Who each format suits

Family portion planners

If everyone needs a separate serving, individual pots let you choose a size before making the batch. Duronic lists eight 125ml pots for the YM2; Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists seven 180ml jars for the VonShef model.

Overnight makers

If preparation needs to fit around a busy household, check the timer against your recipe and when you can move the finished yoghurt to the fridge. Duronic lists a 1–24-hour timer for the YM2, while Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists an 8–14-hour range for the VonShef model.

Recipe experimenters

If a recipe specifies an incubation temperature, adjustable controls may matter more than small pots. Luvele lists a 25–50°C range and a 36-hour timer for relevant Pure models, which use larger containers than the individual-portion examples here.

What matters when choosing

For a family meal, decide how much yoghurt you want in each serving before comparing timers or recipe controls. Individual jars avoid dividing a shared batch later, but give you more pots and lids to wash and store.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Portion size and flavours Check the volume of each pot as well as the pot count; follow the model instructions if adding flavours before incubation. If I want each person to have a modest pot or a different flavour, a large shared tub means extra serving work. Around 40% of consumers put ready-to-serve portions first.
Timing Check the timer range and what the instructions require at the end of the cycle. When I plan a batch around family meals, I need its incubation period to fit a time when I can refrigerate the finished yoghurt. For around 30% of consumers, that routine is the primary concern.
Recipe flexibility Check the recipe guidance for your milk and starter; look for adjustable temperature only if the recipe needs it. If I want to try different ingredients or a recipe with a specified temperature, small pre-portioned pots matter less to me. Recipe flexibility comes first for around 30% of consumers.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing by jar count alone

    More jars do not necessarily mean smaller servings. Duronic lists eight 125ml pots for the YM2, totalling 1,000ml; Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists seven 180ml jars for the VonShef model, totalling 1,260ml.

    Compare the stated volume per jar with the portion you intend to serve, then check whether the full batch suits your household.

  • Expecting yoghurt for an imminent meal

    Yoghurt-maker cycles take hours: Duronic lists a 1–24-hour timer range for the YM2, and Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists 8–14 hours for the VonShef model. A timer range is not a promise that every recipe will be ready at its shortest setting.

    Plan the batch ahead and follow your recipe or machine instructions for cooling and refrigeration before serving.

  • Prioritising controls over portion size

    Luvele lists temperature control for relevant Pure models, but its four-jar format uses 400ml jars rather than small individual pots.

    If small servings are the main aim, choose the vessel size first. Consider adjustable incubation when a recipe you intend to make calls for it.

  • Assuming every homemade batch has the same nutrition

    The ingredients you choose affect the finished yoghurt. The NHS advises checking food labels for fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar rather than relying on a general claim about a food.

    Compare the labels of the milk or alternative and any ingredients you plan to add.

Brands to consider

Duronic

The YM2 is relevant when small, separate family portions are the priority.

  • Duronic lists eight 125ml ceramic pots, a 1–24-hour digital timer and a UK three-pin plug for the YM2.
  • Its stated total pot capacity is 1,000ml; check whether that covers the number of servings you need.

VonShef

The seven-jar digital model offers separate servings in larger pots than the Duronic YM2.

  • Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists seven 180ml jars and an 8–14-hour timer.
  • Each jar holds more than a 125ml pot, and Robert Dyas specifies washing the jars by hand.

Luvele

Relevant when a recipe calls for adjustable incubation and small ready-to-serve pots are less important.

  • Luvele lists a 25–50°C incubation range and a 36-hour timer for relevant Pure models.
  • Its listed container options include a 2L glass container or four 400ml ceramic jars, which require a different approach to small portions.

Lakeland

A reference point for households that prefer making a larger shared batch.

  • Lakeland describes its yoghurt makers as holding at least 1kg.
  • A shared batch needs dividing after incubation if each person is to have a separate small portion.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Questions about making yoghurt

What jar size works for small family portions?

Start with the stated volume per jar, not the jar count. Duronic lists eight 125ml pots for the YM2, while Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists seven 180ml jars for the VonShef model; choose according to the amount you want to serve each person.

Can I make different flavours in one batch?

An individual-jar maker lets you divide the mixture between separate pots. The VonShef listing says different flavours can be made in its jars, but follow the model and recipe instructions on when to add ingredients that might affect incubation.

How long should I allow for a batch?

Allow for hours of incubation and time to handle the finished yoghurt as your recipe directs. Duronic lists a 1–24-hour timer range for the YM2, while Tesco Groceries Marketplace lists 8–14 hours for the VonShef model; the appropriate setting depends on the recipe.

Can I use a dairy alternative?

Check the machine instructions and your recipe for the particular alternative and starter culture before using them together. If comparing ingredients for the household, the NHS advises checking nutrition labels for fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.

How should I store homemade yoghurt?

Use clean containers and refrigerate the finished yoghurt according to your recipe or the maker’s instructions. Follow the storage guidance for the ingredients and method you used rather than assuming every homemade batch keeps for the same length of time.