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Store-bought plain yogurt

post #1 of 18
4/8/08 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 
What's your favorite store-bought plain yogurt? I like yogurt that's closest to what I grew up with in India. In another town I lived in, here in Oregon, Pavel's Russian Style was my favorite. It's the closest to the yogurt I grew up with. The cultures seem really similar and it's available in full-fat or low-fat. I think everyone ought to try full-fat--it's really good for some things, such a side to a plate of Indian rice and curry.

Where I live now I can't get Pavel's, but Mountain High is almost as good. It comes in full-fat or low-fat, as well. I'm not even interested in nonfat, though there's nothing "wrong" about it; just not my taste.

The yogurt I had in India was made in wide, shallow clay dishes, from full-fat milk. After fermenting, it would be sliced in the same dish, to let some of the whey drain off. The wet curds (with some of the whey drained off) are what was sold. They were scooped from the pan with a spatula-type utensil.

Here in the USA, rather than draining it, it's always thickened, from what I have seen. Sometimes pectin or gelatin is used. I prefer having it thickened with dry milk, if anything, but would like to find a place I can buy it as I did in India.

Any pointers? Yes I can make my own and I have, but usually I buy it :D
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post #2 of 18
4/9/08 at 7:08am
I'm enjoying a banana and yogurt right now. I don't think I have a favorite, but I have some that I frequently enjoy. This morning it's Nancy's plain fat-free organic. Ienjoy full fat as well as reduced fat yogurt - depends on my mood.

I've enjoyed Pavel, and Straus Organic is also a favorite. Trader Joe's has some nice "house brands" and Fage puts out a fine Greek yogurt. For some reason Brown Cow doesn't do it for me.

My preference is always for a plain yogurt - I'll add my own fruit or nuts or whatever should I desire.

shel
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post #3 of 18
4/10/08 at 6:12am
Fage is a greek yogurt, it's the only one I like. I take issue with yogurts that are runny. Growing up we used to sprinkle sugar on top yum.

Honey and walnuts on it is to die for!!!!
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post #4 of 18
4/10/08 at 8:41am
I like Old Home brand. That's actually the only Old Home product I like.
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post #5 of 18
4/10/08 at 11:19am
My favorite is also Fage. I use the "Total 0" style, 80 calories per 5-ounce container. I can get it in larger containers at Fresh Market, but I don't go there often. Fage Total 0 is the nonfat yogurt closest in texture to the indulgent, full-fat yogurt I enjoyed in Greece. Mmmmmm... yogurt with honey!
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post #6 of 18
4/10/08 at 11:27am
OK, you've convinced me to try the non-fat. I usually get the low fat or full fat, but since you reccommended it, I'll give it a try. I've never tried yogurt with honey ... hmmm might be worth a try :smiles:

shel


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post #7 of 18
4/10/08 at 4:54pm
I would reccommend you stick with making your own.I'll bet no shop bought was as good. I make full fat 2-3 times a week and sit it over the central heating pipes in the spare room overnight. I know i'm no help, but homemade is sooo easy I hate having to buy it.
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post #8 of 18
4/10/08 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, good point, bughut.

I really appreciate the other suggestions and am going to look for those and try them out when I'm lazy, which is usually :) When I make yogurt I use a bit of good store-bought yogurt as a starter culture, so there's another reason I'm looking for a good one. Then I can make it how I want to.
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post #9 of 18
4/10/08 at 5:17pm
I love Fage too, but there's one they sell at Fairway in NYC that has the most generic label. Purple printing that says "Greek Yogurt".-
It's really, really good-mildly tangy, very thick and creamy. :lips:
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post #10 of 18
4/10/08 at 6:17pm
word on fage - but it is so rich it's almost sour cream, so I usually go for the 2 percent. The skim however, is not worth it.
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post #11 of 18
4/10/08 at 10:06pm
If you live near a Whole Foods, you should be able to buy Pavel's. They carry it here in California. I haven't tried Pavel's yet, but will next time I go to buy yogurt.
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post #12 of 18
4/11/08 at 2:29am
WF also carries buffalo milk yogurt. Rich and creamy ... it's worth a try. Personally, I'm not crazy about it, but a couple of friends love the stuff. and I enjoy it once in a while for a change. WF up here (Oakland-Berkeley) has quite a few brands and styles I've not seen elsewhere.

scb

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post #13 of 18
4/13/08 at 5:02pm
I purchased a bunch of Pavel brand yogurt today to use on a job tomorrow. I'm am not a fan. For lunch I open a tub of original to eat with some granola...runny & bitter, tasted like Blue Mountain, but thinner and maybe a bit tangier, Next time I'll stick to my Brown Cow Cream Top.
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post #14 of 18
4/13/08 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah Pavel's has a more assertive flavor, and I like it.

Just about any yogurt I buy, I drain some whey off and use that for something else, or drink it plain.
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post #15 of 18
11/30/08 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
I found a yogurt I really like :D I just wish they weren't out of the whole milk version. I got some low fat since it was all they had, and it was really good.

At an Indian grocer in Corvallis, I got Taaza brand "Indian Home Style Yogurt". It contains just milk and 4 cultures. The milk is from cows that had no rBST, if that has any significance. The flavor is great and the curds and whey break up since there's no gelatin or pectin or anything to hold them together--I like having them separate so that I can use them as I want.
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post #16 of 18
12/1/08 at 10:17am
I too like the Fage yogurt, which is made in Greece. Trader Joe's has it, as well as their own Greek-style at about 60% of the Fage price.

You can Greek-up a regular commercial yogurt by draining it overnight in a paper towel-lined strainer, set over a bowl in the fridge. Our favorite old perv, the Frugal Gourmet, always said don't worry about the fridge, just set it on the counter. Don't know if that's what killed him. :rolleyes:

Mike
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post #17 of 18
12/1/08 at 11:52am
Not quite true about the Fage yogurt. The product available in the US has been made in the US for a while. There's a plant in Johnstown NY.

Some people have complained that the US-made product tastes different from the Greek-made product. I've not compared the two so it's not possible for me to comment.

Fage Yogurt Now Made in the USA - Chowhound

The Trader Joe's yogurt has a somewhat different taste and texture than the Fage, but it's still a good product, especially for the price compared to Fage.

I like Nancy's plain yogurt, as well as other brands.

Lance
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post #18 of 18
12/1/08 at 2:21pm
I love
YEO organic yoghurt. Think it's made in Devon. It's thick, tart and WONDERFUL.
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