Best yoghurt makers to whip up healthy treats at home

If you love the cool and creamy taste of yoghurt but are put off by additives and preservatives in shop-bought pots, you might want to consider making your own. Not only can you control exactly what goes into each batch, the process is far easier than you might think. And you could save money in the long run.

There's a whole range of electric and manual yoghurt makers on the market that can help you whip up everything from velvety smooth traditional yoghurt to thick Greek-style yoghurt, as well as soft curd cheese and frozen desserts. We've taken to the Mumsnet forums to see which yoghurt makers Mumsnetters are using and recommending to put together this guide to the best gadgets.

Fancy giving it a try? Here are our recommendations for the best yoghurt makers of 2022.

1. Best overall yoghurt maker: Lakeland Multi Yogurt and Soft Cheese Maker

Price: £30 | Buy now from Lakeland

"I have the Lakeland one - I love it. Make it overnight and have a spare container so I always have some on the go. Much healthier than all that added sugar" - recommended by Mumsnet user, 1ris

This Lakeland yoghurt maker definitely wins the award for 'most recommended yoghurt maker' on the Mumsnet forums. It allows you to create rich and creamy yoghurt, Greek yoghurt and even soft curd cheese.

The machine itself is very compact and you can produce up to 1.65 litres of plain yogurt or up to a litre of Greek-style yogurt using one of two different sized containers included in the set, and an easy-to-read digital screen allows you to set the time and temperature to your preference depending on what you are making.

Also included in the pack is a detailed recipe and instruction booklet, which is easy to follow and offers lots of inspiration on what you can create in the machine.

Overall this nifty yoghurt maker is a great all-rounder for less than £30. You can make large batches to store in the fridge, which is great for large families. If you’re looking to give yoghurt-making a try then this would be a nice option that’s not only easy for beginners to use, but with so many recipe variations, it'll see you through years of creamy snacks.

Key specs

• Size: 15.5 x 18 x 24cm

• Weight: 750g

2. Best budget yoghurt maker: EasiYo 1kg Red Yoghurt Maker

Price: £10 | Buy now from Amazon

"I use my EasiYo pot which I bought years ago, but just with milk & a tablespoon full of yoghurt. The yoghurt gets tastier as you use each batch" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Mustbetimeforachange

This is a very popular yoghurt maker for beginners. It doesn’t require any electricity so there’s no need to plug it in anywhere, making it really easy to use and store away  - the 1kg jar is dishwasher safe too.

The process is very straightforward. The EasiYo set comes with ready-to-mix sachets that you simply need to mix with water, then you heat the mixture and leave it to set depending on your preferred thickness of yoghurt. After that, you just pop it into the fridge and chill until it's cool enough to taste.

At £10, this is a great bargain option, but critics would say that this yoghurt maker is for those who are just starting out, or those with little time on their hands, as although the sachets make the yoghurt-making process extremely convenient, you are obviously tied to using them. There's no room for creative recipes here, just simply making the flavour of your chosen sachet.

Reviews state that the flavour and quality of the yoghurt from this maker is very satisfactory, so if you’re keen to dabble in yoghurt-making and don’t want to splash out in a hefty electrical machine just yet, then it's worth giving this one a go.

Key specs

• Size: 16 x 16 x 28cm

• Weight: 872g

3. Best multi-function yoghurt maker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker

Price: £90 | Buy now from Amazon

"I make loads of yogurt in mine. Perfect thick, creamy yogurt with natural sweetness from the thickened milk" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Gorgeouslilgirl

This combination cooker is a great investment if you want a jack-of-all-trades kitchen gadget. The yoghurt-making element is great, and you’ll also be able to use this machine for pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming. All-in-all it’s a worthwhile piece of kit, as long as you have the storage space for it.

It comes in a range of sizes, from 3-8 litre capacities, and it’s also customisable, so you can set your own programs for any recipe you like and the machine will remember it for you to use anytime at the touch of a button.

It is pricey, at £89 for the 5.7 litre model, but considering what it can do, it’s absolutely worth the cost, but only if you’ll make use of its many functions.

Key specs

• Size: ‎33 x 32 x 31cm

• Weight: 5kg

4. Best multi-pot yoghurt maker: Duronic 8 Pot Yoghurt Maker YM2

Price: £40 | Buy now from Amazon

This yoghurt maker is a lovely design if you like the idea of storing your yoghurt in individual pots, rather than big batches. The machine comes with eight 125ml ceramic containers, each with an airtight lid to keep your yoghurt fresh for as long as possible, and all dishwasher-safe. The machine itself is very easy to wipe clean.

This maker is a great option if you want to be creative with your flavours and texture. It’s very much designed to give you complete freedom with the yoghurt-making process, so you can be really bold and add all kinds of ingredients to your recipes.

At £39.99, this is a reasonable price for an electric yoghurt maker. The design is stylish as well as being efficient and easy to use, however, unless you’re familiar with the yoghurt-making process, this machine will need a bit of practice before you really nail the perfect recipe.

Key specs:

Size: 26 x 24 x 17cm

Weight: 1kg

5. Best luxury yoghurt maker: Seb Yoghurt Maker Multidelices Express Compact

Price: £106 | Buy now from Amazon

This is the most expensive yoghurt maker on our list, but considering the positive reviews it’s garnered, it's well worth the money if you have the budget.

With six individual jars included in the set, this maker allows you to make a variety of different yoghurts, desserts and softs cheeses using its five different preparation programmes. It also has a convenient four-hour express program, which is handy if you haven't got a lot of time to wait.

Each jar is 140ml, which is a great size for a one-person portion, and the advanced technology used in this yoghurt maker’s design allows you to be really creative with the texture, thickness and flavour of your recipes. And you’ll be able to save them all so you can make them again at the touch of a button.

At £105, it's an expensive machine. However, if you’re really into yoghurt-making, and you’re ready for a gadget that’ll give you the chance to make really special treats to a high standard, then this is a great investment.

Key specs

• Size: 38.29 x 29.2 x 20.1cm

• Weight: 2.46kg

6. Best Probiotic Yoghurt Maker: Probio7 Life Yogurt Making Kit

Price: £48 | Buy now from Amazon

This kit is a very generous size - you really get a lot for your money here. You can make yoghurt in two different container sizes - the set includes two large size (500ml) and eight smaller (125ml) pots. This is one of the only machines that allows you to alternate between large and small batches.

You also get a sachet of probiotic formula to mix into your yoghurt and some full fat milk to give your recipe a real kick of health benefits. The only big drawback to this machine is that you’ll need to keep investing in sachets of  branded Happy Gut probiotic formula, and that could get pricey depending on how much yoghurt you make. However, if you’re into probiotics then you may decide that it’s worth the expense.

Priced at the higher end of the market, this machine is an investment for a committed yoghurt-maker. But you do get so much included in the kit and the machine itself is very easy to use. A great purchase for the right person.

Key specs

• Size: ‎48.9 x 36 x 28.7 cm

• Weight: 6.03kg

7. Best frozen yoghurt maker: Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe

Price: £99 | Buy now from Amazon

This super stylish maker from Cuisinart has a hefty price tag at £99, but it’s definitely worth the money if you love your frozen treats.

You can make up to two litres of delicious, homemade ice cream, frozen yoghurt or sorbet, and as long as you make sure to pre-freeze the bowl overnight, your frozen dessert can be ready in as little as 25 minutes.

Adding extra toppings is simple too - simply drop delicious ingredients like nuts, chocolate chips, fruit pieces and even sauces through the lid during churning to achieve a lovely ripple effect to add taste and texture.

This machine is almost certainly a luxury buy, but if you have the storage space and the extra cash to splash, then go ahead and give it a go… you’ll be the envy of all your friends this summer.

Key specs

• Size: 22.5 x 20.5 x 29.01cm

• Weight: 4.7kg

8. Best manual yoghurt maker: Kilner Glass Jar Yoghurt Making Set

Price: £25 | Buy now from John Lewis

This set comes with everything you need to make delicious yoghurt. Inside you’ll find great quality storage jars from the renowned Kilner brand, an insulating pouch, a stainless steel thermometer and a recipe booklet. You'll need to keep an eye on the temperature yourself, but as long as you monitor this, you’ll still have perfect yoghurt to treat yourself to after 10 hours. The best thing about this set is that all of the items could be used for other things - for example, a thermometer is actually a really nice little gadget to have around the kitchen, and the Kilner jars are handy for all kinds of food storage. The kit is really easy to store away, and definitely worth the investment if you’re keen to give yoghurt-making a go.

Key specs

• Size: 20 x 9 x 18cm

• Weight: 836g

9. Best yoghurt maker for thick yoghurt: Euro Cuisine Greek Yoghurt Maker

Price: £75 | Buy now from Amazon

“Homemade yogurt isn't as thick as commercial brands, so if you prefer a thicker yogurt, strain it through a muslin-lined sieve set over a bowl in the fridge for a few hours.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, daisychicken

Less of an actual yoghurt maker, it’s more of a large strainer that you can use to turn ordinary yoghurt into glorious thick Greek-style yoghurt, or even soft cheese. Whether shop-bought or homemade, this amazing tool will transform your yoghurt into a super-thick luscious treat every time.

For what it actually does, this yoghurt maker is at the highest end of the price spectrum, at almost £75, and many would actually say it’s overpriced, however the reviews are incredibly positive. Most say that it’s worth the high price tag as you'll get excellent results.

Of course it’s totally down to the individual to decide whether the price is worth the investment here, as the design is fairly simple, but if you love your yoghurt thick and you achieve the right texture with this gadget then over time you will most likely be thankful you bought it.

Key specs

• Size: ‎25.4 x 25.4 x 13.34cm

• Weight: 700g

10. Best yoghurt maker for large batches: VonShef Yoghurt Maker

Price: £27 | Buy now from Amazon

This option by VonShef has very positive reviews, and one of the best things about it is that you can make and store large batches (up to 1800ml) so if you and your brood get through gallons of yoghurt at a time, then this is definitely the maker for you.

It’s energy efficient, operating at low temperatures (approx. 45°C) and your yoghurt will be ready in just 10 hours. It’s very easy to clean too, with a removable tank that you simply lift out to wash.

The machine also comes with large and small strainers so you can choose between Greek-style or traditional creamy yoghurt textures, and you’ll find a couple of recipe ideas in the instruction booklet to help you get inspired.

Key specs

• Size: 17.9 x 15.3 x 23.1cm

• Weight: 1.14kg

How to buy the best yoghurt maker

When choosing a yoghurt maker it's important to first work out what you'll be using it for. Do you want to make big batches of one flavour? Will you want to send the kids into school with a single portion in a different flavour each day? Yoghurt makers are typically designed to make large batches or individual portions. It’s up to you to decide what's most useful for your lifestyle.

You’ll also need to assess whether you want a manual or an electric maker. Manual makers are generally less expensive, but you’ll need to do a little more prep to make the yoghurt and you’ll need to keep an eye on the temperature during the fermenting process. Meanwhile, an electric machine, although pricier, will do all the work for you and even alert you when the yoghurt is made and ready to eat.

Finally, some yoghurt makers come with sachets for creating a perfect ‘yoghurt’ mix that, on the whole, will allow you to create delicious yoghurt every time. But with this style of yoghurt-making, you’ll be locked into a brand that you’ll continually need to buy from, taking away the option to be really creative. On the other hand, you could invest in a machine that offers complete freedom to choose your flavour and yoghurt thickness, giving you the chance to make anything you like from honey infused Greek yoghurt, to chocolate runny yoghurt with a raspberry fruit compote swirled through it.

Is a yoghurt maker worth it?

This is a personal decision. If you eat a lot of yoghurt then it’s certainly healthier to make your own. Store-bought yoghurt generally contains a large amount of additives and preservatives (especially the children’s flavoured yoghurts), so making your own at home, where the whole process is organic and natural is a great benefit.

However, if you really only eat yoghurt as a healthy snack or as an occasional breakfast treat, then it might not be worth all the effort and expense trying to make your own.

Is it cheaper to make your own yoghurt?

The answer to this question lies in how often you make it. If you adore yoghurt and feel compelled to make batch after batch of the stuff, then on the whole you’ll find you are definitely getting value for money. You can buy yoghurt makers that come with large containers to store in the fridge and if you get through these easily then yoghurt-making is definitely a good way for you to save some cash.

Also, some store-bought yoghurts with unusual flavours and organic ingredients can be quite pricey, so you could end up saving money by making your own concoctions.

On the whole, standard yoghurts aren’t really too expensive. The real benefit in using a yoghurt maker is that you know exactly what goes into each pot.

What’s the best yoghurt maker to buy?

We chose the Lakeland Multi Yogurt and Soft Cheese Maker as our best buy. It’s an electric maker, but it's so simple to use that it can be easily handled by both beginners and experts alike.

Extremely versatile, this gadget allows you to create rich and creamy traditional yoghurts, thick Greek yoghurts and soft curd cheese. It's compact and easy to store but can whip up a big 1.65-litre batch.

How we chose our recommendations

We did some research across the wider web, looking at which yoghurt makers had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customer reviews said about them.

We also consulted independent review sites, as well as scouring the internet for honest reviews from the public, to ensure we were bringing you an honest summary of yoghurt makers for 2022.

Why you should trust us

Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products.

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.

If you decided to buy something that we recommended as a result of our research, we usually (not always) get paid affiliate commission from the retailer where you make a purchase. But, if you weren't impressed with the product and decided to return it, we wouldn't make a penny.

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