Incubators for making Yogurt Dahi

Chemistry behind making Dahi yogurt

After the starter culture has been introduced to warm milk, we need to maintain the milk at 115º F for about six hour to let it ferment properly.

We can use some very simple methods to incubate.

Electric Heating Pad

The human body temperature is 98.6° F. The heating pads are designed so that at 'low' setting they will not cause burns. They may go up to 115° F, still in a safe range for the culture. I wrap the milk to be fermented in a towels and put it on a heating pad at 'low' for about 6 hours.

Hot water Bottles and Picnic Cooler

Line the cooler with Aluminum foil. Wrap the fermenting milk in towels and put it in the middle of the cooler. Fill four liter bottles with hot water (140º F). Place the hot water bottles around yogurt. Close the lid.

Wide Mouth Thermos Jars

Wide mouth Thermos jars with capacity ranging fro 10 oz to 48 oz are readily available. Pour fermenting milk in the there jars and tightly close the lid. After six hours, remove the lid and put the Jars in the refrigerator to complete the process.

Oven

Pre-heat oven to 200º F for 25 minutes. Turn off oven. Place the fermenting milk for incubation. After two hour, turn on oven to 200º F for 15 minutes and turn it off.

Oven Electric bulb

You can hang an incandescent electric bulb of 40 watts and hang in the oven. Keep the door open about two inches so that the extension chord is not pinched. The bulb will create just sufficient heat.