How to cook yogurt in aerogrilla Xiaomi: instructions

Modern kitchen appliances often have hidden features that manufacturers don’t always talk about on the first page of instructions. Xiaomi’s smart aerogrill is a prime example of a device that can not only fry, bake and dry food, but also create ideal conditions for fermentation. The yogurt preparation in this device turns into a simple and predictable process thanks to accurate electronics.

The main advantage of using aerogrill for this purpose is the ability to maintain a stable low temperature, which is critical for the operation of lactic acid bacteria. Unlike multi-cookers, where heating often comes from the bottom and can be uneven, the circulation of air in the grill provides the same temperature regime throughout the bowl volume, which allows you to obtain a product with a uniform consistency without serum.

Owners of Mijia ecosystem devices can control the process directly from their smartphones, which adds an additional level of convenience. You don't have to constantly check the water temperature or wrap containers with towels. Just set the right mode, and smart machinery will do the job by turning regular milk into a healthy dairy product with minimal effort on your part.

Working principle and temperature regime

To successfully ferment yogurt, you need to create and maintain a temperature between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius. It is in these conditions that the bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus actively multiply, processing lactose. Xiaomi aerogrils are equipped with high-precision sensors that allow you to set the temperature in increments of 1 degree, which is a critical parameter for the success of the entire operation.

If the temperature drops below 37 degrees, the fermentation process slows down or stops, and the yogurt may not thicken. If you go above 45 degrees, the healthy crops die, and the milk simply sour or clot. The smart heating element control system in Xiaomi devices automatically adjusts the power to avoid overheating, which is especially true for long cycles.

⚠️ Warning: Never use a temperature above 45°C for sourdough, as it is guaranteed to destroy the sourdough.

It's important to understand the difference between convection heating and direct contact. In aerogril, heating is done by hot air, so milk containers should be covered with lids or foil so that the surface does not form dense foam. Air circulation should be free, so do not fill the bowl of the device with containers too tightly.

Selection of ingredients: milk and sourdough

The quality of the final product depends on the raw material. For the preparation of yogurt in aerogril Xiaomi best suited pasteurized milk with a fat content of 2.5% to 3.5%. Skimmilk will give too liquid consistency, and ultra-pasteurized long-pack may not be fermented at all due to the lack of natural microflora and altered protein structure.

As a starter, you can use special dry crops sold in pharmacies or specialty stores, which provide predictable results and saturate the product with specific strains of bacteria. The alternative is quality live yogurt without additives and preservatives, bought in the store, but its shelf life should be minimal - no more than 5-7 days.

There are several key rules for choosing components:

• 🥛 Milk should be fresh, without signs of souring or a foreign smell.
• 🦠 Dry starter should be stored in the refrigerator and have an actual expiration date.
• 🚫 Store yogurt leaven should not contain starch, gelatin or preservatives.

Some users are experimenting with plant-based milk, however, special thickeners are often required to coagulate plant proteins, as standard yogurt crops feed mostly on milk sugar. Cow's milk remains the most reliable and proven option for first experiments with the smart technique.

Equipment preparation and sterilization

Before the process begins, all the containers and tools must be carefully prepared, and purity is the guarantee that the milk will reproduce beneficial bacteria from the leaven, not random microflora from the air or from surfaces. Glass jars that will be installed in the bowl of aerogrilla, you need to wash and pour boiling water.

The aerogrill bowl itself must also be clean. Although the milk will not come into contact with the nonstick coating directly, device hygiene is important. If you use the bars to install the cans, make sure they are dry and have no food residue. Metal elements can heat up quickly, so be careful when installing.

Small glass jars of 200-250 ml with a wide neck are ideal, they can easily fit into the bowl and allow you to easily get the finished product. Plastic containers are not recommended for use, as they can deform or release harmful substances with prolonged heating, even if the temperature seems low.

Step-by-step preparation instructions

The cooking process can be divided into several successive steps: first, you need to bring the milk to a temperature of 40-42 degrees; if you use pasteurized milk from the store, you can simply warm it up; if the milk is homemade or boiled, it must first be boiled to kill the foreign microflora, and then cooled to the desired temperature.

Once the temperature balance is reached, starter is injected into the milk, and it is important to mix the mixture carefully so that the bacteria are evenly distributed, you can use a clean corolla or just shake the mixture intensively in a jar, and then the mixture is poured into the prepared containers and covered with lids.

Next is the main stage in aerogril:

1. Install a grille in the bowl of Xiaomi aerogrill.
2. Carefully place the milk cans on the grille.
3. Close the device cover.
4. Turn on the device and select manual mode.
5. Set the temperature at 40°C (maximum 41°C).
6. Set the time for 8-10 hours.

⚠️ Attention: Do not open the lid of the aerogrill during fermentation, so as not to disturb the temperature regime and not to introduce dust.

When the program is over, the yogurt will look like liquid jelly. That's okay. Don't stir it right away. Let the jars cool at room temperature, then put them in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours, and it's in the fridge that the structure is finally formed, and the yogurt becomes thick and dense.

Set up through the Mi Home app

Smartphone owners can make it much easier to manage the process using the official Mijia or Mi Home app. By connecting the aerogrilla to Wi-Fi, you get access to advanced settings that are not always available on the control panel of the device itself, which allows you to create your own scripts and save recipes.

You can find recipes or customize your own Yogurt profile, and the advantage of digital control is that you can remotely monitor the remaining time and current temperature in real time on your smartphone screen, even in another room.

The algorithm of actions in the appendix:

• 📱 Open the app and select your aerogrillator.
• ⚙️ Go to the "Recipes" or "Settings" section".
• 🌡️ Set the exact temperature of 40°C and timer.
• ▶️ Start the process and block the control panel if necessary.

Sometimes grill firmware updates are available in the app, which can improve temperature maintenance algorithms. Check regularly for updates in the device menu to make sure your smart gadget works as efficiently and accurately as possible.

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Save your successful recipe in the app as "Favorites" so you don't re-configure the settings next time.

Table of modes and preparation time

Different types of milk and the desired consistency require different exposure times, and below is a help table that will help you navigate your settings to get the perfect result depending on the source products.

Increased exposure time makes yogurt more acidic as bacteria continue to process lactose. If you like a sweetish, neutral taste, focus on 7-8 hours. For fans of pronounced sourness, you can increase the time to 10-11 hours, but no more, otherwise the serum can separate.

Possible problems and solutions

Even with smart techniques, there may be nuances that affect the outcome: If the yogurt is too liquid, like a fermented yogurt, it probably didn't have enough time or the temperature was at the lower limit of acceptable, in which case, next time, increase the time by 1-2 hours.

If you have a lot of serum on the surface, it may indicate overheating or too long souring, and it may also come out if you shake the jars while you're moving from the grill to the refrigerator, and the structure of the yogurt is very tender immediately after fermentation.

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Temperature stability is the secret to success, and jumps or drafts can ruin the product.

The appearance of bubbles of gas or an unpleasant smell indicates the entry of foreign microflora. This product should not be eaten. Carefully monitor the sterility of the dishes and the quality of the leaven, sometimes the cause can be the poor quality of the milk itself, even if the shelf life is normal.

Storage and use of the finished product

Ready homemade yogurt is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3-5 days. Over time, the acidity will increase, and the number of beneficial bacteria will decrease. For storage, it is better to use the same containers in which the fermentation took place, tightly covering it with lids.

A small portion of the finished yogurt can be left as starter for the next batch, but it is not recommended to use the same culture more than 3-4 times, since the balance of bacteria is disturbed, and less useful strains can multiply.

Xiaomi's homemade aerogril yogurt is a great base for breakfast, desserts and dressings. Add fruit, honey, granola or use it as a substitute for sour cream in salads. The natural composition without starch and preservatives makes it an indispensable product for healthy eating the whole family.