Home & Kitchen
The Best Yogurt Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared a dedicated yogurt maker, a multi-cooker, a folding proofer and a classic jar maker on temperature control, timer and shutoff, batch size and container type, using each maker's published specs.
The short version
The Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker is the best overall: it lets you set the incubation temperature from 78 to 122°F in 2-degree steps, runs a timer up to 36 hours, switches itself off and makes 2 liters in one borosilicate glass container. The Instant Pot Duo 6QT is the value pick if you want one appliance that also pressure cooks, slow cooks and makes rice, with a yogurt function and a 6-quart stainless pot. The Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker suits bakers and fermenters who want to culture several quart jars at once and proof bread in the same box, but it is large and costly if yogurt is all you make. Skip the Euro Cuisine YM80: Euro Cuisine lists only an on/off switch and a side dial that marks the finish time, with no temperature setting and no automatic shutoff, and its seven 6-ounce jars cap a batch at 42 ounces. Best for: Luvele if you make yogurt every week, Instant Pot if you want a do-everything cooker.
Our picks at a glance
- Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker - Buy. A dedicated yogurt maker with a settable 78 to 122°F temperature, a 36-hour timer, automatic switch-off and a 2-liter glass container.
- Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker - Buy. The multi-cooker with a yogurt function, a 6-quart stainless pot and six other cooking modes.
- Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker (FP-105) - It depends. A folding, temperature-controlled box that cultures several quart jars of yogurt, proofs bread and slow cooks.
- Euro Cuisine YM80 Electric Yogurt Maker - Skip. A long-selling jar maker with seven 6-ounce glass jars, an on/off switch and no temperature or shutoff control.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Type
- Temperature control
- Timer
- Automatic shutoff
- Batch size
- Container material
Yogurt is just milk and culture held warm for hours, so the machine's real job is holding a steady temperature and stopping when you want it to. That sounds simple, but makers differ a lot: some let you set the temperature to the degree, some run a fixed program, and some only have an on/off switch. Batch size and container type matter too, since one big glass jar suits Greek yogurt and straining while small cups suit grab-and-go portions. We picked a dedicated temperature-controlled maker, the multi-cooker most kitchens already own, a proofer that doubles as a yogurt incubator, and a long-selling budget jar maker.
A dedicated yogurt maker with a settable 78 to 122°F temperature, a 36-hour timer, automatic switch-off and a 2-liter glass container.
Best for: Anyone who makes yogurt weekly, including people following long-ferment recipes such as SCD-style 24-hour yogurt.
- Temperature is adjustable from 78 to 122°F in 2-degree increments, so you can follow recipes that call for a specific incubation heat.
- The 36-hour digital timer and automatic switch-off cover long ferments without someone watching the clock.
- Luvele uses a water bath around a 2-liter borosilicate glass container with an air-tight silicone lid, so the yogurt never sits in plastic.
- It only makes yogurt and similar ferments, so it is one more single-use appliance on the counter.
- Luvele lists a 1-year warranty on its yogurt makers, shorter than the budget Euro Cuisine's 3 years.
- One large container means no individual portions unless you spoon them out after chilling.
The multi-cooker with a yogurt function, a 6-quart stainless pot and six other cooking modes.
Best for: Households that want one appliance for weeknight cooking and an occasional big batch of yogurt.
- Yogurt is one of seven cooking functions alongside pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, rice and keep warm, so the appliance earns its space.
- The 6-quart 18/8 stainless steel inner pot with a tri-ply bottom makes a big batch and goes in the dishwasher, as does the lid.
- Instant Pot lists it as UL and ULC Listed with over 10 safety mechanisms, including overheat protection.
- Instant Pot's product page does not publish a yogurt incubation temperature or a degree-by-degree setting, so you get less control than the Luvele.
- Yogurt ties up your main cooker for hours, which matters if you also use it for dinner.
- At 13.4 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches it is bulky to leave out, and the warranty is one year.
A folding, temperature-controlled box that cultures several quart jars of yogurt, proofs bread and slow cooks.
Best for: Bread bakers and home fermenters who want one tool for proofing dough and culturing several jars of yogurt at once.
- Brod & Taylor says it fits eight 1-quart jars up to 8 inches tall, or a single 1.5-gallon container with lid, so batch size is limited mainly by your jars.
- The 70 to 195°F range covers yogurt, bread proofing, slow cooking and other ferments, and the maker says it is calibrated to the food temperature rather than the air.
- It folds to 2.75 inches high for storage, and the warranty is 3 years with registration.
- It is a large appliance, 18 x 14.5 x 10 inches when open, and costs far more than a yogurt-only maker.
- The spec sheet lists no timer or automatic shutoff, so you end each batch yourself.
- For long, warm yogurt recipes the manual says to switch to Slow Cook mode with jars on the plate or in a tray of water, which adds a step.
A long-selling jar maker with seven 6-ounce glass jars, an on/off switch and no temperature or shutoff control.
Best for: Only someone who wants single-serve cups, is home to switch it off, and does not need temperature control.
- Seven 6-ounce glass jars with lids let you make individual portions or different flavors in one batch.
- The glass jars are dishwasher safe and the lids are BPA free.
- Euro Cuisine backs it with a three-year warranty.
- Euro Cuisine lists only an on/off switch and indicator light, with no temperature setting, so you cannot adjust for a recipe or your kitchen.
- The side timer only marks when the yogurt will be finished; it is not listed as shutting the unit off, so over-fermenting is easy if you are out or asleep.
- A full batch tops out at 42 ounces, and the small jars make Greek-style straining awkward.
- Euro Cuisine sells a separate YM100 Automatic model, which tells you the YM80 is the basic version.
| Criteria | Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker Top pick | Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker | Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker (FP-105) | Euro Cuisine YM80 Electric Yogurt Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone who makes yogurt weekly, including people following long-ferment recipes such as SCD-style 24-hour yogurt. | Households that want one appliance for weeknight cooking and an occasional big batch of yogurt. | Bread bakers and home fermenters who want one tool for proofing dough and culturing several jars of yogurt at once. | Only someone who wants single-serve cups, is home to switch it off, and does not need temperature control. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Type | Dedicated yogurt maker | Multi-cooker with yogurt function | Folding proofer and slow cooker | Basic jar yogurt maker |
| Temperature control | 78 to 122°F, 2-degree steps | Yogurt function; temperature not published | 70 to 195°F, adjustable | None listed (on/off only) |
| Timer | Digital, up to 36 hours | Not published for yogurt | None listed | Side dial marks finish time only |
| Automatic shutoff | Yes | Not stated for yogurt | None listed | Not listed |
| Batch size | 2 L (2.1 qt) glass container | 6-quart pot | Eight 1-quart jars or one 1.5-gallon container | Seven 6-oz jars (42 oz) |
| Container material | Borosilicate glass, silicone lid | 18/8 stainless, tri-ply bottom | Your own jars or pots | Glass jars, BPA-free lids |
| Power | 300W max | 1000W | 200W | 13W |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year limited | 3 years with registration | 3 years |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone who makes yogurt weekly, including people following long-ferment recipes such as SCD-style 24-hour yogurt. Buy it Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker
- Households that want one appliance for weeknight cooking and an occasional big batch of yogurt. Buy it Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker
- Bread bakers and home fermenters who want one tool for proofing dough and culturing several jars of yogurt at once. It depends Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker (FP-105)
- Only someone who wants single-serve cups, is home to switch it off, and does not need temperature control. Skip it Euro Cuisine YM80 Electric Yogurt Maker
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a yogurt maker is worth buying. Temperature control comes first, because the heat you hold milk and culture at shapes how fast it sets and how tangy it gets. A timer that actually switches the machine off is next, since yogurt left warming too long keeps fermenting. Batch size and container type matter for how you eat it: one big jar suits Greek yogurt and family tubs, small cups suit lunchboxes. Versatility counts if counter space is tight. Warranty and build round it out, because a maker you use weekly runs for thousands of hours.
The field splits into dedicated temperature-controlled makers, multi-cookers with a yogurt function, proofing boxes that culture jars, and basic on/off jar makers. We picked the Luvele Pure Plus as the dedicated benchmark, the Instant Pot Duo as the appliance many kitchens already own, the Brod & Taylor proofer for bakers and fermenters, and the Euro Cuisine YM80 because it is a long-selling budget buy. Every spec comes from the maker’s own page or manual.
The Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker does the job of a yogurt maker better than anything else here. You set the incubation temperature anywhere from 78 to 122°F in 2-degree increments, set a digital timer for up to 36 hours, and the unit switches itself off when the time is up. Luvele heats a water bath around the container rather than the jar directly, which it says gives accurate, even temperature through the incubation. The container is a 2-liter borosilicate glass jar, now 4mm thick, with an air-tight silicone lid and a silicone grip sleeve, so the yogurt never touches plastic. The touch panel is waterproof, and the whole unit weighs 4.8 lbs. The trade-offs are that it only makes yogurt and similar ferments, it makes one large batch rather than portions, and Luvele’s warranty on yogurt makers is 1 year. Luvele markets it for SCD and GAPS diets, whose long-ferment yogurt needs exactly this kind of timer and temperature control. If you make yogurt every week, buy this.
The Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker is the value pick because it is really a dinner appliance that also makes yogurt. Yogurt is one of seven functions, alongside pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, rice and keep-warm, across 13 one-touch programs. The 6-quart inner pot is 18/8 stainless steel with a tri-ply bottom, and both the pot and lid are dishwasher safe. Instant Pot lists it at 1000 watts, UL and ULC Listed, with more than 10 safety mechanisms including overheat protection. The catch for yogurt is control. Instant Pot’s product page does not publish the yogurt function’s incubation temperature or let you pick a heat to the degree, so you are trusting the program. A batch also ties up your main cooker for hours, and at 13.4 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches it takes real counter space. It is the same Duo we recommend in our multi-cooker review. If you want one appliance that cooks dinner and makes the occasional big batch of yogurt, this is it.
The Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker is a temperature-controlled box rather than a yogurt maker, and that is both its strength and its catch. Brod & Taylor says it holds eight 1-quart jars up to 8 inches tall, or one 1.5-gallon container, so you can culture far more than any machine here. The range runs from 70 to 195°F, and the maker says it is calibrated to the temperature of the food, not the air. The manual describes dry mode for culturing yogurt in closed containers and Slow Cook mode for recipes that hold 110°F for 12 to 24 hours. It also proofs bread with a humidity tray and slow cooks in your own pot, then folds to 2.75 inches high, with a 3-year warranty on registration. The downsides are size, at 18 x 14.5 x 10 inches open, a premium price and no listed timer or shutoff. Bread bakers who also ferment will get the most from it, and it pairs naturally with the advice in our bread machine review.
The Euro Cuisine YM80 Electric Yogurt Maker is the classic budget jar maker, and it is the one to skip. You get seven 6-ounce glass jars with BPA-free lids, which is handy for single portions or different flavors, and the jars are dishwasher safe. Euro Cuisine says a batch takes 6 to 10 hours and backs the unit with a three-year warranty. The problem is control. Euro Cuisine lists an on/off switch and an indicator light, and no temperature setting, so you cannot adjust for a recipe, a cold kitchen or a batch that came out runny. The “timer” on the side only marks when the yogurt will be finished; it is not listed as switching the unit off, so a batch started at bedtime keeps warming until someone gets up. A full load is 42 ounces, and small jars make straining for Greek yogurt a chore. Euro Cuisine itself sells a separate YM100 Automatic model. Spend a little more on a maker with real temperature control and shutoff.
Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker vs Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker: which should you buy?
The Luvele and the Instant Pot both make good yogurt, but they suit different kitchens. The Luvele is the better yogurt maker: you choose the temperature in 2-degree steps, set a timer up to 36 hours and let it switch itself off, and the 2-liter glass container goes straight from machine to fridge to strainer. The Instant Pot gives you a yogurt function without published temperature settings, but it also replaces a slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer, and its 6-quart stainless pot makes a larger batch.
Choose by how often you make yogurt and what else you cook. If yogurt is a weekly staple, or you follow long-ferment recipes that need a set temperature and a reliable stop, the Luvele is worth its space. If you mostly want a weeknight cooker and make yogurt now and then, the Instant Pot covers both, and you can always add a dedicated maker later if your cooker is tied up too often.
What to look for
- Adjustable temperature: A maker that lets you set the heat, ideally in small steps, lets you follow recipes and fix batches that come out too thin or too sour.
- A timer that stops the machine: Check that the listing says automatic shutoff, not just a dial that marks the finish time.
- Container type and size: One large glass jar suits family tubs and Greek-style straining, while small cups suit single portions.
- Long-ferment support: If you follow 24-hour recipes, look for a timer that runs well past 12 hours.
- Versatility versus focus: A multi-cooker or proofer does more jobs, while a dedicated maker usually gives finer yogurt controls.
- Warranty and cleaning: Dishwasher-safe containers and a clear warranty term matter on an appliance that runs for hours every week.
Our final take
For most people who make yogurt regularly, the Luvele Pure Plus is the one to buy. It gives you what actually decides a good batch: a temperature you choose, a timer that runs up to 36 hours and a machine that switches itself off, with a 2-liter glass container that suits Greek-style straining. If you would rather have one appliance that also handles dinner, the Instant Pot Duo 6QT makes yogurt well enough and does much more. Bakers and fermenters should look at the Brod & Taylor proofer for its jar capacity. Skip the Euro Cuisine YM80, whose on/off switch and marker dial leave timing and temperature to you.
Questions, answered
Do I need a yogurt maker if I already have an Instant Pot?
Not necessarily. The Instant Pot Duo lists yogurt as one of its seven functions, and its 6-quart pot makes a big batch. What a dedicated maker like the Luvele adds is a settable temperature in 2-degree steps, a 36-hour timer and a glass container, which matter if you make yogurt every week or follow recipes that call for a specific heat. If you make yogurt now and then, start with the Instant Pot you own. If it becomes a weekly habit and your cooker is tied up too often, a dedicated maker frees it.
Why does temperature control matter for homemade yogurt?
Yogurt cultures work within a temperature range, and the heat you hold them at affects how fast the milk sets and how tangy the result tastes. A maker that lets you choose the temperature, like the Luvele (78 to 122°F) or the Brod & Taylor (70 to 195°F), lets you follow a recipe or adjust a batch that came out too thin or too sour. A maker with only an on/off switch runs at whatever heat it was designed for, and your kitchen's room temperature can shift results. That is the main reason we skip the Euro Cuisine YM80.
Is a glass container better than plastic for making yogurt?
Glass is a common preference because it does not hold odors, cleans easily and keeps the culture away from plastic during a long, warm incubation. The Luvele uses a 2-liter borosilicate glass container with a silicone lid, and the Euro Cuisine uses glass jars with BPA-free lids. The Instant Pot uses an 18/8 stainless pot, which is also nonreactive and dishwasher safe. With the Brod & Taylor you choose your own containers, so glass mason jars are an easy fit.
Can I make Greek yogurt in these machines?
Greek yogurt is regular yogurt that has been strained after it sets, so any of these can make the base. A single large container, like the Luvele's 2-liter jar or the Instant Pot's 6-quart pot, is easier to tip into a strainer than seven small cups. The Euro Cuisine's 6-ounce jars work against straining because you would have to combine them first. Expect to lose a good share of the volume as whey when you strain.
What happens if yogurt incubates too long?
It keeps fermenting, so it usually gets tangier and can start to separate into curds and whey. That is why a timer that actually stops the machine is useful. The Luvele lists a timer up to 36 hours and automatic switch-off, so the batch stops on schedule. The Euro Cuisine YM80's side dial only marks when the yogurt should be done, and Euro Cuisine does not list automatic shutoff, so you need to be there to switch it off.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Luvele Pure Plus Yogurt Maker vs Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker.
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