Best plain yogurt

[jeni1002]

I am on a mission to find the best plain yogurt. I had my Greek yogurt phase, and while I still enjoy it, I am looking for something different. Not a big fan of pectin or milk solids in my yogurt (it's a texture thing more than anything else).

Here's what I've found so far and liked:
* Hawthorne Valley yogurt (available at WFM, only full-fat version, rather pricey, but really good)
* Sidehill Farm yogurt (from a local farm in my area, full-fat and low-fat versions, very tasty, probably not available anywhere else other than Western Mass)
* Trader Joe's European Style yogurt (full-fat and non-fat versions, not as chunky as your typical American yogurt)

Your finds? TIA.

[amatuerfoodie]

Being from the northeast I am a strong supporter of Stonyfield - the okios line because I love greek yogurt.

[maryv]

Trader's Point Creamery Yogurt. Comes in a bottle, not a tub. I get it at Whole Foods. So much better than any other I've tried!

[jeni1002]

Noted (and added to the list).

I've tried Nancy's, but for some reason, I found it too thick. Will give it another try. Thank you!

[RGC1982]

Nancy's Organic. And, unfortunately, I love the whole milk variety, even though I am supposed to eat the low fat one (which is good too).

[nofunlatte]

Seven Stars Farms Lowfat Plain (the full fat one is pretty darn good and a wonderful indulgence)--it's runnier than most, but I LOVE the flavor. Some cream on the top, too (even the lowfat). Can't get it in my immediate vicinity, but when I take a trip to Whole Foods, I usually pick up a carton.

[jeni1002]

I've seen the Seven Stars yogurt (my MIL also buys it regularly), but never got around to try it. Sounds delicious. Thank you!

[goodhealthgourmet]

my favorites:
Pavel's
Straus
TJ's
Stonyfield

[Val]

On one of the yogurt-making boards recently, someone posted that they use Stonyfield yogurt for their starter because it has the most live and active cultures...how does one know this, do you know?

[goodhealthgourmet]

companies list the probiotic strains on the label, so it's easy to find out which ones the yogurt contains. some brands have only one type of culture, most have between 2 & 4...Stonyfield has the greatest variety - 6 in the regular and 5 in Oikos. HOWEVER, just because Stonyfield's products contain the greatest *variety* of strains, it doesn't necessarily mean their yogurt has the highest level of probiotic activity or *total* number of cultures. that's a little trickier to find out - it's not usually listed on the label. the National Yogurt Association has a voluntary seal companies can put on their yogurt if it contains a minimum of 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture, but so far only a handful of companies are participating - Dannon, Yoplait, La Yogurt, Emmi, Cloud Top, Chobani, Kroger, a few frozen yogurt companies, and a couple of smaller, independent dairies.

[Val]

Awesome information as always...thanks!

[goodhealthgourmet]

and as always, my pleasure!

[jeni1002]

I really like TJs, and I understand their European Style brand is actually Straus. I will now have to look for Pavel's. Their Web site says Whole Foods carries their products.

[Caitlin McGrath]

The TJ's Organic European Style is definitely Straus - not that either party will confirm, but the consistency and flavor are just the same. I like the TJ's French Village plain for the breakfast concoction I learned from Chowhound The Dairy Queen: Uncooked steel-cut oats mixed with yogurt and topped with frozen berries (at least until fresh berries and stone fruits) are in season, chucked into the fridge overnight. The oatmeal becomes pleasantly chewy.

[jeni1002]

Caitlin, I concur - overnight oats are really, really good. I will have to try it with steel cut oats; depending on the oats and the yogurt, sometimes the concoction gets mushy.

My latest obsession is a variation of this: cook oats with vanilla, top with yogurt and berries. The oats are still warm, the yogurt is cold.....Clearly, I spend too much time thinking about food :)

[goodhealthgourmet]

"Clearly, I spend too much time thinking about food :)"
~~~~~
no such thing for a Chowhound! ;)

re: the mushiness factor, steel-cut are better for overnight, rolled for when you forget to do it ahead of time (they only need an hour or so to soften). try toasted, uncooked buckwheat groats sometime instead of steel-cut oats. they get nice & soft overnight, and the flavor is great.

[jeni1002]

Thank you! I will definitely try the buckwheat groats!