You Plough Cause Your Ain Yogurt Maker, Sous-Vide Cooker, Too All-Purpose Fermenter For $40
I create a one-half gallon of yogurt, twice a month. I similar making my ain yogurt for many reasons, but it's a fleck of a pain. Since I create large batches, I can't job a measure yogurt maker. I oftentimes larn distracted in addition to over-heat the milk, in addition to the method I job to incubate the yogurt is wildly inefficient (my honey Excalibur dehydrator). I also demand a constant warm temperature for diverse other fermentation projects, in addition to that's oftentimes hard to attain alongside the tools I have.
I finally constitute a amend solution: a temperature controller that accurately regulates the temperature of a wearisome cooker yesteryear turning an outlet on or off. I exactly laid the temperature of the controller, identify the temperature probe into the wearisome cooker, in addition to plug the wearisome cooker into the temperature controller outlet. The wearisome cooker hence stays at whatever temperature I want. Here's what the temperature controller looks like:
Once built, the temperature controller alongside or without the wearisome cooker tin live used for a multifariousness of other tasks (including regulating cooling devices). Here are some ideas that come upward to mind:
You tin construct the whole affair for nearly $40, including the wearisome cooker.
A few caveats earlier nosotros larn started:
For your convenience, I've provided links to Amazon.com production pages. If y'all purchase using these links, you'll live supporting my piece of work at no additional cost to yourself. If y'all scrounge them upward from your garage/kitchen or purchase them used, fifty-fifty better.
Here's what you'll demand to purchase or scrounge:
1. Cut the extension cord in addition to scream back interior wires. You wish to leave of absence the manlike someone destination intact because you'll live using it to plug inwards your box. Leave every bit much intact cord attached to the manlike someone destination every bit y'all mean value you'll demand for the concluding production (I left 5 feet).
Next, take away the 3 interior wires from a 5-foot department of the woman someone destination of the extension cord. Typically, they volition live white (neutral), dark (hot), in addition to greenish (ground). The wires are all functionally equivalent but it's best to job measure coloring coding inwards your wiring hence it's to a greater extent than intuitive if y'all direct hold to repair it later. They should expect similar to the photograph on the left.
2. Cut the next wires:
White: 2 10" lengths
Black: v 10" lengths
Green: 1 10" length
Strip nearly 3/8" off each destination of all wires.
3. Cut windows into the lid of the projection box for the temperature controller in addition to receptacle. You wish them both to live able to tally into their slots snugly. Before y'all cut, create certain your placement allows plenty infinite for both the wall plate in addition to the controller (it's a tight fit).
The temperature controller has 2 orangish sliders that y'all should take away earlier plumbing fixtures it into its slot. Disregard these for your measurements of window size. Re-attach them after the controller is fitted in addition to slide them upward to laid the controller into its slot.
Place the receptacle inwards its slot. Mark the lid where screws should become to laid the receptacle to the lid, in addition to drill appropriately-sized holes. If y'all used a 7" x 5" x 3" projection box, it should expect similar the photograph to the left when you're done.
Remove the protective plate on the dorsum of the controller, exposing the wiring hookups.
4. Drill holes into the front end in addition to dorsum of the projection box for the electrical wire in addition to temperature probe. These holes should live exactly large plenty for y'all to crush inwards your 1/4" in addition to 3/8" safe gaskets (which volition protect your wires from abrasion in addition to give the box a finished look).
Insert your gaskets, verifying that they are broad plenty to suit the sparse destination of the electrical cord in addition to the probe.
5. Wire it. My electrical skills are unopen to nil, hence I relied on others to help me alongside the wiring. There are many online tutorials on how to wire this temperature controller in addition to similar units. Here's the video I used. His wiring works, although dissimilar him I would stick to measure coloring coding for the hot, neutral, in addition to dry ground wires.
Here's how the wiring should expect 1 time it's complete.
6. Fix everything inwards place. Ideally, after everything is wired y'all should laid the powerfulness cord in addition to temperature probe wires to the grommets every bit they locomote out the box on the inside. This prevents them from tugging on your interior wiring. A mucilage gun would piece of work perfectly for this, although whatsoever rubber-rated adhesive should work.
Use the orangish sliders to laid the temperature controller into its slot. Screw the receptacle into its slot in addition to screw the wall plate onto the receptacle. Screw the lid onto the projection box. You're done!
7. Use it! The teaching manual explains how to switch betwixt Celsius in addition to Fahrenheit, how to laid the temperature, in addition to how to laid the temperature range.
You should right away direct hold 1 plug that turns on when the temperature drops below the desired make (heating), in addition to 1 that turns on when the temperature exceeds the desired make (cooling). I recommend labeling each outlet accordingly.
You tin job this temperature controller for a broad multifariousness of projects. Let me know inwards the comments what y'all job it for!
A Federal Reserve annotation nearly sous-vide cooking
For sous-vide cooking, I recommend starting alongside hot H2O in addition to using the organisation to regulate temperature from there. You tin also pre-heat the ceramic of the crock pot yesteryear putting a fleck of hot H2O into it in addition to dumping it earlier filling it alongside to a greater extent than hot water. Crock pots oestrus slowly, fifty-fifty on high, hence if y'all starting fourth dimension alongside mutual frigidity H2O y'all mightiness direct hold to hold off about for 2 hours earlier your H2O bathroom gets upward to temperature.
The larger your crock pot, the amend it volition piece of work for sous-vide cooking, because the larger thermal volume of the H2O volition buffer the temperature hence that it doesn't drib every bit much when y'all add together your food.
Also, since the crock pot doesn't circulate H2O to hold fifty-fifty oestrus throughout the H2O bath, give it a stir in addition to banking concern check the temperature earlier adding your food, in addition to stir it periodically every bit it's cooking.
A Federal Reserve annotation nearly yogurt making
You tin both scald in addition to incubate your yogurt using this setup. When scalding, I recommend filling the crock halfway alongside warm H2O in addition to placing your jars into it (not likewise hot or the temperature contrast may cleft your glass) to speed upward the process. After scalding at 180 F, exactly laid the controller to 110 F in addition to allow it cool down. Once it's reached 110 F, add together your starter*.
I'm all the same experimenting alongside probe placement. Last time, I seat the probe inwards the upper layer of the milk. It worked all right, but the temperature tended to overshoot yesteryear a few degrees sometimes, hence I had to laid it to 108 F. It did destination upward making first-class yogurt. Next time, I'll sweat putting the probe into the water.
* I direct hold a piddling yogurt starter fob to share. Those starter packets (e.g., Yogourmet) are hence expensive that they essentially eliminate the fiscal incentive to create your ain yogurt. There is a amend way. I purchase a quart of yogurt that I similar (e.g., Nancy's), in addition to I freeze cubes of it using a measure H2O ice cube tray. Each cube ( 2 tbsp) is plenty to starting fourth dimension 1/2 gallon of yogurt. The fundamental to maximizing the viability of the civilization is to freeze the cubes every bit rapidly every bit possible, but thaw them slowly. Once you've loaded your H2O ice cube tray, identify it into the refrigerator for fifteen minutes to chill it, hence identify it into the coldest freezer y'all have. Once frozen, popular out the cubes in addition to shop them inwards a ziplock handbag inwards the freezer. When y'all wish to job one, allow it thaw inwards a piddling bowl on the counter at room temperature.
I finally constitute a amend solution: a temperature controller that accurately regulates the temperature of a wearisome cooker yesteryear turning an outlet on or off. I exactly laid the temperature of the controller, identify the temperature probe into the wearisome cooker, in addition to plug the wearisome cooker into the temperature controller outlet. The wearisome cooker hence stays at whatever temperature I want. Here's what the temperature controller looks like:
Baca Juga
- Sous-vide cooker
- High-capacity yogurt maker
- Bread dough riser
- All-purpose thermophilic fermenter (e.g., for tempeh, natto, koji)
- Beer/cider/wine fermentation temperature controller
- Kegerator controller
- Freezer-to-fridge conversion
- Egg incubator
- Soil temperature controller for seed starting
 |
| Don't worry, I'm non turning into a nutrient blogger. But this sous-vide-cooked chicken I made alongside my DIY temperature controller was pretty tasty. I used this recipe from NomNom Paleo. |
A few caveats earlier nosotros larn started:
- If you're a sous-vide aficionado, this method may non satisfy you, because it doesn't circulate the H2O (requires occasional stirring) in addition to it's wearisome to heat.
- If y'all wish to job it every bit a sous vide cooker, you'll demand a vacuum sealer. I similar my FoodSaver, but other brands volition presumably piece of work fine. These are oftentimes available on Craig's List.
- Did I scream it takes a long fourth dimension to oestrus up? Slow cookers create slow in addition to efficiently. You tin speed things upward yesteryear starting alongside hot water.
- The temperature controller is rated to 10 amperes (A) of current, which on a typical 120 volt circuit (United States) translates to 1,200 watts. Everything except the temperature probe should live rated to 10 Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 or greater (you'll live fine if y'all follow my materials recommendations). Don't job this setup to command appliances that depict to a greater extent than than 1,200 watts. Slow cookers depict upward to 250 watts.
- This projection involves wiring, in addition to I'm non an electrician. If y'all direct hold ANY concerns nearly the wiring, consult a licensed electrician.
For your convenience, I've provided links to Amazon.com production pages. If y'all purchase using these links, you'll live supporting my piece of work at no additional cost to yourself. If y'all scrounge them upward from your garage/kitchen or purchase them used, fifty-fifty better.
Here's what you'll demand to purchase or scrounge:
- Temperature controller alongside sensor.
- Plastic projection box (7" x 5" x 3"). Radio Shack sells them for $7.49. You tin also job this one from Amazon, but it's a fleck to a greater extent than expensive in addition to you'll direct hold to seat the temp controller inwards the front end human face upward rather than the top because it's non deep enough.
- 8+ pes long three-prong extension cord (rated to 10 Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 or more).
- Wall outlet alongside 2 plugs (standard fifteen Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 duplex receptacle). This is best purchased at a hardware shop in addition to should cost less than a dollar. Here's the Home Depot page for the receptacle I used.
- Wall plate for the outlet. This is also best purchased at a hardware shop in addition to should cost less than 50 cents. Here's the Home Depot page for the embrace I used.
- 3 twist-on wire connectors.
- Electrical tape.
- Rubber wiring grommets (one 1/4" in addition to 1 3/8"). I purchased these from Home Depot.
- Slow cooker. It must direct hold an actual manual on-off switch, non digital controls! The $40 toll tag assumes y'all purchase 1 used for nether $10 similar I did. I got mine at Goodwill.
- Screwdriver alongside small-scale Phillips-head bits
- Drill alongside diverse sizes of bits
- Wire cutter
- Wire stripper
- Rotary tool (e.g., Dremel) OR another agency to cutting rectangular windows into the plastic projection box.
- Adhesive. Preferably a mucilage gun, but whatsoever adhesive rated for safe volition do.
1. Cut the extension cord in addition to scream back interior wires. You wish to leave of absence the manlike someone destination intact because you'll live using it to plug inwards your box. Leave every bit much intact cord attached to the manlike someone destination every bit y'all mean value you'll demand for the concluding production (I left 5 feet).
Next, take away the 3 interior wires from a 5-foot department of the woman someone destination of the extension cord. Typically, they volition live white (neutral), dark (hot), in addition to greenish (ground). The wires are all functionally equivalent but it's best to job measure coloring coding inwards your wiring hence it's to a greater extent than intuitive if y'all direct hold to repair it later. They should expect similar to the photograph on the left.2. Cut the next wires:
White: 2 10" lengths
Black: v 10" lengths
Green: 1 10" length
Strip nearly 3/8" off each destination of all wires.
3. Cut windows into the lid of the projection box for the temperature controller in addition to receptacle. You wish them both to live able to tally into their slots snugly. Before y'all cut, create certain your placement allows plenty infinite for both the wall plate in addition to the controller (it's a tight fit).
The temperature controller has 2 orangish sliders that y'all should take away earlier plumbing fixtures it into its slot. Disregard these for your measurements of window size. Re-attach them after the controller is fitted in addition to slide them upward to laid the controller into its slot.
Place the receptacle inwards its slot. Mark the lid where screws should become to laid the receptacle to the lid, in addition to drill appropriately-sized holes. If y'all used a 7" x 5" x 3" projection box, it should expect similar the photograph to the left when you're done.
Remove the protective plate on the dorsum of the controller, exposing the wiring hookups.
4. Drill holes into the front end in addition to dorsum of the projection box for the electrical wire in addition to temperature probe. These holes should live exactly large plenty for y'all to crush inwards your 1/4" in addition to 3/8" safe gaskets (which volition protect your wires from abrasion in addition to give the box a finished look).
Insert your gaskets, verifying that they are broad plenty to suit the sparse destination of the electrical cord in addition to the probe.
5. Wire it. My electrical skills are unopen to nil, hence I relied on others to help me alongside the wiring. There are many online tutorials on how to wire this temperature controller in addition to similar units. Here's the video I used. His wiring works, although dissimilar him I would stick to measure coloring coding for the hot, neutral, in addition to dry ground wires.
6. Fix everything inwards place. Ideally, after everything is wired y'all should laid the powerfulness cord in addition to temperature probe wires to the grommets every bit they locomote out the box on the inside. This prevents them from tugging on your interior wiring. A mucilage gun would piece of work perfectly for this, although whatsoever rubber-rated adhesive should work.
Use the orangish sliders to laid the temperature controller into its slot. Screw the receptacle into its slot in addition to screw the wall plate onto the receptacle. Screw the lid onto the projection box. You're done!
7. Use it! The teaching manual explains how to switch betwixt Celsius in addition to Fahrenheit, how to laid the temperature, in addition to how to laid the temperature range.
You should right away direct hold 1 plug that turns on when the temperature drops below the desired make (heating), in addition to 1 that turns on when the temperature exceeds the desired make (cooling). I recommend labeling each outlet accordingly.
You tin job this temperature controller for a broad multifariousness of projects. Let me know inwards the comments what y'all job it for!
A Federal Reserve annotation nearly sous-vide cooking
For sous-vide cooking, I recommend starting alongside hot H2O in addition to using the organisation to regulate temperature from there. You tin also pre-heat the ceramic of the crock pot yesteryear putting a fleck of hot H2O into it in addition to dumping it earlier filling it alongside to a greater extent than hot water. Crock pots oestrus slowly, fifty-fifty on high, hence if y'all starting fourth dimension alongside mutual frigidity H2O y'all mightiness direct hold to hold off about for 2 hours earlier your H2O bathroom gets upward to temperature.
The larger your crock pot, the amend it volition piece of work for sous-vide cooking, because the larger thermal volume of the H2O volition buffer the temperature hence that it doesn't drib every bit much when y'all add together your food.
Also, since the crock pot doesn't circulate H2O to hold fifty-fifty oestrus throughout the H2O bath, give it a stir in addition to banking concern check the temperature earlier adding your food, in addition to stir it periodically every bit it's cooking.
A Federal Reserve annotation nearly yogurt making
You tin both scald in addition to incubate your yogurt using this setup. When scalding, I recommend filling the crock halfway alongside warm H2O in addition to placing your jars into it (not likewise hot or the temperature contrast may cleft your glass) to speed upward the process. After scalding at 180 F, exactly laid the controller to 110 F in addition to allow it cool down. Once it's reached 110 F, add together your starter*.
I'm all the same experimenting alongside probe placement. Last time, I seat the probe inwards the upper layer of the milk. It worked all right, but the temperature tended to overshoot yesteryear a few degrees sometimes, hence I had to laid it to 108 F. It did destination upward making first-class yogurt. Next time, I'll sweat putting the probe into the water.
* I direct hold a piddling yogurt starter fob to share. Those starter packets (e.g., Yogourmet) are hence expensive that they essentially eliminate the fiscal incentive to create your ain yogurt. There is a amend way. I purchase a quart of yogurt that I similar (e.g., Nancy's), in addition to I freeze cubes of it using a measure H2O ice cube tray. Each cube ( 2 tbsp) is plenty to starting fourth dimension 1/2 gallon of yogurt. The fundamental to maximizing the viability of the civilization is to freeze the cubes every bit rapidly every bit possible, but thaw them slowly. Once you've loaded your H2O ice cube tray, identify it into the refrigerator for fifteen minutes to chill it, hence identify it into the coldest freezer y'all have. Once frozen, popular out the cubes in addition to shop them inwards a ziplock handbag inwards the freezer. When y'all wish to job one, allow it thaw inwards a piddling bowl on the counter at room temperature.
