Cuisipro Donvier Electronic Yogurt Maker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisipro Donvier Electronic Yogurt Maker
Customer Review: Worked the Very First Time!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been wanting to purchase the Donvier yogurt maker since reading "French Women Don't Get Fat", but I wasn't sure that I wanted to get another appliance. I finally took the plunge, and I'm very glad I did - so is my husband.
I heated up a quart of organic 2% milk until I saw bubbles form at the edge of the pan. I poured the milk into a bowl that has a handle and a pouring spout. At this point, I added some nonfat milk powder, so that the yogurt would be firmer (a trick I learned when I used to make my own in a big jar). Stuck in the thermometer, and added a heaping tablespoon of plain Dannon yogurt when the red mark reached the "add starter" window. Then I poured it into the individual cups, and set the machine for 12 hours. The yogurt was perfect - nice and firm. There was just a bit of liquid on the top, and I just poured that off.
One thing that I would do differently is to use 1 and 1/2 quarts of milk, instead of 1 quart. A full six cups of milk would give you 8 servings of 6 ounces each, enough to fill all of the containers.
I really like the individual containers, as I usually take yogurt to work with me for breakfast. I can just pop one into my bag. It also cuts down on the amount of whey that seeps out when you take an individual serving out of a big container of yogurt, which then tends to dry out the yogurt.
I think I will end up saving quite a bit of money with this machine. I also like the fact that I can control exactly what goes into my yogurt.
Customer Review: Make your own without all the unnecessary additives
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading Mirielle Guiliano's memoir about food, entitled "French Women Don't Get Fat" and feeling annoyance over the loss of Total Greek Yogurt on the shelves of my local Whole Food (this is temporary), I decided to buy this yogurt maker and simply make my own.
The procedure is a simple one; heat some milk until bubbles appear on the side of the pan and steam actually rises; take off the stove and pop in the included thermometer. When the milk temperature lowers to a specific window indicated on the thermometer, add some milk to 2 tablespoons of purchased plain yogurt or yogurt starter. Mix and then add to the milk in the pan.
As the yogurt maker has slots for 8 containters with lids, simply pour an equal amount of the milk from the pan, put on the lids, cover the yogurt maker and plug the machine in.
The machine sits on a counter; I advise parking it in a place where the digital controls are not interferred with as just one little push will turn the whole thing off. I set my yogurt to "cook" for 14 hours. The result: Great consistancy and flavor that matches store bought without the preservatives and other additives.
The machine includes includes instructions on how to make flavored yogurt; it seems simple, but I have not tried it.
Bottom line: this machine does the trick with little or no fuss. I also purchased the yogurt cheese maker which will allow me to turn my homemade yogurt into a spread that I can use on bread in the AM. Doesn't get any better!
Customer Review: Tasty and Easy!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading "French Women Don't Get Fat" I decided to start making my own yogurt. I actually fell in love with Greek Yogurt last year(purchased at Trader Joe's in CA) and wanted to try and make some of that too. So I ordered my Donvier and waited, and waited and waited. It took a while, but it finally came. It is easy to use. I did have one batch not go so well. I think I over heated the milk. I learned to make
Greek yogurt as well. You need a cheesecloth and a colander. Simply drain the liquid out of the yogurt for a few hours. It becomes richer and creamier than before and loses some of the sour tangy taste. I've actually grown fond of the tang of plain yogurt. I am now ordering the Donvier yogurt cheese maker. By the way, I use whole organic milk. We serve it over fresh fruit, in bowls with granola, and with spicy foods like curries. It also helps my lactose intolerant husband keep his stomach in good running order. He feels better with a daily yogurt. Yogurt is incredibly healthy for you, as long as you skip all the sugar and chemicals that food manufacturers add into it. I highly reccommend this machine. I have made yogurt before without the machine, but it was much less convenient. One hint: if you have a large family, go ahead and order the extra jars right away. All the yogurt gets eaten quickly, then I wash the jars and lids and have to wait another 10 hours for more. I'm ordering the extra set of jars and lids so I can make more before the first batch is all gone! Bon Apetite!
Customer Review: Not warm enough, results not consistent
Summary: 2 Stars
This yogurt maker gives poor results. I used whole milk and added milk powder, as the booklet suggests. It heated it to nearly boiling, cooled it to the suggested temp with the thermometer supplied, added in the powdered yogurt culture that came with the machine, and cooked it in the little cups for 12 hours. All very easy to do. In the end, I had four cups of decent yogurt from the middle pots, and four cups of liquid from the outer ones. It appears that the machine's main problem is too low a temperature, and even lower temps on the outer parts of the machine.
Also, the recipe calls for 1 quart of milk, and that only half fills the little cups.
I'm going to try making yogurt in my toaster oven, which has a 100F setting, and see how that works. I'm disappointed that this little machine doesn't do the one thing it's supposed to do - heat the 8 cups and produce yogurt after 10 hours.
Edited August 2008: I have been successfully making yogurt in my regular oven, by mixing 1 1/2 quart milk and a 1/2 cup Activia yogurt as the original starter culture, then filling small Rubbermaid snack cups and putting on the lids. I use only the oven light and leave the cups overnight (6-8 hours). Excellent yogurt, easy to make, and without any more appliances cluttering up my kitchen. I keep my starter going by using the last cup of my homemade yogurt mixed into milk for the next batch.
Customer Review: Excellent Yogurt Maker
Summary: 5 Stars
I discovered making my own yogurt about 30 years ago while on Weight Watchers. Although I haven't always stuck to the diet since then, I still love having my own home made yogurt! Recently my faithful Salton finally died and I went looking for a new maker. After some research I settled on this Donvier model. Although I was able to find it at a local gourmet shop, it wasn't easy - none of the other stores around here had any on hand. The price and free shipping through Amazon for it would actually have been a better option, but I was in a hurry. Once you get used to your own yogurt it's hard to go back to that store-bought stuff!
I've had it about a week now and the Donvier maker is easy to use, makes great yogurt, and the timer is a very nice touch. One suggestion, though. Although all the makers seem to recommend cooking for 10 or more hours, that makes the yogurt way too stiff and tart for me. I use skim milk, about 1/2 cup of powdered milk, and starter, then incubate for about 4-5 hours at most. Makes a creamy, smooth, soft yogurt that also works for yogurt cheese. I also got the Donvier cheese maker and it's much tidier than using cheesecloth and bowls!
If you are interested in a cookbook, have a look at "Sophie Kay's Yogurt Cookery." She has some great recipes and even though it was published around 1978, it seems to still be available online through Amazon.