Re: Please help... yogurt making is not working, all of a sudden

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

Did you start having problems when you started using the new starter or have you

had successful batches with this new bottle ? Might be a bad batch or not

enough starter.

Sheila UC, 20 years -- in remission after 37 mos SCD

mom of SCD 22 mos

This is my 3rd question, the last 2 went unanswered and the third

week I've tried to make yogurt but for some reason it is just not

working right anymore.

I've been making goat yogurt using custom probiotics starter since

November and every batch has turned out very well until the last 3

weeks.

1st week of problems, I could not get regular goat milk and had to

use the non-refrigerated kind, I thought that was the problem because

it had added folic acid and vitamin D.

2nd week of problems, I could not get regular goat milk and used low-

fat goat milk. Also, I questioned my thermometer, I thought it was

off kilter as far as accuracy.

Today, after the 24 hour fermenting, the goat yogurt is not firm like

it has been in the past. Am I not using enough starter, is my

thermometer not accurate (I used 3 different ones this time to verify

the accuracy.)? I finally got the temp up to 185 degrees, this was a

first for me. The goat yogurt (before refrigeration, is runny... I

never had this problem before...

I purchased a replacement thermometer and borrowed another from a

friend.

I used 2 quarts of goat milk, and put in 1/2 scoop of starter

according to Harry's directions. (The old bottle of starter said to

use a whole scoop for 2 to 4 quarts of milk, this new bottle says to

use 1/2 scoop for 2 to 4 quarts of milk.

I will recheck again after I refrigerate...

[Guest guest]

>

> I've been making goat yogurt using custom probiotics starter since

> November and every batch has turned out very well until the last 3

> weeks.

Hi Vicki,

I'm so sorry you are having these things happen with your yogurt. It

is VERY frustrating, I know! You go to all this effort and spend so

much time, and then... I have had yogurt failures a few times in the

past year, and every time - I get GRUMPY!

I was wondering if you used the same milk this last time that you

used before the problems started? I may have missed that in your

post. I know when I had to change milk, my yogurt changed and I

haven't gotten used to the difference yet.

My HFS used to have this beautiful goat milk from a farm on an

island near Seattle and I loved it! Then, the farmers stopped

selling milk because it wasn't as cost effective as their chevre

cheese. I haven't found a brand I'm totally happy with yet - I am on

a quest for another local farmer.

Since all this stuff has been going on with Harry's scoops 1/2 or 1

or whatever - I decided to make two batches at the same time using

my mom's maker and mine (Saltons). I made one batch with 1/2 scoop

(the larger of the two he sends) and one batch with a full scoop. My

maker only holds one liter of milk.

The two batches came out with little noticable difference. I think

the one with 1/2 scoop may have had a little more liquid when I took

it out.

I would try a batch doing exactly what you always did when you had

good results - same milk, same process, same amount of starter. If

you still have unsatisfactory results, I would question the

liveliness of your starter. I really hope that's not it considering

the value of the stuff. In that case, I'd call Harry and talk with

him about it.

I just want you to know we all sympathize with failed yogurt

attempts and I wish you the best - maybe this batch in the fridge

will be ok!

son - , almost 5yo, ASD, SCD one year

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila and ,

I started having problems BEFORE I used this new batch of starter. I

started having problems when I couldn't get the same brand of goat's

milk. I still haven't been able to get the 'good' brand. It was

Caprine Estates from PA, I think. I used a different brand of goat's

milk this time (Meyenburg) and the last time.

Thanks,

VickiB

son ASD, gi problems, this yogurt really helps him so when he

doesn't get it or it doesn't turn out right, we seem to backslide

really bad. is 20 years old, mainly non-verbal, SCD for 11

months.

> Hi Vicki,

>

> Did you start having problems when you started using the new

starter or have you had successful batches with this new bottle ?

Might be a bad batch or not enough starter.

>

> Sheila UC, 20 years -- in remission after 37 mos SCD

> mom of SCD 22 mos

>

>

>

> This is my 3rd question, the last 2 went unanswered and the third

> week I've tried to make yogurt but for some reason it is just not

> working right anymore.

>

> I've been making goat yogurt using custom probiotics starter

since

> November and every batch has turned out very well until the last

3

> weeks.

>

> 1st week of problems, I could not get regular goat milk and had

to

> use the non-refrigerated kind, I thought that was the problem

because

> it had added folic acid and vitamin D.

>

> 2nd week of problems, I could not get regular goat milk and used

low-

> fat goat milk. Also, I questioned my thermometer, I thought it

was

> off kilter as far as accuracy.

>

> Today, after the 24 hour fermenting, the goat yogurt is not firm

like

> it has been in the past. Am I not using enough starter, is my

> thermometer not accurate (I used 3 different ones this time to

verify

> the accuracy.)? I finally got the temp up to 185 degrees, this

was a

> first for me. The goat yogurt (before refrigeration, is

runny... I

> never had this problem before...

>

> I purchased a replacement thermometer and borrowed another from a

> friend.

>

> I used 2 quarts of goat milk, and put in 1/2 scoop of starter

> according to Harry's directions. (The old bottle of starter said

to

> use a whole scoop for 2 to 4 quarts of milk, this new bottle says

to

> use 1/2 scoop for 2 to 4 quarts of milk.

>

> I will recheck again after I refrigerate...

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Central Ohio area, Columbus, Ohio. I will still try the stores to

see if they can get the other brand. I definitely do not like the

Meyenburg brand.

> > Hi Sheila and ,

> >

> > I started having problems BEFORE I used this new batch of

> starter. I

> > started having problems when I couldn't get the same brand of

> goat's

> > milk. I still haven't been able to get the 'good' brand. It was

> > Caprine Estates from PA, I think. I used a different brand of

> goat's

> > milk this time (Meyenburg) and the last time.

>

>

> Hi Vicki,

> I used the Meyenburg once and didn't like it at all. I was told by

> someone on this list that it was probably because the Meyenburg is

> ultra-pasturized (at least the one I used was).

>

> I can't remember why, but it definitely effects the yogurt. I'm not

> sure it actually makes it " ineffective " , though. Maybe it will have

> the same benefits, even if the texture and taste are different?

> Hopefully someone else can respond to that, because if you could

get

> your guy to eat it, you may be able to get your improvements back.

>

> In the meantime, maybe you can talk to your grocer about ordering a

> different brand? Or, maybe Grammy or others in your area can help

> you find a good one. Where do you live?

>

>

> son - almost 5yo, ASD, SCD one year