Gelatin-free Thick Instapot Yogurt No boil method! Just Mix, Set, & Forget!

If you’ve been looking for a no boil gelatin free yogurt that actually stays thick, this Instant Pot method is a game changer. This recipe really feels like cheating. Only 4 ingredients, makes a gallon of yogurt and best of all you spend under 5 minutes setting it up.

My family loves yogurt, and we can go through a lot of it unfortunately it can get pretty expensive keeping yogurt on hand. However, if you make it yourself, a single quart of store-bought yogurt provides enough starter for four separate gallon-sized batches!

Why Make Yogurt Without Gelatin?

Many thick yogurt recipes rely on gelatin, but that can lead to a ‘jello-like’ texture and isn’t vegetarian-friendly. Most gelatin unless specified as beef contains pork. By using Instant Clear Jel, we get a silky, professional-grade thickness between traditional Yoplait and high-end Greek yogurt without the extra steps or animal products.

You’ll save money

For those of you that want to follow my process for calculating this I have included it below, but if you prefer to skip the process and find out what I came up with I put the conclusion in bold lettering.

I will use my current (at the time of writing) Walmart app prices as reference.

• 1 Gallon Great Value Whole Milk — $3.74
• 1 quart Great Value Plain Greek Yogurt $3.36 (we only need 1 cup, so divide price by four) = $0.84
• 4 lbs Great Value white Sugar $2.97 (We only need 1/2 cup. quick Google search says 4lbs sugar ≈ 18 half cups. So divide price by 18, and always round up to nearest cent) ≈ $0.17
• Hoosier Hill Farm Instant Clear Jel, 1.5 lb Jar $18.99 (We only need 3 Tbsp. Quick google search says 1.5 pounds clear jel ≈ 72 Tbsp, so divide price by 72, then times answer by 3, and always round up to nearest cent) ≈ $0.80

Final price 3.74 + 0.84 + 0.17 + 0.80 = $5.55 per gallon of yogurt. Versus buying 4 quarts (1 gallon) of yogurt 3.36 x 4 = $13.44. Take 13.44 – 5.55 = $7.89. We just saved $7.89 making the yogurt ourselves!

Over $7 for less than 10 minutes of work, that’s a pretty good ROI.

Frequently asked questions

Should I be using ultra pasteurized milk?

You can, in fact purists will tell you that you must use ‘Ultra-Pasteurized’ milk for a no-boil method to ensure it’s extra clean. However, those usually only come in half-gallons and cost twice as much! I have made this dozens of times with a standard $3.74 gallon of Whole Milk and it turns out beautifully. Just make sure your milk is fresh and your Instant Pot liner is sparkling clean!

Has my yogurt gone bad?

If you’re asking this you should probably throw it out. If your yogurt ever smells foul or shows signs of mold, discard it immediately. This can happen if the starter was old or the equipment wasn’t clean.

Can I make this with low fat milks?

This recipe works best with whole milk. You can make it with other milks, but it gets pretty runny. I will do 2% milk sometimes, but I don’t like it any thinner than that.

Why is mine grainy instead of smooth?

I have found that you have to mix the sugar and Instant-Clear-Jel separately from the rest of the ingredients then add the milk slowly whisking as you go. After it is finished in the instant pot I give it one last thorough mix before putting it in the fridge. If you skip that last mix, it will start to develop grains from little Instant-Clear-Jel crystals.

What kind of yogurt do I use?

Any type works really as long as you make sure it contains live yogurt cultures. Often listed by the specific strains of good bacteria included such as: “Bifidobacterium, L. Acidophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Casei, and S. Thermophilus.” — These are the ones listed on the Great Value Plain Greek Yogurt ingredients list.

What’s the best time to make yogurt?

I usually make mine overnight and put it in the fridge the next morning, sometimes I will eat it warm. However, if you prefer it chilled, you could start it in the early morning and put it in the fridge before bed; it would be chilled and ready to eat for breakfast the next morning. Whatever works with your schedule, though, it doesn’t really matter.