Making yogurt in a rice cooker?

[MarleneDietrich]

I have a Zojirushi rice cooker with a "keep warm" setting. Could I use this setting for the incubation period? I'm not sure if that would be too warm. I also don't want it to affect my lovely rice=)

[insunee]

I always use my rice cooker to make yogurt. I don't use a setting, I just heat the milk then keep it in the rice cooker wrapped in a blanket for insulation. You do the same with a slow cooker like a Crock pot. http://insunee.blogspot.com/2011/10/m...

[shahkbhaji]

I did buy the rice cooker, and use it almost every day. I've ventured beyond rice -- to steel cut oatmeal, quinoa and lots and lots of beans -- but didn't think about incubating yogurt in it. I'm going to try this.

Not sure i'm up for baking bread in the rice cooker (yes, i have an oven!) but it was a fascinating post, Insunee.

[shakkar]

I will make yogurt in stoneware/ glass ( not in plastic) and i leave it to set on my heating vent for a few hours , when it feels warm enough i just slide it off and leave it to set for longer.Has worked for me...

[rezpeni]

What I do is prewarm the jar in a 200 degree oven. As soon as the mixture is ready wrap the filled jar in two or more kitchen towels and leave on the counter. That will make it warm enough to set no problem.

[shahkbhaji]

Thanks for both your help. i guess deep down inside i know the truth: i don't really need a rice cooker, and i don't really want to start making yogurt again

[MarleneDietrich]

oh no! you need the rice cooker lol! I love that thing to death. I especially love it for making Japanese haiga-mai rice. It's so good.

[MarleneDietrich]

interesting idea! I should try this

[boogiebaby]

I think it would be too warm. My fuzzy logic Sanyo cooker keeps the pot warm enough where it's hot to the touch. For yogurt, you just need slight warmth. My mom always uses the pilot light in her oven. Works like a charm.

[shahkbhaji]

Did you try it? I'm thinking of getting the Zoji also, but being able to incubate yogurt would tip the scale to actually buying it.

[MarleneDietrich]

no I didn't. I agree that it would be too warm

[onceadaylily]

I have a different brand, but if I keep my rice on the warm setting for more than an hour, the bottom of my rice scorches (which I think is the danger here, the placement of the heating element).

Maybe you could try it with just water and a probe thermometer for the same amount of time, and see what the temperature comes up to? At least you'd have that question answered. And I could be wrong, but I still think a more ambient heat is better for the yogurt.