Moomaid, for the heating of milk try this. Get another digital thermometer, they can be had at Target for $10-$12. Keep the pot in the water and have a second pot of cold water by. When the milk comes up to temp don't worry about stirring or adding culture focus on the heat situation, then pour cold water in the cooler until the temp comes down to 2 degrees higher than what you want your milk temp at. You might have to put the cold water down and drain a little from the cooler, plug it up again and add more cold water. That way you never over heat. It's the way I do it, but on a much larger scale. If you make it by the sink the drain can go in the sink and that makes it much easier and less messy.