Greek Yogurt - Recommendations?
I know Fage is definitely a cult favorite among the food loving community, and having tried it for the first time recently, I can definitely see why. It's super thick and creamy - almost like eating dollops of creme fraiche or something equally indulgent.
However, I'm not made of money - it is definitely not on the cheap side. I'm not sure yet if my local Costco carries it (I got the one-serving 7oz for $1.99 at TJ's).
So I was wondering, are there any other brands of Greek yogurt that are similar in taste/texture to Fage that are not quite so expensive? I've heard good things about the TJ's house brand, but haven't tried it yet...
(Or maybe someone can tell me how much the big containers at Costco cost/somewhere else I can get Fage cheap? I'm on the west coast...)
Thanks :)
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29 Comments:
I can't believe I'm saying this, but the cheapest non-sale price I've found on Fage is Whole Foods in this area. However, I've seen it on sale at Target a few times where it's been considerably cheaper. Now, a few of the regular grocers are starting to carry it, so maybe a little competition will get the price down.
Or....try making your own. It's really pretty easy, and you can strain it to make it as thick as you want.
dbcurrie at 11:32PM on 09/08/08
Yeah, I was going to come here to suggest straining "regular" yogurt. I've been really successful with a double layer of cheese cloth and some patience. It works well with full-fat yogurt...
BangieB at 12:49AM on 09/09/08
TJ's has the best price on Fage that I've seen... 4.39 for the 16oz container.. Whole Foods only 10 cents more. I really like the TJ's house brand @ 2.99 but when I used to buy them, every other couple of trips I'd get a kind of preliminary mold in my container and it would taste off. Never had that problem with Fage so I stuck with them. Now I just strain my own.. makes me feel accomplished. :)
Nancy's brand of yogurt is really good because it's thick--not quite Greek-style. Just thick and tasty.
Interested to see if there are additional offerings on the west coast.. I've just not found anything that compares to Fage or TJ's.
Allison Hemler at 1:07AM on 09/09/08
@BangieB, unless the yogurt is really watery to begin with, I use a fine-mesh strainer, and it works great. Sometimes there's a tiny bit of white that gets through in the first few minutes, but after that, it's clear whey. And since I use the whey in bread, I don't feel like I'm wasting anything, even if I lose a tiny bit of yogurt.
dbcurrie at 1:14AM on 09/09/08
I prefer the TJ Greek style. It's texture seems less "sticky" to me. I buy many containers of the plain at a time, because it's a day-long trip to get to a TJ. I've had containers in our fridge for months with no problem.
islandexile at 1:45AM on 09/09/08
I used to love Fage but I'verecently started making my own, with soy milk and its so simple and really delicious. I invested in a yogurt maker, not expensive at all, but I'm sure you can use the Jeff Smith/Alton Brown method and just use a heating pad. Someone on this site even recomeded using their cable box i think. LOL try making your own and i doubt you'll go back to buying it!
huneybumper at 7:47AM on 09/09/08
I tried TJ's Greek style yogurt for the first time yesterday. I ate nearly half the container (more than I had intended). It's definitely different than Fage but the differences are so subtle and I imagine they would disappear if it were combined with other ingredients.
It was about 1/2 the price of Fage. Cabot also has a Greek style yogurt but I haven't tried it yet.
therealchiffonade at 8:16AM on 09/09/08
Some of us have no Trader Joe's :( even tho we have pitifully called and emailed the company begging for just one store. I guess we're stuck with expensive Fage or making our own. Although, here in Houston, Phoenicia carries Fage and it's a bit cheaper (also HEB has it at a lower price).
Chef Jo at 8:21AM on 09/09/08
TJ's brand is awesome! It's not Fage, but it's so close. The price makes it worthwhile, for sure!
Or, as people here have said... make your own! It's easy and fun, and you can adjust the texture to suit yourself that way.
But, if you want a brand that is close to Fage, but about 1/2 the price, without making your own, TJ's is the way to go!
Brownie at 9:25AM on 09/09/08
Seconding the recommendations to make your own! I usually use Stonyfield Farm Brand and dump it in a colander lined with a coffee filter. Just leave it out to drain over a pot for a few hours. If I want it REALLY thick, I'll put saran wrap over it and leave it in the fridge overnight. The yogurt usually comes off the coffee filter in one piece, and you can just toss it.
Vegetarianka at 10:11AM on 09/09/08
I'm with BangieB on the cheese cloth technique--only because you're not made of money :)
It won't taste the same but can be implimented similarly.
hungrychristel at 10:45AM on 09/09/08
Stonyfield Farms has an Oikos organic greek yogurt brand that's quite tasty, and cheaper than Fage at my supermarkets.
QueenHerm at 11:02AM on 09/09/08
QueenHerm - Oikos organic greek yogurt is almost double the price of Fage here in NYC - it is around $2.29 per container! And those are the small 5.3 oz. ones. But Oikos now has flavors as well - vanilla, honey, and blueberry.
In addition to Fage (still the best in my opinion), there is another brand called Ciobani or some variation of the spelling. It has flavors in addition to plain and all are 0% fat: strawberry, blueberry, peach, and vanilla. Not fruit on the bottom, just a natural flavor.
andrearode at 11:18AM on 09/09/08
@ Chef Jo (and anyone else in the Houston area, for that matter), my local Fiesta carries Fage as well, cheaper than Whole Foods. I'm usually not a brand snob but even if it's cheaper, Oikos just isn't as good.
misskris15 at 12:21PM on 09/09/08
Another vote for TJ's!
bitchincamero at 12:37PM on 09/09/08
OH! I just bought the Cabot Greek Style Yogurt last night. Where I am, it's 3.99 for a tub that's roughly 1/3 larger than Fage, which sells for $5.99 at the same store (Publix).
Haven't tried it yet, but will report back. I've tried both Fage and Oikos and prefer Fage, though TJ's is the winner in the bargain category.
On a side note, I'm not a huge fan of Stonyfield yogurt in general.
On another side note, has anyone tried a new yogurt brand called Rachel's? It's delicious and has all kinds of strange flavors. So far, my favorites are Lychee Pink Grapefruit and Peach Green Tea. I'm about to dig into a Pomegranate Acai. Yum!
bitchincamero at 2:05PM on 09/09/08
I'm in Wyoming, and the Oikos brand is a lot cheaper than Fage - not to mention that the only Fage I can find is full-fat, not 2% or 0% - ugh!
lo82070 at 2:25PM on 09/09/08
Thanks, dbcurrie. Good to know I don't have to go searching for cheesecloth every time I want some! (It's surprising how difficult it is for me to find...)
BangieB at 3:02PM on 09/09/08
@bitchincamero - Can't wait to hear your opinion of Cabot. I love their cheese products.
PS - Fan of Dead Milkmen?
therealchiffonade at 6:12PM on 09/09/08
Thanks for all the suggestions guys :)
TJ's is definitely next on my hit list then. I have, however, tried Oikos and I personally think it can't compare taste-wise.
Hmmm....I've never tried making my own yogurt before...(don't you need to buy some yogurt anyways to act as a starter?) Any recipe suggestions? Does it come out as thick as fage or do you lose a lot of yogurt in the process?
jazzinx at 7:06PM on 09/09/08
it's not exactly greek yogurt, but it works just the same and super easy to make... yogurt cheese, which is just basically salted drained regular yogurt, works fine and it's super creamy and easy to make yourself from regular store bought plain yogurt.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 7:19PM on 09/09/08
@jazzinx, there's a Good Eats yogurt recipe that I used, mostly because I don't have a yogurt maker. You heat the milk to kill whatever is in it, then let it cool to about 120 degrees before you add your spoonful of yogurt. Then you need to find a spot that will be consistently warm for the yogurt culture to grow, but not so hot that you cook it to death. My oven has low enough settings that I can put it in there, or some people use the oven with the light on, while others put the yogurt on top of the cable box. I've seen instructions for leaving it anywhere from 3 to 12 hours -- it depends on how tangy you want it. Then you cool it. Check the Food Network site for the exact temps and directions, but it's pretty easy.
As far as the straining, I use a fine-mesh strainer, and usually let it sit in the fridge overnight. The longer you strain, the thicker it gets, to the point where it's just about like cream cheese. Some recipes say to salt it, but I don't like the added salt.
Besides making the yogurt thicker, I think the straining helps the flavor. There's some flavor in the whey that I don't like in the yogurt. However, when I've got the whey, I use it as the liquid in my bread, and I like the flavor it adds there. Go figure.
If you strain it, it does reduce by quite a bit, depending on how long it sits.
dbcurrie at 12:55PM on 09/10/08
I tried the Cabot Greek Yogurt, and I gotta say...It's good. Really good. Almost Fage good. But for $2 less, you get twice the amount, so I'm sold.
I've also got some individual-sized Cabot Greek-style lowfat yogurt. One is strawberry flavored and another is honey. Haven't tried those yet, but I'm looking forward to it...
bitchincamero at 2:25PM on 09/11/08
I also tried the Cabot in an attempt to lessen my per tub price. So, far all I have had is the vanilla. I might prefer plain w/ a dollop of honey.
katarina_santiago at 9:24AM on 09/15/08
I'm sold on the Cabot for taste and price (although I got some super expensive stuff at a big Armenian grocery store that was pure heaven, although not realistic for day to day).
I used some Cabot as a starter with good results. My beaer-brewing son turned me on to a good trick for straining, a wort (?) draining bag from a brewery supply store, cost ~$4. Easier to use and especially to clean than cheesecloth, and less expensive than a very fine strainer. It's a 14x20 bag of very fine plastic/nylon stuff - like a woven fabric. Some bags have too big a mesh, so your yogurt heads down the sink (yipes!) but the fabric types are great.
TwoNewfs at 10:11AM on 09/15/08
My local just got a new brand - "The Greek Gods" Greek Yogurt. The consistency isn't really there. I'll wait for the other local to get more Oikos in.
lo82070 at 3:18PM on 04/01/09
Mmm...Fage. I figure the price is worth it, if only because trading my morning routine of a giant bowl of cereal and a banana for Fage Total 2% with Honey and blueberries has definitely made a difference in my weight. Ed, take note!
Wayward Daughter at 11:01AM on 06/29/09
Chobani! Love it, but it must be on sale for me to buy it. Great texture, not insane on the sugar content.
savecara at 11:28AM on 06/29/09
I stumbled upon this thread and wanted you all to know that Costco now sells Fage!
therealchiffonade at 7:50PM on 11/15/09