Re: Yogurt makers?? - Nesco Roaster, Digital Thermometer, Double Boiler

[Guest guest]

1. Nesco - my 5-qt Nesco is an older model called the " Cool Side 5 "

that I bought back in the late 90's from Nesco.com when I started

following the SCD. It has a hard plastic lid (i.e. not aluminum, which

is common on the larger Nescos and similar brands). It has a black

porcelain-enamel-on-steel " cookwell " (insert). It was sold only with a

non-stick cookwell, but I convinced a Nesco customer-service person to

grab one off the assembly line before it was spray-painted with non-

stick coating. It has a vent in the lid that I modified slightly so my

digital thermometer probe would fit through.

When making yogurt, before inserting the cookwell into the base and

filling it with the milk/starter mixture, I put some water in the base

so it acts a bit like a " water bath " during fermentation. It has an

indicator light that can be seen cycling on and off like an oven

thermostat, to keep the temperature at the desired setting.

I have the temperature dial marked with tape at between 100 and 110

degrees (yogurt ferments between 98 and 120 degrees), and I usually try

to keep my yogurt at around 105.

The current version of the 5-qt Nesco can be seen at:

http://nesco.com/products/?category=700 & subcat=200 & id=50 (white with

non-stick cookwell)

http://nesco.com/products/?category=700 & subcat=200 & id=338 (red with

porcelain cookwell)

Since the red one has a porcelain cookwell, that would be my pick. It

doesn't say what the lid is made of, though

It says it has temperature settings ranging from 200 to 450 degrees,

but that could just be referring to the markings and the dial should go

lower.

On my Nesco, my tape marking is at a spot well below the 200 mark. I

would talk to a Nesco rep and clear up any questions before ordering.

Since the Nesco also has very high temperature settings, theoretically

it could be used as a one-pot approach to heating the milk and then

fermenting the yogurt. That may work for some people, but I'm hooked on

my double boiler (more on that later). Another nice thing about the

Nesco is that it can be used to make other stuff (soups, etc) when it's

not being used to make yogurt. It's like having a crockpot but with a

great deal more flexibility in choice of temperatures.

2. Digital Probe Thermometer with timer and temperature alarm - mine is

an old Polder - it looks like the current version is Product ID# THM-

362-86 at http://www.polderstore.com/ and there are others (wow, now it

has a clip, that sure looks handy) - I've seen similar ones at Bed Bath

& Beyond, Radio Shack, etc., for $20-30. Shop around.

This kind of thermometer is also ideal for those of you who make your

yogurt in the oven. The wire can pass between the oven door and door

frame, no problem, and you can easily keep tabs on the temperature

without opening the door. You don't even have to be in the same room -

the alarm will sound if it reaches the temperature you've programmed.

The handy magnet on the back lets you stick it to the side of your

stove or refrigerator.

3. Double Boiler - I got mine at

http://www.restaurantsupplyhouse.com/servlet/the-22/8-qt.-Stainless-

Steel/Detail - it's made by Royal Industries. I started my search at

Amazon.com and googled around and refined my search as I gathered more

information. You may even find a better deal elsewhere. These

commercial double boilers go as large as 20 qt... if you get a jumbo

Nesco to match, you can make enough yogurt for the entire

Gastroenterology wing of Mt Sinai hospital.

Deanna