Every night, before going to bed, my grandmother asks my mom, “Dahi jamaana hai?, Does the curd need to be set?” to which my mother gives a nod on most occasions. Setting curd at night has been a routine affair in my household. However, there are days when my mother orders yoghurt packs from the market. When I ask her why, she simply says, “Dahi nahi jamaa”. Now I used wonder why the curd would set on some days and not on others. This inquisitiveness led to the science behind setting of curd.
The process of setting curd involves the multiplication of good bacteria. In warmer climates or on hot summer days, the curd sets fasters (4-7 hours) because the moisture in the air allows the progression of bacteria to take place faster. The opposite happens on days when the weather is cold. It takes about 8-10 hours for the same curd to set as the process becomes slower.
Considering these factors and the temperature outside, we need to take certain necessary steps in order let the curd set properly. For setting curd, you need to boil the milk and let it cool down. Once it is lukewarm, you can add culture (pre-set curd) to it. You would need only one tablespoon of culture. Mix it with the milk and whisk it properly. Once that is done, you can keep it in a corner where it can stay overnight without any environmental changes or movement.
In winters, you may have to go an extra mile to set the curd. Here are some easy tips and tricks that you can follow to set curd at home in the cold weather.
1. Use A Casserole
The function of a casserole is to retain heat. In this regard, it works well for setting curd. You can follow all the above mentioned steps of mixing milk with culture and so on in a casserole and keep it in a corner for some time. This will help the curd to get the needed warmth.
2. Use Both Container And Casserole
In case you have a fixed container for setting the curd, you can use the same. Just place the container in a casserole after you have done all the steps and add some warm water to it. This will help to make the container warm and reach the curd to multiply the bacteria.
3. Green Chilies To The Rescue
Here, all you have to do is use a green chili. Yes, you heard us. Place a washed green chili along with the stem in the container where you have mixed milk with culture. Cover the container and let it set in a corner. You can surely give this a try.
4. Wrap And Cover
The idea is to provide warmth. So, in order to do that you can either wrap a towel around the container so that it remains warm during winters or you can also place it around the cook top. Another way is to place it in a bucket of rice.
