This healthy Instant Pot yogurt is 21 Day Fix approved! Sweeten and flavor with honey and vanilla or leave this yogurt plain and add berries when serving.
This Instant Pot yogurt is also a great way to have a healthy substitute for sour cream on hand. Save money by using your Instant Pot pressure cooker for homemade yogurt!
Which Instant Pot has a yogurt button?
The following models have a yogurt button and can make healthy Instant Pot yogurt:
- Instant Pot Duo
- Instant Pot Duo Plus
- Instant Pot Smart
- Instant Pot Ultra
The Instant Pot Lux does not have a yogurt button, but if you don’t have a yogurt button on your Instant Pot, you can follow these instructions for making yogurt in an Instant Pot without a yogurt button.
Can I make Greek yogurt in my Instant Pot?
You can make healthy Greek yogurt in your Instant Pot! This is especially helpful if you’re wanting an extra thick yogurt to double as a healthier substitute for cream cheese or sour cream. To make Greek yogurt in your Instant Pot, you’ll want to use cheesecloth and strain your yogurt for about 10 hours.
Can I make full fat yogurt in my Instant Pot?
Absolutely! You can use any percentage of fat in your yogurt–fat free, 1%, 2%, and whole milk. I prefer to use 2%, and if you’re on the 21 Day Fix I’d recommend the same.
Can I make Dairy Free Yogurt in the Instant Pot?
We tried to make dairy free Instant Pot yogurt and the result was not good. It was very thin and runny, and never really “set up” the way yogurt should. I’m just as bummed as you are about this–believe me!
Can you flavor or sweeten this healthy Instant Pot yogurt?
I used honey and vanilla to flavor and sweeten this yogurt, but you could leave it plain!
How can I thicken Instant Pot yogurt?
You can thicken Instant Pot yogurt by not stirring it until it’s completely finished! Stirring your yogurt breaks apart the enzymes in the yogurt and causes it to become runny and not set up properly.
Why isn’t my Instant Pot yogurt getting thick?
It’s very important that your starter uses live cultures and is fresh–not old. Look on the container to make sure your starter has live cultures–it should be written right on the container.
Why don’t I have to boil in this recipe?
If you’re using ultra-pasteurized milk, you don’t have to boil your yogurt. Boiling gets rid of bacteria, as does ultra-pasteurizing. If you’re not using ultra-pasteurized milk, you’ll still have to boil your yogurt.
Some people have reported not boiling or using ultra-pasteurized yogurt and not getting sick–it’s your choice in the end!
How long does this healthy Instant Pot yogurt last in the fridge?
This yogurt lasts about 14 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Before refrigerating, pull out 3 tablespoons to use as a starter for your next batch! I have not frozen this yogurt.
Directions for healthy Instant Pot yogurt:
*If you’d like to scroll down to the printable recipe section, these directions might be easier to read.
1. You’ll want to sanitize your Instant Pot before you begin. This of course keeps your yogurt sanitary (especially when you think about it sitting in the liner/pot for hours) but it also helps to avoid any other smells or tastes being added to the yogurt. I highly recommend grabbing another Instant Pot sealing ring if yours smells like meat or other strong smells.
2. Add 1/4 gallon of the milk to the Instant Pot insert. Mix in the Greek yogurt. The plain Greek yogurt is needed because it contains the live yogurt cultures.
3. Next, mix in the vanilla and honey. This is optional, if you want plain yogurt then leave out the vanilla and honey and skip to step 3. Once the honey is dissolved, mix in the remaining 1/4 gallon of milk (it’s easier to mix this way).
4. Tightly cover the Instant Pot with a lid. I prefer this silicone lid, but any lid is fine, if you use the Instant Pot lid be sure to leave the pressure valve open so it doesn’t build pressure.
5. Press the yogurt button twice to bypass the boil stage. Let the yogurt incubate for 8-9 hours. The longer the yogurt incubates, the more tart it will get. My yogurt wasn’t tart at all incubating for 8 hours.
6. Once the incubation is done, remove the Instant Pot insert and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Do not stir the yogurt or it will break apart the enzymes and become runny.
7. The next day, remove the yogurt from the refrigerator and transfer it an air tight storage container. You can store this yogurt in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Serve with fruit and homemade granola.
Is this 21 Day Fix Approved Instant Pot Yogurt?
It is! This 21 Day Fix yogurt is counted as 3/4 cup = 1R. If you add in honey to the batch, I’d add a teaspoon of sweetener as well. It’s so easy to use this fix approved yogurt as a replacement for sour cream. If you strain it to make it thicker, it’s a healthy cream cheese replacement!
Looking for some other 21 Day Fix Instant Pot breakfast ideas?
For Weight Watchers, the base recipe below (without the honey) is 4 Freestyle SmartPoints per serving.
Healthy Instant Pot Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon milk 1% or 2% to be fix approved, but any fat content will work | ultra-pasteurized
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt with live cultures plain, this is your starter
- 1 tbsp vanilla optional
- 1/4 cup honey optional
Instructions
- You'll want to sanitize your Instant Pot before you begin. This of course keeps your yogurt sanitary (especially when you think about it sitting in there for hours) but it also helps to avoid any other smells or tastes being added to the yogurt. I highly recommend grabbing another Instant Pot sealing ring if yours smells like meat or other strong smells.
- Add 1/4 gallon of the milk to the Instant Pot insert. Mix in the Greek yogurt. The plain Greek yogurt is needed because it contains the live yogurt cultures.
- Next, mix in the vanilla and honey. This is optional, if you want plain yogurt then leave out the vanilla and honey and skip to step 3. Once the honey is dissolved, mix in the remaining 1/4 gallon of milk (it's easier to mix this way).
- Tightly cover the Instant Pot with a lid. I prefer this silicone lid, but any lid is fine, if you use the Instant Pot lid be sure to leave the pressure valve open so it doesn't build pressure.
- Press the yogurt button twice to bypass the boil stage. Let the yogurt incubate for 8-9 hours. The longer the yogurt incubates, the more tart it will get. My yogurt wasn't tart at all incubating for 8 hours.
- Once the incubation is done, remove the Instant Pot insert and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Do not stir the yogurt or it will break apart the enzymes and become runny.
- The next day, remove the yogurt from the refrigerator and transfer it an air tight storage container. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Serve with fruit and homemade granola.
Do I need to store it for 1-2 weeks before eating this yogurt? And i didn’t push the yogurt button twice before incubation period. Is that bad?
You can store the yogurt in the fridge for 1-2 weeks after it’s made. If you didn’t push the yogurt button twice, you didn’t bypass the boil.
I’m still unclear on what needs to happen for non fat yogurt, are there any different steps and what will the texture be like?
Tracy, this recipe isn’t for nonfat yogurt, and it’s not something I’ve made before.