Quick Answer
The Euro Cuisine YM80 (about $29.99-$39.99) is the best dedicated yogurt maker for most people — seven 6-ounce glass jars, a 13-watt heater, and a 6-to-10-hour set time with a built-in timer. But America's Test Kitchen's own homemade-yogurt method (americastestkitchen.com/articles/4222-the-best-yogurt-is-homemade) skips the appliance entirely: it warms milk to 115°F on the stovetop, then incubates it in a turned-off oven with just the oven light on, next to a second lidded pot of hot water — no machine required. A dedicated maker's real advantage isn't better yogurt; it's a set-and-forget timer instead of babysitting an oven light for hours.
This is the twenty-third stop in our countertop-appliance series, after the egg cooker, the milk frother, the popcorn maker, the hand mixer, the juicer, the blender, the food processor, the sandwich maker, the panini press, the stand mixer, the toaster, the rice cooker, the coffee maker, the pressure cooker, the espresso machine, the electric skillet, the electric griddle, the waffle maker, the bread maker, the deep fryer, the countertop microwave, and the countertop convection oven. This time the marketing claim being tested is "a yogurt maker gets you better homemade yogurt than doing it yourself" — and the country's most rigorous recipe-testing kitchen's own method quietly disagrees.
Quick Comparison: Best Yogurt Makers of 2026
| Model | Best For | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro Cuisine YM80 | Best overall | 7 x 6oz glass jars (42oz) | $29.99-$39.99 |
| Dash Greek Yogurt Maker | Best for Greek/strained yogurt | 2-quart + strainer basket | $34.99-$49.99 |
| Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 | Best multi-use | 6-quart (no dedicated jars) | $79.95 list (~$64.99 typical) |
| Yogourmet Multi | Best for one large batch | 2-quart water bath | $39.99-$57.91 |
The 4 Best Yogurt Makers
1. Euro Cuisine YM80 — Best Overall
The YM80 is the classic dedicated yogurt maker: seven individual 6-ounce glass jars with BPA-free lids sit inside a 13-watt base under a clear lid, so you can watch the set without opening a jar and breaking the seal. A side-mounted timer marks when the batch should be done, an indicator light confirms the unit is running, and Euro Cuisine backs it with a 3-year warranty — the longest of any maker here. A full run takes 6 to 10 hours and yields up to 42 ounces total across the seven jars, which double as ready-to-eat, ready-to-fridge single servings instead of one big batch you have to portion out yourself. At $29.99-$39.99 depending on retailer, it's the cheapest dedicated maker in this lineup and the one most best-of lists across the category default to.
Capacity: 7 x 6oz glass jars (42oz total) · Power: 13W, 120V/60Hz
Best For: Anyone who wants individual, grab-and-go jars and the longest warranty here
Check Euro Cuisine YM80 Price on Amazon →
Once you've picked a jar size, the ingredients matter just as much as the machine — Amazon Prime's free 30-day trial gets whole milk and a live-culture starter to your door in two days, so a fresh 6-to-10-hour batch isn't waiting on a grocery run first.
2. Dash Greek Yogurt Maker — Best for Greek/Strained Yogurt
Dash's 2-quart maker uses a 20-watt heater with an LCD display and a custom timer instead of Euro Cuisine's mechanical dial, and it's the only maker here that ships with a dedicated strainer basket plus two BPA-free storage containers — the extra step that turns regular yogurt into thick, Greek-style yogurt by draining off the whey. A full cycle runs 8 to 12 hours, everything non-electric is dishwasher-safe, and the whole unit weighs about 2.3 lbs. It's backed by a 1-year warranty and typically runs $34.99-$49.99 depending on retailer and color.
Capacity: 2-quart · Power: 20W
Best For: Anyone who wants thick, strained Greek yogurt without a separate cheesecloth setup
Check Dash Greek Yogurt Maker Price →
3. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 — Best Multi-Use
If you already own or are shopping for a multi-cooker, the Instant Pot's built-in yogurt function does the job without a dedicated appliance taking up counter space. It runs in two phases: a 25-to-35-minute boil/scald that brings milk to roughly 180°F to knock down competing bacteria, then a cool-down to about 110°F before the low yogurt setting holds a steady 110-115°F for incubation — mechanically, the same temperature band America's Test Kitchen's stovetop-and-oven method targets. The tradeoff is that you're using the 6-quart steel inner pot for one big batch instead of individual jars, and you'll want a separate container to portion it into the fridge afterward. List price is $79.95, though it's frequently discounted to around $64.99.
Capacity: 6-quart (single batch, no dedicated jars) · Best For: Households that want yogurt-making as one function of an appliance they'll also pressure-cook and sauté with
4. Yogourmet Multi — Best for One Large Batch
The Yogourmet Multi is one of the largest-capacity dedicated makers on the market at 2 quarts/2 liters, and the only one in this lineup that uses a true water-bath system — an outer chamber of heated water surrounds the inner container to hold an even temperature wall around the whole batch rather than heating jars individually. It ships with a precision thermometer, a cotton straining bag for making yogurt cheese, and a 1-year warranty, and the manufacturer's own claim is a batch in as little as 4 hours. It typically runs $39.99-$57.91 depending on retailer.
Capacity: 2-quart/2L water bath · Best For: One large single batch instead of individual jars, with the most even heating method here
Do You Actually Need a Yogurt Maker?
This is the one claim in our appliance series where the country's most rigorous recipe-testing kitchen quietly disagrees with the product category. America's Test Kitchen's own homemade-yogurt guide (americastestkitchen.com/articles/4222-the-best-yogurt-is-homemade) never recommends buying a dedicated yogurt maker. Their method: warm milk on the stovetop until it reaches 115°F, "an ideal temperature for bacterial proliferation," stir in a starter culture, then hold that warmth by submerging jars in a large pot of 120-degree water and letting the temperature drift down from 115 to 100°F — "the range where fermentation takes place" — inside a turned-off oven with just the oven light left on for ambient heat. The only equipment ATK calls for is two 1-quart glass Mason jars, one large saucepan, and two large pots. No $30-$80 machine changes any of those numbers. What a dedicated maker actually buys you is convenience: a built-in timer instead of watching an oven light for 6-plus hours, and — on the Euro Cuisine and Dash — individual jars or a strainer basket you'd otherwise have to improvise. The Instant Pot lands in between: its yogurt function automates the same 110-115°F incubation band with an added 180°F scald phase to sterilize the milk first, using an appliance you likely already own for other tasks.
Has Any Yogurt Maker Been Recalled?
No dedicated yogurt maker has a CPSC recall on record as of August 2026, checked directly against cpsc.gov. The nearest recent small-appliance recalls in the same countertop category — the Gourmia GPC625 pressure cooker and the Ninja Foodi OP300-series multi-cookers — both involve lids that can open while the unit is still pressurized, a hazard mechanism that simply doesn't exist in a non-pressurized yogurt incubator like the Euro Cuisine or Dash. The Instant Pot Duo, which is a pressure cooker with a yogurt function bolted on, has no yogurt-function-specific recall; its recall history (where it exists across the wider Instant Pot lineup) concerns the pressure-cooking function, not incubation.
How to Choose (3 Steps)
1. Decide if you want individual jars, a big batch, or an all-in-one appliance. The Euro Cuisine YM80 gives you seven grab-and-go jars. The Yogourmet Multi and the Instant Pot both make one larger batch you portion out yourself afterward — the Yogourmet with a dedicated water bath, the Instant Pot by repurposing an appliance you may already own.
2. Want Greek-style yogurt? Get strainer capability built in. The Dash Greek Yogurt Maker is the only model here that ships with a strainer basket and storage containers for draining whey into thick, Greek-style yogurt. Every other maker on this list produces regular-consistency yogurt unless you strain it yourself with cheesecloth.
3. Remember the machine isn't what makes the yogurt set — the temperature is. America's Test Kitchen's oven-and-hot-water method hits the same 100-115°F fermentation range as every appliance on this list. Buy a dedicated maker for the timer and the jars, not because it's the only way to get real homemade yogurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best yogurt maker in 2026?
The Euro Cuisine YM80 is the best all-around dedicated yogurt maker for most people. It ships with seven 6-ounce glass jars (42 ounces total), runs on just 13 watts, and needs 6 to 10 hours to set a batch, with a side timer and clear lid so you can watch the process without opening it.
Do you actually need a yogurt maker to make yogurt at home?
No. America's Test Kitchen's own homemade-yogurt method (americastestkitchen.com/articles/4222-the-best-yogurt-is-homemade) never uses a dedicated yogurt-maker appliance. It heats milk to 115°F on the stovetop, then incubates it in a turned-off oven with just the oven light on, next to a second lidded pot of hot water. A dedicated maker doesn't produce better yogurt than that method — it trades a slightly babysat oven light for a set-and-forget timer.
What temperature does yogurt need to incubate at?
Roughly 100 to 115°F. America's Test Kitchen warms milk to 115°F, an "ideal temperature for bacterial proliferation," then lets it drift down through the 115-to-100°F range where fermentation actually happens. The Instant Pot's low yogurt setting works the same range, holding a constant 110 to 115°F during incubation after an initial 180°F scald phase.
Can I make yogurt in an Instant Pot instead of buying a dedicated yogurt maker?
Yes. The Instant Pot's yogurt function runs two phases: a 25-to-35-minute boil/scald that brings milk to about 180°F to kill off competing bacteria, then a cool-down to 110°F before the low yogurt setting holds that temperature for incubation. It doesn't come with dedicated glass jars like the Euro Cuisine or Dash, but it's the only appliance here that also pressure-cooks, sautes, and steams.
Has any yogurt maker been recalled?
No dedicated yogurt maker has a CPSC recall on record as of August 2026, checked directly against cpsc.gov. Recent small-appliance recalls in the same kitchen-counter category — Gourmia and Ninja Foodi pressurized multi-cookers — involve lids that can open under pressure, a hazard that doesn't apply to a non-pressurized yogurt incubator.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Euro Cuisine YM80 ($29.99-$39.99) if you want the cheapest dedicated maker with the longest warranty and individual grab-and-go jars. Buy the Dash Greek Yogurt Maker ($34.99-$49.99) if you specifically want thick, strained Greek yogurt without improvising a cheesecloth setup. Buy the Instant Pot Duo ($79.95 list, often ~$64.99) if you'd rather have one appliance that also pressure-cooks and sautes than a single-purpose gadget. Buy the Yogourmet Multi ($39.99-$57.91) if you want one large, evenly heated batch instead of individual jars. And if you don't want to buy anything at all: America's Test Kitchen's own recipe proves a turned-off oven, a pot of 120-degree water, and two Mason jars gets you to the same 100-115°F fermentation range as every machine on this list.
