun) recently posted..Savory Waffles and Rest Days
I used to make Greek yogurt from scratch, as in buy a gallon of milk, heat it up, let it sit forever, add yogurt starter, strain, etc, but I ate it so quickly it was a pain to keep up with, ha. This is a much easier option for “homemade”
Lesley Lifting Life recently posted..Lunch in the sun- Eden Alley & kitchen failures
There is protien in that whey!!
I used to do this every time I bought yogurt. It really is easy!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe recently posted..End of the week eats
That’s a good idea! I definitely do prefer the texture of Greek Yogurt, so this is something I would like to try.
I did have a question though – and pardon my ignorance on this one, but how does it have more protein?
You’re straining out the excess water and whey, which will give you more protein per gram of yogurt. The resulting product is concentrated casein, a milk protein that contains all nine of the essential amino acids needed to build protein.
Gotcha! Thanks so much! =)
Krissy @ Shiawase Life recently posted..Vegan Update
No prob!
I was thinking the same thing…imagining yogurt that magically becomes higher in protein after passing through the magical strainer, lol. makes much more sense now; thank you!
Jess@HealthyExposures recently posted..Who Wants to Win Some Coconut Oil
This might be a silly question, but how is their more protein in what you have left over?
I get that it would be thicker and creamier without the whey, but it seems like logically the protein content would be the same? What am I missing?
Jess recently posted..First Hot Run of the Season
Basically, you’re straining out the liquid whey. The resulting product is concentrated casein, a milk protein that contains all nine of the essential amino acids needed to build protein.
Thanks for the explainer!
Jess recently posted..First Hot Run of the Season
No problem at all!
So I’m wondering about the protien too….I love the thickness of this and used to do it often until someone told me that by throwing away the whey I was getting rid of the protien…now I’ve not really investigated so asking you seems the easy way…
Does it have as much protien as the greek?
Please see the above comment.
Stepping up your game! lol! That is really cool though…I didn’t know you could do that!
Jennifer@ knackfornutrition recently posted..Getting it together
omg!!! Glenn would love this! He’s made cottage cheese before so this would be perfect for him! Looks easy too!
Great post Matt — I don’t eat yogurt anymore but I used to love greek yogurt. This would have saved me so much money!
Holly @ The Runny Egg recently posted..Pizza Bread
Question:: the “whey” that is left over…. what are the other potential uses for this? Is this the same as whey protein that I buy?
Check out this article: http://faithfulprovisions.com/2010/03/31/whey-cool-uses-for-whey/
WOW! Wonderful resource! Thanks!
Robyn @ http://birduponthewind.blogspot.com/ recently posted..Glass 1-2 full kind of day!
No problem!
I’ve actually heard of this method before and did a little research into it a while back. Supposedly the calcium gets cut in half when straining, but you almost double the protein. It’s also higher in calories/fat since you have a more concentrated finished product. Oprah has an article here: http://www.oprah.com/health/Is-It-Okay-to-Eat-Yogurt-Without-Whey. And I believe you lose a little bit of the healthy probiotics just in the straining process.
I never had a chance to try it out myself, but I honestly think it’s a great method and option for anyone on a budget who wants to still have their thick Greek yogurt! You have to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages and see if it’s for you! I definitely should try it out though, now that I have the directions right in front me. I’ll have to buy a strainer, but the rest of the set-up is totally simple! Sounds like fun to experiment with!
Great post Matt!!!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope recently posted..Super Cereal
Thanks for the article! It’s a good thing I love cheese and Kombucha. Plenty of calcium and probiotics right there
Exactly! I think it’s a personal choice! Either way, definitely a fun “recipe” to play with.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope recently posted..Super Cereal
Let me know if you try it
This would have come in handy when every grocery store ran out of Chobani and I had to use a different, local brand that tasted like straight up lemon.
Krystina (Organically Me) recently posted..Ice Cream Kinda Day
What brand was it?
Cabot. I’m not sure if you have it over there because it’s a Vermont based company. Their cheese is delicious, their yogurt…not so much.
We have Cabot here! I’ve actually thought about purchasing the 2% plain a few times. I’m going to pick some up today and give it a shot.
I love their cheese as well. Have you tried the clothbound cheddar? OMG.
That’s the kind I bought – apparently the vanilla bean one has ACTUAL vanilla flecks in it, so maybe it’s better?
YES, it makes me weak in the knees. Cabot knows their cheddar.
Heck yeah they do. They also make a killer pepperjack.
Hey! Awesome! I never knew you could make it so easily yourself! Score!
I’m glad I read the comments before writing my own – I was about to ask the ‘how is it higher in protein if you just strained all the whey’ question :p
Freya recently posted..The Real Shady
Did my comment answer your question?
I believe so – some of the liquid that comes off is water right, not pure whey? I’m guessing some protein must still be lost though? I’m just curious
I admire you for making your own!
Freya recently posted..The Real Shady
It’s a mix of both, but yes, some whey is lost.
When you strain out the whey, you are left with casein protein. Do you know what that is?
”Casein (from Latin caseus, “cheese”) is the name for a family of related phosphoprotein proteins (αS1, αS2, β, κ). These proteins are commonly found in mammalian milk, making up 80% of the proteins in cow milk and between 20% and 45% of the proteins in human milk.[1] Casein has a wide variety of uses, from being a major component of cheese, to use as a food additive, to a binder for safety matches.[2] As a food source, casein supplies essential amino acids as well as some carbohydrates and the inorganic elements calcium and phosphorus.[3]”
I do now! Google is my friend
So the casein stays in the yogurt? Who would’ve thought it’d be so scientific :s
Freya recently posted..The Real Shady
Eating greek yogurt on a sweet potato as I read this! That is such a great idea! I’m curious to see if the price will go down because it’s becoming so much more popular and there are so many more brands coming out.
If I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life I think it would be yogurt and granola. It was a major staple for me all through college! My school’s dining hall had organic yogurt, and made their own granola that was awesome.
Corey @ the runner’s cookie recently posted..North End Adventures
My mother used to make this all the time when we were younger.
I loove greek yogurt with granola. I eat it almost every day at work.
I definitely would love to try this! It would save me some money!
Also, random question, but do you have a large kitchen in your apartment? I only ask because your counters look twice the size as mine and my kitchen is TINY (and craptastic!).
Katy (The Singing Runner) recently posted..2011 Athleta Iron Girl 5K
i did a post on this a long time ago so thanks for reminding me just HOW EASY it is to do this. seriously, SO EASY!!
ooo thats so easy i gotta try it!!! i love greek yogurt…i used to only eat the plain, nonfat version…but lately have been eating the flavored ones which are good, but they have so much sugar..ill have to try this out and just add some goodies to it!
amy@healthyhungryhappy.com recently posted..Nuts About Coconut
I am sure you will have many people falling down on their knees in praise for this post
Certainly saves $$!
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing recently posted..Vegan Mango Lassi
Holla! It had me weak at the knees too
What a useful tutorial on how to create your own greek yogurt. Agreed- even though I have a special place in my heart for Fage, i simply can’t afford it regularly. If only, if only, it was more affordable
I strained my own yogurt recently and totally did something wrong. I’ll have to try again…..
Emilia recently posted..Want Some Zucchini Parm
What did you do differently from what I did?
You are so creative! I never would have thought to make my own! I need to do more wallet-saving tips, eating healthy adds up quickly when you’re not paying attention!
Jessica @ Dishin’ About Nutrition recently posted..Easy Delicious Recipe for White Fish
Love the tutorial. Too bad you get so little greek yogurt for what you start with
Do you think this would work with flavored yogurt? I can’t find lemon Chobani so I want to make my own
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) recently posted..Modesto Half Marathon Recap
I have the same question. Would you loose the flavor after straining it if you used a flavored original?
I’m honestly not sure! I’ll try it and let you know!
I’m honestly not sure! Let me know if you try it
My goodness, it’s THAT easy?! I think you just saved me about a million dollars in grocery bills per year…
Alicia from Poise in Parma recently posted..ten things this tuesday- choosing the positive
this. is. genius. Thank you!!!!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) recently posted..PB&J French Pita!
Well that looks easy enough! I eat greek yogurt religiously, so I’ll have to try this.
Caitlyn (The Spoonful of Life) recently posted..Cook with the Colors of the Rainbow
Love this! I buy so much Greek yogurt, this is perfect thanks!
Jacky recently posted..Pickled Jalapeno and Red Onion
Wait… this recipe looks awesome and delicious! But, all that way that drained out is pure protein! How is the leftover Greek yogurt then higher in protein than the previous yogurt?
I can’t wait to try this bro!
Chuck recently posted..I can teach you how to Dougie
Read the above comments.
Yep! So easy! I would make homemade Greek yogurt more if my fridge weren’t always packed!
nicole, RD recently posted..Brownie Walnut Cookies
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