Hub 05 · Kombucha, Kefir & Yogurt
Best yogurt maker for Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is not a setting. It is ordinary yogurt with the whey strained out, which means the piece of equipment that matters is a mesh basket, not a machine.
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Quick picks
Tap a row for the full write-up · Prices open on Amazon
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 |  Euro Cuisine GY60 Greek Yogurt Maker Not a yogurt maker in the incubating sense -- it is a fine stainless mesh basket in a lidded container, which is the part that turns yogurt into Greek yogurt. | Straining without a machine | |
| 02 |  Hatrigo 2-Quart Greek Yogurt Strainer The same idea at two quarts of inner capacity, which is the size that matches an Instant Pot batch. | Straining a large batch | |
| 03 |  2.3-Quart Fine Mesh Greek Yogurt Strainer A strainer and whey-separator sized between the two above. | Keeping the whey | |
| 04 |  Euro Cuisine YM80 yogurt maker Seven small glass jars in a heated base with a timer dial. | Single-serving jars | |
| 05 |  Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart, which has the yogurt function If there is an Instant Pot in your kitchen with a Yogurt button, you already own a yogurt maker. | A machine you already own |
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The single most useful thing to know before buying anything: Greek yogurt is strained yogurt. You culture yogurt in the ordinary way, then you drain the watery whey out of it, and what stays behind is thicker. There is no separate Greek setting, and a machine that claims one is either straining or overstating.
That splits the purchase into two jobs, and the picks above are ordered by which job they solve.
The two jobs, and who does them
- Incubating. Holding milk and culture at a steady warm temperature for hours. A yogurt maker does this, an Instant Pot with a yogurt function does this, and an oven with the light on does a rougher version.
- Straining. Separating whey from the set yogurt. A fine mesh basket does this; so does cheesecloth in a sieve, messily.
A purpose-sold “Greek yogurt maker” is usually solving job two — it is a strainer basket in a lidded container. Read the listing for the words strainer or mesh basket, and check separately whether it heats anything at all.
How we judged these
- Which job it actually does, stated plainly rather than implied by the product name.
- Mesh fineness and whey collection. A basket that drains into a vessel you can pour from beats a colander over a bowl.
- Capacity against a real batch. An Instant Pot batch is a couple of quarts; a strainer that takes half of it means straining twice.
- Whether it locks you in. A standalone strainer works with yogurt from any source. A strainer that fits only one machine does not.
- Cleaning. Fine mesh sets like glue if it is not rinsed promptly. That is a design consideration, not a complaint.
The cheapest honest route
If you already own an Instant Pot with a yogurt function, you own the incubator — buy a strainer and nothing else. That is the lowest-cost path to Greek yogurt and it is the one we would take. The case is set out in do you need a dedicated yogurt maker.
If you own neither, a dedicated maker plus a strainer is two purchases, and the jar-style makers are compared in best yogurt makers.
What straining costs you
Volume. Straining removes liquid, so a quart of yogurt becomes noticeably less Greek yogurt — how much less depends entirely on how long you strain. That is the trade for the thickness, and it is why Greek yogurt costs more in shops.
The whey you drain off is not waste. It is liquid you can use in baking, and keeping it is the small habit that makes the volume loss feel less annoying.
Milk matters more than the machine
Whole milk sets thicker than skim, and ultra-pasteurized milk behaves differently from pasteurized. Before blaming a machine for thin yogurt, change the milk — the same advice that applies to kefir in how to make milk kefir.
Every pick, in order
The full write-ups
Pick 01 · Straining without a machine
Euro Cuisine GY60 Greek Yogurt Maker
Euro Cuisine
Not a yogurt maker in the incubating sense -- it is a fine stainless mesh basket in a lidded container, which is the part that turns yogurt into Greek yogurt. It strains whey out of yogurt you have already cultured, and it does that one job properly.
What it is
Ultra-fine stainless mesh strainer basket with a container and lid
Material
Stainless steel mesh; BPA-free container, per the listing
Use
Straining cultured yogurt, not incubating it
Pairs with
Any yogurt maker, Instant Pot or oven-light batch
Specs compiled from: Manufacturer product listing and product name
What is good
- A permanent mesh replaces cheesecloth you buy, use once and throw away
- The container catches the whey cleanly, which a colander over a bowl does badly
- Works with yogurt from any source, so it does not lock you into one machine
What is not
- Does not culture anything -- you still need a way to incubate the yogurt first
- Fine mesh needs immediate rinsing or the strained solids set like glue
- Another object on the shelf when a sieve and a cloth technically do the job
#ad Disclosure · Price as of September 13, 2026
Pick 02 · Straining a large batch
Hatrigo 2-Quart Greek Yogurt Strainer
Hatrigo
The same idea at two quarts of inner capacity, which is the size that matches an Instant Pot batch. If you culture a gallon and strain it in stages, a bigger basket removes the stages.
Capacity
2 quarts inner capacity
Strainer
Extra-fine stainless mesh, per the listing
Use
Straining cultured yogurt in one pass
Pairs with
Instant Pot and full-size yogurt maker batches
Specs compiled from: Manufacturer product listing and product name
What is good
- Takes a whole Instant Pot batch without splitting it into two strains
- Fewer, larger components to wash than a set of small jars
- Whey collects in one vessel, which is easier to keep for baking
What is not
- Bulky in the fridge while it strains, and it must strain cold
- Overkill for the quart most households actually eat in a week
- Again, it strains only -- nothing here incubates
#ad Disclosure · Price as of September 13, 2026
Pick 03 · Keeping the whey
2.3-Quart Fine Mesh Greek Yogurt Strainer
Type pick -- strainer only
A strainer and whey-separator sized between the two above. What distinguishes this category is how fine the mesh is and how cleanly the whey drains away; everything else is a container.
Capacity
2.3 quarts
Strainer
Fine mesh basket with a whey-collecting base
Use
Straining yogurt; separating and keeping whey
Note
Strains only; does not culture
Specs compiled from: Product-type description; capacity and material as listed by sellers
What is good
- Whey drains into a vessel you can pour from, rather than a bowl you have to decant
- Mesh fine enough that you are not losing solids through it
- Dishwasher-friendly parts on most models in this category
What is not
- A generic category where build quality varies between sellers
- Takes fridge space for the hours it strains
- Cheesecloth and a sieve cost almost nothing and do work, if messily
#ad Disclosure · Price as of September 13, 2026
Pick 04 · Single-serving jars
Euro Cuisine YM80 yogurt maker
Euro Cuisine
Seven small glass jars in a heated base with a timer dial. It does one thing at one temperature. If you want portioned yogurt and no thinking, that constraint is the point rather than a limitation.
Capacity
Seven glass jars, per the product listing
Control
Timer dial; fixed incubation temperature
Material
Glass jars with plastic lids
Extras
Jars sold separately as replacements
Specs compiled from: Manufacturer product listing and product name
What is good
- Portioned jars mean no scooping from a communal tub
- Fixed temperature removes the main variable
- Cheap enough to be an impulse purchase
What is not
- No temperature control, so it makes one style of yogurt
- Seven small jars are a lot of washing up
- Cannot strain for Greek-style yogurt in the jars
#ad Disclosure · Price as of September 13, 2026
Pick 05 · A machine you already own
Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart, which has the yogurt function
Instant Pot
If there is an Instant Pot in your kitchen with a Yogurt button, you already own a yogurt maker. It holds incubation temperature for hours and makes a full batch in the inner pot. Do not buy a second appliance.
Function
Yogurt mode on models that include it
Capacity
The full inner pot -- several quarts
Control
Timed incubation; some models allow adjustment
Check
Not every Instant Pot model has the yogurt function
Specs compiled from: Manufacturer product listing and product name
What is good
- Free if you already own the machine
- Makes a large batch in one vessel, easy to strain afterwards
- The pot doubles as the pasteurizing vessel, so it is one dish
What is not
- Only some models have the function -- check yours before assuming
- Ties up the appliance for hours
- A big single batch is more commitment than seven small jars
#ad Disclosure · Price as of September 13, 2026
How we picked
We have not tested any of this equipment. What we did instead: compiled the published specifications from each manufacturer’s own listing, checked them against the task a beginner is actually trying to do, read the care instructions, and named the thing we would skip. Where a pick is a product type rather than a brand, it is because the category is sold mostly unbranded and the type is the real decision.
Frequently asked
Questions
+Can you make Greek yogurt in a yogurt maker?
You can culture the yogurt in one, but Greek yogurt is made by straining. Unless the machine includes a fine mesh basket, you will need a separate strainer to get the thickness.
+What is the difference between yogurt and Greek yogurt?
Straining. Greek yogurt is ordinary cultured yogurt with much of the watery whey drained out, which leaves it thicker and reduces the volume.
+Do I need a special machine for Greek yogurt?
No. You need something that holds a warm temperature for a few hours and something with fine mesh. If you own an Instant Pot with a yogurt function, a strainer is the only purchase.
+How long should I strain Greek yogurt?
Until it is as thick as you want it — that is genuinely the measure. Longer straining means thicker yogurt and less of it. Strain in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.
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