I got completely hooked on Greek yogurt when I was on vacation but now that I'm back home, I can't find it anywhere. Has anyone tried the straining regular yogurt through cheesecloth method? Does it come close to the real thing?

Yum. I LOVE home made yougurt!
I cant wait to hear how this is made!

It's not really homemade, it's kind of cheating. I think the method calls for draining plain yogurt in cheesecloth for a few hours so you're left with thick yogurt (like the Greek yogurt). I did see a real recipe somewhere, but it seemed too complicated for me.

There had been a problem with the customs paperwork for awhile...at least that's what the Trader Joe's manager told me awhile back.

Do you have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods Market near you? I've seen it in both places in the last month.

If not, you may be able to ask your local grocer manager if he will special order it for you.

Good luck
Sarah

Thanks, Sarah. I am in rural NH and there aren't any TJs or WFs here. I've asked the grocer, but I have to convince him that I won't be the only person buying it. I think I'll try straining some Stonyfield and see if it's a worthwhile substitute.

May be you could google you question or go to ask.com
It may take a hour but I am sure you will get your answer.

Oh, veerie, where do you live? I grew up in MA, and lived in N. Conway NH for a number of years. Of course, I'm in the real "north country" now.

I've never had Greek yogurt, but I have strained regular yogurt and gotten the thick stuff. If you use good yogurt to start with, it's fantastic strained! I just line a strainer with a coffee filter and dump in the yogurt. I keep it in the fridge, and it's ready after several hours, though truthfully, I usually leave it overnight.

A lot of greek yogurt I see in the store calls itself "strained yogurt". I have used a cheesecloth to strain it. Since I use nonfat yogurt, it doesn't taste exactly like the yogurt you find in greece but it tastes pretty close. If you do full fat yogurt, it probably would taste like real greek yogurt although I think they may use goat milk.

The Fage 0% is a great nonfat, plain Greek yogurt. It's how I got hooked on Greek yogurt, which is bad because they don't sell it in my town. I have to drive an hour to get it or coerce my sister to buy it for me where she lives.

Sheila, have you ever tried the cheese cloth method? any plain nonfat yogurt strained through a cheesecloth tastes like the fage 0%.

I've been thinking about doing that because I can't get the Fage. Just been too lazy, I think. Maybe I'll try it this weekend since I just bought some yogurt.

take 1 cup PLAIN yogurt (not flavored), put it in 1 gallon of warmed milk (110-120 deg) and then let it sit covered, in some place that doesn't lose heat easily. Let it return to room temp for about 6-8 hours. Drain the fluid after the yogurt has thickened. It should come out alright, but using muslin or cheesecloth is better- I don't have cheesecloth to strain the plain yogurt, so this is what I do.m

Veggielover - I use coffee filters quite successfully! And wow, does this make a gallon or so of yogurt? A little much for my 2 person household.

NOPE- after you drain the liquid, it will reduce to about 1/3 of the original volume!