Homemade yogurt: do you really need the powdered milk?

[tastytamarind]

My yogurt maker has a recipe that calls for 4 cups milk, some amt (1.2 cup, maybe?) of powdered milk, and 1/2 cup yogurt. Do I need the powder or can I do without?

[maria lorraine]

Do you have a brand of powdered milk you recommend using that I could find on the West Coast?

Has anyone ever used the powdered milk from Whole Foods or Costco to make yogurt?

Edit to add: I just started a new thread on this at
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/555847

[Sam Fujisaka]

I make a lot of yogurt using whole milk and powdered. The addition makes a thicker, richer yogurt better for sauces and straining for cheese.

[willownt]

If you use whole milk, you will be fine with just milk. I have made perfectly adequate yogurt with 2% milk as well. The powdered milk adds body, which is particularly nice if you want to make yogurt with skim milk or very low fat. Low/nonfat yogurt will be rather thin without the dried milk, but it will work. If you can find powdered milk, it does improve it. I would most strongly recommend it if you're going for nonfat.

I also only use about 2 heaping tablespoons of yogurt for a starter.

[tastytamarind]

thanks, that was really helpful! I'm a whole milk yogurt gal so I assume that means I'll be fine without the powder. Thanks again!