Home yogurt/cheese making machine

A method for automatically preparing yogurt from a milk product through a culturing process, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a kitchen appliance having a housing defining a first chamber that is adapted to be selectively warmed to a predetermined culturing temperature by an electrical current and subsequently force-cooled to a temperature lower than the culturing temperature, the appliance including a paddle, a means for periodically rotating the chamber relative to the paddle and a second chamber for containing a yogurt starter material, the second chamber disposed about the first chamber and including a shutter for controlling flow of the starter material from the second chamber into the first chamber;
• (b) placing the milk product in the first chamber;
• (c) placing the starter material in the second chamber;
• (d) turning on the electrical current to provide heating of the milk product to the culturing temperature;
• (e) actuating the shutter to empty the starter material into the milk product;
• (f) periodically rotating the chamber relative to the paddle in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle having a relatively long off-period compared to an on period in which the rotation takes place;
• (g) automatically turning off the electrical current upon the milk product reaching a thickened state as sensed by the paddle;
• and
• (h) thereafter initiating the force cooling of the milk product.