Instant Pot Greek Yogurt Recipe {Pressure Cooker Yogurt}

Thick Instant Pot Greek Yogurt Recipe is so simple to make. This creamy and smooth Greek Yogurt will save you so much money. Make some yogurt in 9 easy steps!

Instant Pot Greek Yogurt

Instant Pot Greek Yogurt (photo by Beth Braznell)

Once! One time is all it takes and you will never buy yogurt again.

Instant Pot Greek Yogurt will have you jumping for joy.

Directions for the Instant Pot Ultra, Instant Pot Smart, Instant Pot DUO and DUO Plus are all found on the COMPLETE RECIPE CARD following the pictorial narrative.

Directions for the Instant Pot Smart DUO60 and Instant Pot Smart DUO60 are identical. For Yogurt made in a GoWise 8 Quart Pressure Cooker, please see my GoWISE USA Greek Yogurt Recipe.

I am Lactose Intolerant, Can I use Lactose Free Milk?

My friend Marilee says ” Yogurt bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid, which makes yogurt tangy. Use regular milk and incubate 19-24 hours… voila lactose free! And tangy !!”

She’s got an M.D. after her name, so she knows stuff!

Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Greek Yogurt

What Ingredients do you need to make Instant Pot Greek Yogurt?

Only two ingredients are needed and an Instant Pot, to make incredible Instant Pot Greek Yogurt.

• Milk – Whole Milk yields the thickest yogurt
• Yogurt Starter – any brand of yogurt with just milk and live cultures
• Instant Pot – all models, but the LUX, have the Yogurt Feature

Only a few steps and some patience and knowledge, will get you there fast.

Tips for making Yogurt in an Instant Pot?

It’s really important to stir the milk before taking the temperature, to avoid hot spots and an inaccurate reading. This could be one of the reasons you are having a failure, assuming that is what is happening.

Another reason for failure has to do with the setting of the time for the yogurt to incubate.  It is important you understand about the buttons and how they work.

Start by sterilizing your Instant Pot cooking pot.  Pour 3 cups of water into the cooking pot and run it through the Steam Cycle for about 5 minutes.  {Full Directions are at the end of this Article.}

It is important to start with a cold pot, so that your milk won’t scorch on the bottom and have trouble getting up to temperature.  Allow the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker itself to cool down naturally or pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.

Can I use Ultra Pasteurized Milk?

Type of Milk and or Starter (culture) plays a role.  Ultra Pasteurized Milk is heated to 280 degrees, which kills about 99.9 percent of the bacteria needed to properly culture yogurt, so therefore, it doesn’t generally set up well.  Milk labeled “Organic” is most likely Ultra Pasteurized.

The “Starter” you use for the yogurt is very important too. The first time making yogurt, purchase a high quality container of yogurt containing milk and live active cultures; nothing more, nothing less.

Some recipes call for powdered milk;  it’s a crutch and if prepared properly, you never need anything more than Milk and Yogurt Starter.

Can you freeze Yogurt to use as a Starter?

Yes you can!

Homemade Yogurt Starter

After the first time making yogurt, you will have your own “Starter,” so make sure you save a little bit from each batch.

The starter can be frozen.  Only freeze enough for a couple of weeks.

After a couple of weeks, or at the most, 3 weeks, freeze more Starter from the current batch, so that each batch is no more than 3 weeks old.

You should never need to purchase “Starter” again so long as the frozen starter is used within a few weeks.

These King Size Ice Cube Trays (for starter) are the perfect size to hold 2 Tablespoons of starter.  They are perfect for Scotch on the Rocks! 😉

Yogurt is great in place of sour cream. Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in sugar because of the straining.

Can I use my Whey for the Starter?

Yes, you can use Whey for the Starter.

You can even freeze the Whey to use as your Starter.

What can I do with the Leftover Whey?

Your Whey can be used for my Instant Pot Yogurt Whey Dutch Oven Crusty Bread recipe!

Instant Pot Yogurt Whey Dutch Oven Crusty Bread in less than 5 hours!

Yogurt Whey Indian Chapati a/k/a Roti (Flatbread)

Pressure Cooker Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

I suggest making a really good and plain yogurt and adding in flavoring and sweeteners, before you eat. Many people save the whey for bread making so you probably don’t want flavored or sweetened Whey!

Can I make Noosa Yoghurt in my Instant Pot?

You sure can!

For a delicious Noosa like recipe, try my Instant Pot Homemade Noosa Honey Yogurt Copycat recipe.

How do I sweeten my Instant Pot Greek Yogurt?

Here are some wonderful and sweet add-ins:

Pressure Cooker Fresh Berry Compote (Stewed Fruit)

Pressure Cooker Fresh Strawberry Compote

Pressure Cooker Easy Key Lime Curd

Homemade Orange Ginger Pecan Granola

Pressure Cooker Easy Lemon Curd

Pressure Cooker Dannon Dutch Apple Yogurt Compote

Pressure Cooker Fresh Peach Crisp Compote

Pressure Cooker Pumpkin Apple Butter

Pressure Cooker Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce

How long does it take to make Instant Pot Greek Yogurt?

• Whisking the milk every 10 minutes during the boil cycle will help the milk come up to temperature quicker.
• Getting milk to 183-185 degrees and holding there for a few minutes, will yield a thicker yogurt.
• Boil Cycle will take about 45 minutes.
• Cool Down will take about 10 minutes.
• Incubation Time – From 5 hours to 10 hours.
• Most people incubate for 9 hours.

Remove Frozen Starter Cube from Freezer

Remove one cube from the freezer, prior to starting making your Instant Pot Greek Yogurt.

It should be defrosted enough to temper into the warm milk.

Do I have to make a Whole Gallon of Milk?

No.

If you want to make Half a Gallon of Milk, just cut the entire recipe in half.

The Milk will heat through quicker too!

Add Fresh Milk to the Instant Pot DUO

If you feel you want to use flavoring, like Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Beans prior to incubation, add it to the milk when you add your starter.

However, as mentioned above, it is really better to add flavorings prior to eating.

How do I make Yogurt in my Instant Pot?

Please click the giant PINK BUTTON below to go to Page 2 (Detailed Printable Recipe follows the Step by Step Tutorial).