Salton YM9 1-Quart Yogurt Maker

I would still recommend this unit, despite the higher cost. Most of the other contraptions I've seen are not only much more dear, but also require that you make lots of little pots of yogurt. What a hassle.

I prefer to buy organic animal products. When you can actually find organic yogurt, it's expensive. And finding organic whole milk yogurt is well nigh impossible. If you're interested in organic yogurt, making your own is the way to go. After several batches, you'll recover the cost of the maker.

And about the silly, flimsy design that other reviewers have mentioned... I chucked the inside tub, cover and spoon. I use a quart size, wide mouth canning jar. And I just discovered last week that my grocery store sells "storage lids" for canning jars, plastic, screw on tops. Much easier than the metal rings & caps.

I've read some reports that heating foods in plastic might be dangerous. Using glass eliminates that worry. Also, the added weight of the glass helps to stabilize the unit, which others have mentioned is very light.

Finally, using the canning jar/s means that I can store the yogurt in the container I make it in -- but then I can make more yogurt before that batch is completely used up. Not possible with the original container.

I wouldn't regret buying this unit at the higher price here. However, before I did, I'd check my local thrift store. I'll bet that, like crock pots, these little units get passed along at a good clip.


A cheap incubator 3-1/2 stars   April 24, 2002
 15 out of 17 found this review helpful

It does just what it's supposed to do, plus I use it to make sourdough starter for bread. I was very disappointed with its cheap plastic parts and lightweight feel, especially the spoon and ill fitting dome lid. However, it takes little space, is more foolproof than a thermos, easy to clean, and twenty dollars cheaper than the other yogurt makers I found online. The dial indicator to manually note when to stop processing is very dumb.

During the winter, you need something that keeps your yogurt warm and alive. The single container is much better than having to clean the little babyfood jars of the other machines. It's more convenient when you use the yochee for recipes such as stroganoff and dips.

A Year Later...

My friend has chronic colitis and is married to an Indian gentleman. Live yogurt is a traditional cure for indigestion, yeast infections, and diarrhea. Plus, it is a staple of most eastern cuisines. When she moved to California, she begged and begged to borrow my unit, having never seen an electric one before. She reports it is the best yogurt ever, consistently creamy and she uses it daily.

It still works, so not bad for the money. Many other appliances have come and gone, but this one is still a workhorse.


The reviews were very helpful   March 16, 2002
 1 out of 13 found this review helpful

I wonder if the price has gone down, as they're now getting the timer better, the lid fitting better, the spatula better, and the recipes more helpful. I think I'll wait to see if they improve what sounds like a really good product that could be better.