Re: Just starting - trying to figure out how to make yogurt in Excalibur dehydrator

February 28, 2010

Cathy,I take out all the trays and put a sturdy cake cooling rack in the bottom of the dehydrator to lift the container of milk off the bottom a bit for better circulation. I use large, relatively shallow glass containers covered with plastic wrap (just don't let the plastic wrap touch the milk itself) with a milk frothing thermometer trapped with plastic wrap in an easy to view position. I turn on the dehydrator at the band for 95-105 F. My thermometer always reads about 104F this way. If you are putting your milk in the dehydrator while the temp of the milk is about 85-95 F range, it will take about 2 hours to come up to the ideal range. A lot people cool their milk to mid-70s before adding the starter though, so it will take longer to come up. You can

check it periodically to see how fast it climbs and make note to adjust your fermenting time up from 24 hours to include the time it takes to get into the ideal range. I start counting the 24 hours when it just makes it to the lowest temp of the ideal range, aiming for a sustained temp in the middle of the range to account for slight inaccuracies that are in most thermometers. I usually put mine on in the evening so that it finishes in the evening and can be chilling overnight, ready for breakfast the following morning.Hope that helps.AmeliaFrom: cathy.bennett36

To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sun, February 28, 2010 6:03:03 AMSubject: Just starting - trying to figure out how to make yogurt in Excalibur dehydrator

Hello everyone, I'm not only brand-new to the group, but also new to SCD. I've been baby stepping my way towards SCD and am now ready to take the plunge. I purchased an Excalibur dehydrator and am ready to make my first batch of yogurt, but can't seem to get the temp right. I can't remember where I read it, but there was a suggestion to do a trial run with water to check the temperature. I can't get my water temp high enough. I was hoping some of you who use their Excalibur could share some tips.

Thanks for your help.

February 28, 2010

Can I ask what size Excalibur you two are using? I just started the diet and am

using a loaner yogurt maker, but love backpacking. So I though when I get around

to buying a yogurt makeer the Excalibur would help with both the yogurt and

outdoor stuff. Just curious if the smaller dehydrator would work well enough for

yogurt (I don't live in a very big home).

Thanks!

~

>

> Cathy,

>

> I take out all the trays and put a sturdy cake cooling rack in the bottom of

the dehydrator to lift the container of milk off the bottom a bit for better

circulation. I use large, relatively shallow glass containers covered with

plastic wrap (just don't let the plastic wrap touch the milk itself) with a milk

frothing thermometer trapped with plastic wrap in an easy to view position. I

turn on the dehydrator at the band for 95-105 F. My thermometer always reads

about 104F this way. If you are putting your milk in the dehydrator while the

temp of the milk is about 85-95 F range, it will take about 2 hours to come up

to the ideal range. A lot people cool their milk to mid-70s before adding the

starter though, so it will take longer to come up. You can check it

periodically to see how fast it climbs and make note to adjust your fermenting

time up from 24 hours to include the time it takes to get into the ideal range.

I start counting the 24 hours

> when it just makes it to the lowest temp of the ideal range, aiming for a

sustained temp in the middle of the range to account for slight inaccuracies

that are in most thermometers. I usually put mine on in the evening so that it

finishes in the evening and can be chilling overnight, ready for breakfast the

following morning.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

> Amelia

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: BTVC-SCD

> Sent: Sun, February 28, 2010 6:03:03 AM

> Subject: Just starting - trying to figure out how to make yogurt in

Excalibur dehydrator

>

> Hello everyone, I'm not only brand-new to the group, but also new to SCD.

I've been baby stepping my way towards SCD and am now ready to take the plunge.

I purchased an Excalibur dehydrator and am ready to make my first batch of

yogurt, but can't seem to get the temp right. I can't remember where I read it,

but there was a suggestion to do a trial run with water to check the

temperature. I can't get my water temp high enough. I was hoping some of you

who use their Excalibur could share some tips.

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

February 28, 2010

,I am using the 9 tray. I think only the height is the difference between the different models. So the foot print of a 5 tray will be the same as the 9 tray, only difference is the 5 tray is shorter. AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Sun, February 28, 2010 5:51:06 PMSubject: Re: Just starting - trying to figure out how to make yogurt in Excalibur dehydrator

Can I ask what size Excalibur you two are using? I just started the diet and am using a loaner yogurt maker, but love backpacking. So I though when I get around to buying a yogurt makeer the Excalibur would help with both the yogurt and outdoor stuff. Just curious if the smaller dehydrator would work well enough for yogurt (I don't live in a very big home).

Thanks!

~

>

> Cathy,

>

> I take out all the trays and put a sturdy cake cooling rack in the bottom of the dehydrator to lift the container of milk off the bottom a bit for better circulation. I use large, relatively shallow glass containers covered with plastic wrap (just don't let the plastic wrap touch the milk itself) with a milk frothing thermometer trapped with plastic wrap in an easy to view position. I turn on the dehydrator at the band for 95-105 F. My thermometer always reads about 104F this way. If you are putting your milk in the dehydrator while the temp of the milk is about 85-95 F range, it will take about 2 hours to come up to the ideal range. A lot people cool their milk to mid-70s before adding the starter though, so it will take longer to come up. You can check it periodically to see how fast it climbs and make note to adjust your fermenting time up from 24 hours to include the time it takes to get into the ideal range. I start counting the 24

hours

> when it just makes it to the lowest temp of the ideal range, aiming for a sustained temp in the middle of the range to account for slight inaccuracies that are in most thermometers. I usually put mine on in the evening so that it finishes in the evening and can be chilling overnight, ready for breakfast the following morning.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

> Amelia

>

> ____________ _________ _________ __

> From: cathy.bennett36 <cathy.bennett36@ ...>

> To: BTVC-SCD@yahoogroup s.com

> Sent: Sun, February 28, 2010 6:03:03 AM

> Subject: Just starting - trying to figure out how to make yogurt in Excalibur dehydrator

>

> Hello everyone, I'm not only brand-new to the group, but also new to SCD. I've been baby stepping my way towards SCD and am now ready to take the plunge. I purchased an Excalibur dehydrator and am ready to make my first batch of yogurt, but can't seem to get the temp right. I can't remember where I read it, but there was a suggestion to do a trial run with water to check the temperature. I can't get my water temp high enough. I was hoping some of you who use their Excalibur could share some tips.

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

March 1, 2010

I have the 9 tray one. with it you can put the tall 2 qt jars in for making

yogurt which I love. I don't think there is much if any difference in the

counter space it takes over the smaller one as I think they all use the same

trays. When you go to there site you should be able to find measurements.

I use mine quite a bit.

Be blessed

Sandy

> >

> > Cathy,

> >

> > I take out all the trays and put a sturdy cake cooling rack in the bottom of