The First Batch is a Lie: What to Expect When Activating Yogurt Cultures

So you followed the directions, used the milk, added the culture—and your first batch of yogurt came out weird. Maybe it’s runny, maybe it smells off, maybe it looks like milk pretending to be yogurt. Don’t panic. The first batch is almost always a lie. In this post, we’ll walk you through why activation batches can be unpredictable, what’s totally normal, and when (if ever) to actually worry.